Natural Solutions to Protect and Nourish Your Skin
As the cold settles in, you might notice your skin feeling drier, tighter, or even a little irritated. Winter air—especially when paired with indoor heating—can strip away moisture, leaving skin in desperate need of extra care. But don’t worry! With a few simple, natural adjustments, you can keep your skin soft, hydrated, and glowing all season long.
Here are some easy ways to support your skin this winter using simple solutions and natural ingredients.
Hydration: Keep Your Skin Hydrated from the Inside Out
Winter can leave your skin parched, so hydration is key. Drink plenty of water, and nourish yourself with water-rich foods like fruits, vegetables, and soups. Herbal teas are also a great option, especially blends with marshmallow root, linden, plantain, or hibiscus—each offering hydration and skin-boosting benefits.
Humidify Your Environment
Indoor heating can dry out the air, especially wood stoves, which in turn dries out your skin. Using a humidifier can help maintain comfortable moisture levels, keeping your skin from becoming overly dry or flaky. Adding a bowl of water near radiators or wood stoves can also help increase humidity naturally.
Gentle Exfoliation
Dry skin can build up during winter, leading to a dull complexion. Regular gentle exfoliation helps to remove dead skin cells and reveals smoother, more radiant skin.
Sugar Scrubs: Use sugar and jojoba or sweet almond oil to create a natural exfoliant. The sugar gently sloughs off dead skin, while the oil nourishes and moisturizes.
1 cup of brown sugar
1/2 cup jojoba or sweet almond oil
15 drops mandarin (Citrus reticulata) essential oil (optional)
10 drops patchouli (Pogostemon cablin) essential oil (optional)
Aloe Vera Hand and Face Wash: Aloe vera offers cooling and soothing properties while gently cleansing and exfoliating.
1/2 cup Castile soap
3 Tbsp aloe vera gel
3 Tbsp distilled water or a skin-soothing hydrosol such as calendula or frankincense
1 Tbsp hemp seed or rosehip oil (optional)
16 oz foaming soap dispenser
Nourish & Protect with Moisturizers
Cold, dry air can deplete the skin’s natural moisture barrier. A rich, emollient moisturizer helps lock in hydration and protect your skin from the elements.
Oils for Winter Skincare:
Jojoba oil & meadowfoam oil – Lightweight yet deeply hydrating, these mimic the skin’s natural oils.
Pomegranate seed oil – A powerhouse for dry skin, but thick on its own—try blending it with jojoba or rosehip oil.
Cranberry seed, blueberry seed & rosehip seed oils – High in antioxidants, these are great for nourishing and restoring balance—try blending them with other oils to create your own customized skin oil.
Body Butters: Luxurious body butters made from shea, mango, cocoa, and kpangnan butter keep skin soft and moisturized. Kpangnan butter even has a subtle warming effect—ideal for winter blends that support joint and muscle care.
Face Creams: For your face, a richer cream helps combat dryness and supports your skin’s natural barrier.
3 Tbsp mango butter
2 Tbsp cocoa butter
2 tsp hemp seed or rosehip seed oil
1/2 tsp cornstarch or arrowroot powder (for a silky, non-greasy feel)
Optional essential oils:
3 drops frankincense (Boswellia carterii)
2 drops lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
1 drops geranium (Pelargonium graveolens)
Directions: Melt the butters, then remove from heat. Stir in the oils and immediately place the bowl in the freezer for about 20 minutes. Once the top layer is solid, whip the mixture with an immersion blender, adding the cornstarch or arrowroot powder. Add essential oils and continue blending until light and creamy. Store in clean, labeled jars and use as a nightly face cream.
Soothe & Protect Dry Lips
Chapped lips are a common winter issue. A natural lip balm helps lock in moisture, with beeswax acting as a barrier to protect your lips.
Simple Beeswax Lip Balm
1 Tbsp beeswax pellets
1 Tbsp jojoba oil (optionally infused with vanilla or calendula)
1 Tbsp cocoa butter
1 Tbsp coconut oil
Melt the beeswax, cocoa butter, and coconut oil in a double boiler, once melted stir in the jojoba oil. Then pour into salve tins or lip balm tubes.
Herbal Infused Skincare
Herbs can naturally help soothe and heal winter skin. These herbs are excellent to use in your skincare routine to calm inflammation, reduce redness, and moisturize. Many of these are spring weeds—and that’s okay! Next spring, forage and dry them as needed. You can store the herbs for when you need them or infuse them into a carrier oil ahead of time for easy use.
Calendula – Known for its anti-inflammatory and skin-soothing properties, calendula is perfect for soothing dry or cracked skin.
Chamomile – Gentle and calming, chamomile helps ease irritation and reduce itching, ideal for flare-ups of eczema or psoriasis..
Plantain – A go-to herb for skin repair, plantain helps with dryness, minor cuts, and irritation, perfect to pair with calendula.
Purple Dead Nettle – This underrated herb has anti-inflammatory properties and can be helpful for moisturizing and calming irritation. This infused oil is great for homemade lotions and salves.
Olive Leaf – Rich in antioxidants, olive leaf supports healthy skin and provides a natural defense against environmental stressors. Blend with chamomile for a soothing salve to help with eczema and psoriasis.
Mallow – Not the same as marshmallow, but in the same family, this plant is packed with mucilage, allowing it to be ultra-hydrating and soothing for dry, itchy skin.
Violet – With cooling and hydrating properties, violet is wonderful for softening skin and reducing inflammation.
Infuse these herbs into carrier oils like jojoba, sweet almond, or olive oil for a nourishing herbal blend to use in balms, body butters, or facial oils.
Final Thoughts
Winter skincare requires a bit more attention, but with the right natural ingredients, you can keep your skin nourished and protected through the colder months. From rich oils and soothing herbs to simple DIY recipes, there are many natural solutions to support your skin’s health and hydration. Embrace the season with confidence, knowing you can keep your skin soft and healthy.
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