Winter skin savers
By Pamela Allardice
Question: winter, my skin gets dry and itchy. Have you any suggestions?
Answer: Sometimes your skin’s oil production can’t meet demand, and trouble is bound to occur when you alternate between cold, dry winds and an overheated home or office. Try one or all of these ideas:
* Take a milk bath. The lactic acid in milk gently removes dead cells from the skin’s surface while the fats add moisture to parched skin. Simply pour 2 cups of full-fat milk into a warm bath.
* Smooth on some aloe vera gel, preferably from a fresh leaf. Use a sharp knife to slit it open from the base to the point, then scrape the clear gel out with a spoon and massage into skin.
* This rich mask is wonderfully restorative. Honey is a humectant (attracts moisture to the skin); almond oil is softening, while egg yolk is highly nutritive.
1 tablespoon honey
1 egg yolk
½ teaspoon sweet almond oil
1 tablespoon natural, full-fat yoghurt
Mix all ingredients together thoroughly. Smooth over face and neck, avoiding eye area. Rinse off with lukewarm water and pat dry.
* If you use a deodorant soap, stop. These soaps dry the skin and contain perfumes which can irritate skin. Try a cream soap like Dove, or gentle Castile soap (from your healthfood store).
* Take shorter showers and use warm water, not hot, as hot water tends to strip the oil from skin.
* Be sure to drink 8 glasses of water a day. At least twice a week, eat some oily fish, e.g. mackerel, sardines, herring or salmon. These are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which help to keep your skin-cell membranes healthy. Other good sources of these fatty acids are walnuts, avocadoes and flaxseed oil. |
Important Announcement
First 
