In Summer our skin looks great but in Winter it feels dry, uncomfortably, and itchy. Here’s 10 tips to help you have healthy skin all Winter long.

1. Drink lots of water
Don’t let you skin go thirsty, hydrate it by drinking lots of water. Try carrying a metal bottle (BPA free) with you at all times. Drinking herbal teas are also great, especially when it’s really cold outside.

2. Use a humidifier
Put moisture back into the air with a humidifier which will help your skin remain supple instead of cracked and dry. Look for a cold mist humidifier and fill it with distilled water, as this will help reduce bacteria from forming.

3. Exfoliate face and body
Don’t forget to exfoliate your face and body at least once a week. Scrubs help to remove old dry skin cells and allow the body to breath and better absorb moisture.

4. Use an oil based moisturizer
This will help nourish your skin and protect it from moisture loss. I like using an oil serum at night, in particular Argan oil since it it light, very moisturizing and great for all skin types including oily and acne prone skin.

5. Wear sunscreen
Remember to wear sunscreen all year round as it will protect your skin from aging. UVA rays are strong from summer to winter, but UV rays are actually more intense in the winter due to the glare from the snow. Protect your skin from the elements by applying an SPF-30 every morning.

6. Wear gloves
Don’t expose your hands to the cold. Wear a good quality pair of gloves that doesn’t irritate the skin to keep your hands dry and warm.

7. Eat flaxseed oil
Flaxseed oil can is great to moisturize your body from the inside. It’s rich in fatty acids and can do a lot for your overall health. I like adding it to my morning smoothies – yum!

8. Take an oil bath
Add a little jojoba oil or sweet almond to your bath water to nourish you skin. You can also add some dry milk powder with a few drops of essential oils as an alternative.

9. Lower the blow dryer setting
Hot air dries out your scalp and can irritate your skin. Lower the setting on your blow dryer and hot iron or try the tousled wavy style for the winter.

10. Don’t lick your lips
Saliva is acidic and will dry out and chap your lips. Remember to keep an organic lip balm in your pocket or purse and apply it regularly. Use only lip products that don’t contain petrolatum (petroleum jelly) or other petroleum based ingredients as these nasty chemicals will actually dry your lips even more! Learn how to make organic lip balm at home with only a few ingredients.

Have a happy, safe, and hydrated Winter season!

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Many conventional beauty products contain dozens of toxic chemicals. Lip Balms often have petroleum-based ingredients such as Petrolatum, also known as petroleum jelly. It has no nutrient value for the skin and can interfere with the body’s own natural moisturizing mechanism, leading to dryness and chapping. It often creates the very conditions it claims to alleviate. Manufacturers use petrolatum because it is unbelievably cheap.

This DIY organic lip balm is free of any toxic ingredients or preservatives, is very inexpensive to make, and keeps your lips well moisturized.

Ingredients
2 oz Beeswax
1 oz Organic Coconut Oil (or Olive Oil)
5-10 drop Essential Oil (ex: Peppermint)

Directions
Grate beeswax into a large Pyrex cup and add coconut oil. Fill a large pot with a small amount of water and heat at medium/low. Place Pyrex cup into water and stir to melt fully. Carefully remove cup from water and let cool a minute. Poor into a small glass container and add essential oil and stir. Let cool for an hour or so.

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Over time, if lips are constantly dry, the area surrounding the lips will lose its elasticity and this will lead to the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. However, you can prevent this sign of aging by simply keeping your lips well moisturized with natural ingredients.

Badger Lip Balm are a safe and comforting blend of fresh, whole, organic, extra-virgin oils, waxes, exotic butters, herbal extracts & pure essential oils. Unlike most conventional lip care products, Badger does not contain chemicals, synthetics, parabens, GMOs or petroleum based  ingredients.

I tried out their Cocoa Butter Lip Balms and Certified Organic Lip Balm Sticks.

Cocoa Butter Lip Balm
A selection of cocoa butter lip balms in a larger .25oz stick. These balms feature a rich base of organic cocoa butter, organic extra virgin olive oil, golden yellow beeswax and extracts of seabuckthorn berry and rose hip (anti-oxidants). They also contain organic Aloe Vera extract for added dry weather protection.

I loved the size of these lip balms and the unique selection of flavors. I found the lip balms to be very creamy, thick, and smooth to apply. They also felt very long lasting and didn’t require constant applications. All these lip balms also have a light sent of cocoa flavor.

Base Ingredients: *Extra Virgin Olive Oil, *Cocoa Butter, *Golden Yellow Beeswax, *Castor Bean Oil, Extract of *Aloe Vera, and CO2 Extracts of Rosehip, *Seabuckthorn Berry. * = Certified Organic

Certified Organic Lip Balm Sticks
A selection of fair trade and 99% organic lip balms in standard 0.15oz sticks. Flavors range from unscented, subtle natural flavors, to more fragrant blends. They also have antioxidants from Seabuckthorn Berry and Rose Hip extracts, as well as organic Aloe Vera extract for added dry weather soothing.

You can use these on dry lips or to refresh dry skin anywhere on the body. These lip balms are much lighter textured than the Cocoa Butter balms but still were creamy and very hydrating. My favorite lip balm sticks are the Tangerine Breeze and the Highland Mint, yum!

Base Ingredients: *Extra Virgin Olive Oil, *Golden Yellow Beeswax, *Castor Bean Oil. * = Certified Organic

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