Happy January! Now that the holiday season is over, it’s time to turn up the heat and snuggle in – or, if you prefer, throw on your winter coat and gloves and head out to enjoy January’s icy charms! Whatever your preference, January is a month when our skin is drier, resulting in feelings of rawness, roughness, itchiness, and general discomfort. Why? Winter is a time of low humidity inside and outside – the air is cold and dry, and using inside heat on high means that even the air in your house is drier than normal.
Happily, here at Inshanti, we have some ideas to help you beat winter skin and ensure that you and your loved ones stay moisturized and comfortable, even in the driest of conditions. Here are 4 tips to combat dry skin in the winter:
1. Use moisturizing products in the shower or bath. At Inshanti, we love our body butter bars for winter months. Made from creamy, pure, unrefined butters, our Delightful™ Body Butter Bar blends beeswax, jojoba, cocoa butter, coconut oil, avocado, shea butter; essential oils of Lime and Lavender, creating a blast of mood-lifting citrus smells while soothing skin and enhancing your protective skin barrier. Or, enjoy a seasonal aroma with our Harmony™ Body Butter Bar, which combines the citrus smells of Orange and Grapefruit and Black Spruce essential oils for a sense of harmony and relaxation. These bars are excellent for use in the shower, melting on contact with wet skin, or afterwards for an additional layer of moisture.
2. Apply moisturizer immediately after bathing or after washing your hands. This allows you to seal in moisture between skin cells. We suggest our Winter Gloves™ Balm, which combines shea butter, jojoba oil, and beeswax with Calendula, olive oil, and Lavender for a highly protective and healing blend, especially for the body’s driest areas: hands, elbows, knees and feet. Keep some by the sink to use after washing dishes, smooth on after bathing, or use as a barrier before heading outside. Or, to really maximize the healing potential of Winter Gloves™, add it to your bedtime routine under cotton socks or gloves to support overnight healing.
3. Increase your omega-3 fatty acids. Found in fish, such as salmon, mackerel, and herring, omega-3 fatty acids have been proven to both increase hydration and manage aging effects. Not a fish fan? Fish oil supplements can also support skin improvement.
4. Use a humidifier. According to Harvard Health, setting your humidifier to 60 percent will replenish lost moisture in the air and in turn, improve the look and feel of winter skin.
As a bonus – using your humidifier is also a great time to incorporate your favorite essential oils. For example, if you’re battling a winter cold in addition to winter skin, try diffusing Inshanti’s Viral D™, a powerhouse of nine different Inshanti essential oils precisely blended for maximum effect on chronic sinus and severe lung and bronchial conditions. Viral D™ can also be added to a steam bath: drip 3-5 drops in a bowl of steaming water, then place a towel over your head and the bowl, close your eyes and breathe. Or, try our specially formulated Breathe-eez™, blended from six different essential oils celebrated for their antiviral, antibacterial, decongesting, and mucolytic (capable of reducing the viscosity of mucus) properties. Diffuse into the air to kill germs or combine with a carrier oil to massage onto the neck, chest, and upper back region. Additionally, for on-the-go protection and relief, Inshanti offers Breathe-eez™ in a convenient inhaler. As a bonus: our Breathe-eez™ undiluted blend is our Ship’ n’ Sniff feature of the month – try some with every order!
With cold temperatures and dry air, January can be challenging enough –protect and moisturize your face, hands, and body by following these few simple suggestions and enjoy smooth, silky and nourished skin all month long.