Naturally Hydrate Your Skin After a Long Winter

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Old man winter is not always nice to our skin. The cold weather, harsh winds, and dry indoor air all conspire to suck the moisture out of skin, leaving it dry, cracked, and scaly.  Here are my top six natural steps for adding moisture to my skin.

1.Lubricate skin with essential oils or a natural body butter (moisturizers) after a bath or shower. Avoid petroleum based moisturizes as they create a barrier on the skin and don't allow the moisture to reach the intended areas. Apply the oils or moisturizer to the skin when it’s slightly damp. That way, moisture becomes trapped in the skin rather than evaporating in the air.

2. Exfoliate dry skin with a gentle body scrub as often as needed. Look for a scrub that is natural and light. I keep this foaming lemongrass bath scrub on hand as I love that it exfoliates and cleanses the body. You can also create your own sugar scrub. It is easy and inexpensive. Rub the mixture all over your body in gentle circular motions, and rinse off.

• 1 cup organic granulated sugar (brown or white)
• 1/2 cup natural olive or coconut oil
• a few drops of your favorite essential oils
• mix in an airtight container

3. Be a label reader. Check the labels on your skincare products, and avoid additives such as alcohol, which can dry out the skin. Look for products that contain less-drying astringent ingredients such as witch hazel or rose water. Products containing CBD have been found to provide great healing properties.

4. Hydrate from the inside out. Drink 8 glasses or more of water per day. Limit consuming drinks that can act as a diuretic. Grab a cute glass or stainless steel bottle and sip on water every ten minutes throughout the day. Adding fruits or vegetables will add flavor.

5. You are what you eat. Add more watery foods to your diet and indulge on good fats like omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Essential fatty acids are not made created by our bodies so we must add them in our diets. Increasing your omega-3 intake helps strengthen the moisture seal in your skin and reduces the loss of water.

Don't forget the importance of fruits and vegetables. They will help keep your skin hydrated by delivering needed nutrients. Water- rich fruits and vegetables such as watermelon and cucumbers offer naturally filtered water which are even better for hydrating the skin.

6. Go Green. Companies are taking note that we want healthier options for our bodies and homes. The best way to get started is just to do it. Check out this post by ThirtyMommy on 3 ways to get started with Bamboo Products.

*Using code lifeinpumps will help you save with any purchase from Lather or Joy Organics.