Why Body Oil Is Better Than Lotion For Dry Winter Skin

One of my biggest gripes about winter is dry, itchy skin. I truly believe that itch could drive me to madness faster than anything else I've experienced - it's worse than pain. I'd much rather have a constant ache than a constant itch. The air gets so dry in Iowa that even if I slather myself with lotion in the morning, by bedtime my skin is tight. I might not notice it until I lay down, but as soon as I bend an elbow under the pillow or curl my legs...there it is, tormenting me.

And then there are the flakes...Once we're into the bitterly cold days, face cream is just not enough. I'll still have flakes on my cheeks and forehead. Applying more lotion to these areas does not get rid of it. And let me tell you, applying foundation to flaky skin just makes it look worse. So what can you do to help?

Use Body Oil to Combat Dry Winter Skin

I discovered that using oils in place of, or in combination with, lotion is a great way to keep skin moisturized and glowing for a longer period of time. I suppose it makes sense to moisturize with oils, since oil is how the skin moisturizes itself in the first place. But oil still gets a bad rap, because people think putting oil on the skin will make it look oily. This is not the case! In fact, it can help reduce oil production and clean out your pores. You just need to choose the correct oils for your skin type.

I don't know about you, but I don't like to apply lotion to my body more than once a day. It's just too much work to rub it all in again. Body oil just glides on and absorbs really quickly, so you don't have to do so much rubbing. 

When making my body oils I chose jojoba oil as the main ingredient (it's what gives it the lovely golden color). It is very similar in structure to our skin's own natural sebum, is great for aging skin and it doesn't clog pores. For the Golden Glow variety, I chose frankincense and carrot seed essential oils because they are an excellent treatment for aging skin, and lavender essential oil for soothing itch. If you love lavender, you're in for a treat! The Serenity body oil was developed with essential oils that encourage calmness and improved mood.

These oils are safe for use on the face, either alone or in combination with a face cream. I tend to slather it on immediately after a shower, from head to toe.