Emergency Rescue for Winter Skin - 4 Natural Ways to a Healthier Complexion

The winter months can play havoc with your complexion. Biting cold winds outdoors, warm and dry heating indoors, not to mention the indulgences of the festive period – all of this can leave your skin feeling dry, flaky, and out of condition.

Cosmetics companies will try to tell you that their unique formulas are worth the high prices they charge, but for healthy skin that feels and looks great, nature often has the best answers. Here are 4 wholesome ways to give your complexion a winter pick-me-up.

1. Coconut Oil 

Coconut oil has been used for millennia in its native lands as a skin moisturizer, cleanser, and sun protector. It is high in natural saturated fats which strengthen the underlying structure of the skin, making it more supple and less prone to wrinkling and cracking. These fats also act as powerful moisturizers, locking in moisture below the skin surface and preventing it evaporating through the pores. Coconut oil also contains a substance known as capric acid, which has a mild anti-microbial action, promoting overall skin health and helping to prevent spots and rashes.

To use coconut oil, simply massage a few pure drops into your face after a shower or bath. It is absorbed more efficiently and works more effectively on damp skin.

2. Evening Primrose Oil 

This natural oil is extremely rich in Omega-6 fatty acids, which are essential building blocks of cell membranes, and promote skin elasticity. These acids are also vital in regulating the production of the hormones responsible for skin health, and trials have shown that evening primrose oil has beneficial effects for sufferers of acne, eczema, and psoriasis. 

This oil can be taken in capsule form, or rubbed directly onto your skin for a fast lift in tone and texture.

3. Green Tea 

Green tea is one of those supplements that has been somewhat over-hyped, and touted as a cure for all sorts of ailments. However, studies have suggested that the polyphenols it contains do indeed have strong benefits for skin condition, particularly in helping to reduce inflammation. One of the main benefits of green tea however is its strong anti-oxidant properties which are thought to help slow down the enzymes responsible for premature skin ageing.

Green tea can of course be taken as a drink, although topical application delivers the active ingredients to your skin more quickly, especially if you then use one of the moisturizing oils mentioned to lock the nutrients in.

4. Lavender Oil 

Lavender oil is widely used in the treatment of eczema and other skin complaints thanks to its anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. It contains compounds that improve circulation and increase blood oxygenation, meaning it has an anti-inflammatory action and can soothe irritated skin. 

Lavender oil also has a calming scent; use this in combination with other oils to replicate perfumed lotions without the harsh chemicals that commercial cosmetics sometimes use.

There's nothing at all wrong with using light, neutral cosmetic lotions and creams as part of your daily skin care routine, but next time you're feeling swayed by tempting claims made for your complexion in a commercial, remember that nature usually knows best. Using these healthy, natural products either alone or in combination will have great long term benefits for both your skin and your pocket.