I think we are all in agreement that winter and skin are sometimes common enemies. The second the temperature starts to plummet, my skin takes a turn for the worse. It’s like overnight my body turns dry and flaky, especially when it comes to my hands and cuticles.
During the season, our hands are exposed to the harsh winter elements like snow, brisk air and dropping temperatures, and they can take a beating. And as if irritated, dry hands aren’t wrong enough, cracks in the skin can provide an entryway for germs, risking the chance of getting sick. That’s why practicing good skincare is so important.
To keep my hands in the best condition, I like to use everyday household ingredients combined with nourishing essential oils to help calm and heal my irritated skin. I encourage you all to add these three DIY oils into your natural manicure routine. It’s easy to add these oils to scrub or as a cuticle oil to reap the benefits.
Lavender oil
First, soak your skin to help replenish moisture in the hands. The baking soda helps to soften flakes and soothe our winter skin, while glycerin locks in moisture and shields skin from other harsh elements. Add in some lavender essential oil to soothe chapped skin even further.
• 1 cup of warm water
• One tablespoon baking soda
• One teaspoon glycerin or oil
• 5 drops Lavender oil blend
Mix everything in a bowl and soak for 15 minutes.
LEMON SUGAR SCRUB
Use this as a gentle sugar scrub to remove dead skin cells and help restore hands to their naturally soft state.
• Two tablespoons sugar
• Two tablespoons Almond oil
• Zest of lemon + 1 tablespoon juice
Combine all the ingredients and pour into a jar with a lid. Gently massage the scrub in circular motions to remove dead skin. Rinse thoroughly, pat dry, and moisturize with a little extra oil if necessary. You can use almond oil or one of your choosing.
Jojoba Oil Scrub
Finally, don’t forget to show your nail beds a little love with jojoba oil. If you’re looking for a multi-tasking, heavyweight beauty product that can radically help improve you from top to bottom, jojoba oil may be the answer. It is perfect for creating a hydrating cuticle oil to replenish moisture and keep hangnails at bay.
• One teaspoon jojoba oil
• One teaspoon melted coconut oil
Combine ingredients in a small bowl. Pour into a roll-on bottle and gently massage into nails and cuticles once per day.
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