4 Natural Ways To Avoid Dry Skin This Winter

For many folks, Winter time is the time when their skin gets very dry and cracked. Dry skin is just something most people assume comes along with the cold Winter weather. Well, there are ways you can combat dry Winter skin and prevent cracks and itchy skin.

1. Drink Water: I know, I know. Everyone says, drink more water and if you're like me, you don't like water. I force myself to drink it because, if you're dehydrated on the inside, your skin will be dehydrated on the outside. No, coffee doesn't count and neither does wine...you need H2O. It is said that we should drink half our body weight in ounces everyday but, I find this varies from person to person. If you lips are dry and cracking, that's a sign of dehydration. Also, the color of your urine should never be bright yellow or orange or have a strong odor. Dry lips, urine color, dry skin, and dry mouth are all signs of dehydration.

2. Moisturizing Soaps/Cleansers: A moisturizing cleaner or soap is the foundation to moisturized skin. Use a soap or cleanser that contains shea butter, mango butter, olive oil and other skin loving oils to keep your skin from feeling stripped and dry. Give handmade soaps [click link] a try!

3. Using Lotion: If you're a lotion person like I am and prefer lotions and creams to butters for all year use, try applying lotion to damp skin as soon as you step out of the shower. Doing this helps trap in the moisture from the water and to keep your skin soft and moisturized. Also, when wearing lotion I find that I need to wear socks to bed to keep my heels from becoming dry. Keep a small bottle or jar of lotion in your purse, lotion usually needs to be reapplied throughout the day since it soaks into the skin quicker than butters. If you don't have much success with store bought lotions, try handmade lotion.

4. Pull Out The Oils/Butters: If you live in a humid place like I do, using butters throughout the Summer months can feel a bit heavy, well Winter time is the perfect time to pull the butters out. Not, the butters in your fridge, I'm talking about Shea Butter, Mango Butter, Coconut Oil and whipped butters.There are lots and lots AND LOTS of butters and oils for you to choose from and try. You can mix and whip up your own body butter or you can purchase a jar online. Butters and oils are natural sealants, they seal in moisture and help protect your skin against harsh dry Winter weather.

Do you have any tricks you use to keep your skin looking and feeling great this Winter?  Please share them in the comment section!

DIY Moisturizing Deep Conditioner Recipe With Honey For Natural hair

Earlier this month I went on a week long trip to Texas. Is there a place in America drier than Texas?! I was very busy on my trip and had no time to pamper my hair and as a result, I came home with dry, parched hair in need of some serious TLC. For the past 4-5 years, I've always relied on 3 natural ingredients to get my hair back into shape and they have never let me down!

Here's my DIY Deep Conditioner Recipe:
1 Tablespoon of Honey (I used African Wild Honey the last few times and love it!)
1 Tablespoon of Molasses (I Use BlackStrap Molasses)
1 Tablespoon of Wheatgerm Oil (Wheatgerm Oil)
1/4 Cup Detangling Conditioner (Lia Naturals Detangling Conditioner)

• Mix together thoroughly. 
• Apply to hair in sections.
• Place a shower cap over hair and let sit for 20 minutes to a few hours. (I recently had to leave it in for over 6 hours on a busy day and my hair was fine and felt awesome)

*I've added 2 tablespoons of bentonite clay a few times as well to help cleanse and revive my curls. Works wonderfully! 

Benefits of Honey for hair: 

Honey is a humectant. A humectant draws out moisture from the air. Honey takes that moisture and brings it right into your dry strands.

Benefits of Molasses for hair:
Molasses contains sulphur. Sulphur is one of the building blocks for healthy hair. Molasses is also great at strengthening weak damaged hair.

Benefits of WheatGerm Oil for hair: 

Wheatgerm oil is an emollient. this means it is able to soften and coat the hair shaft to prevent split ends and fight against breakage. It is also rich in Vitamin E, which makes it a highly moisturizing hair oil.

Easy simple recipe, right? I didn't make you mash up an avocado or rinse out strands of banana, I wouldn't do you that way! These are all ingredients you should already have in your cabinet for your skin health as well as internal health. The benefits of these oils when taken internally are really never ending! 

Try the recipe and tell me what you think in the comments below!