Like a Bubbling Brook

Jaime's note: Today, Kristy from Little Natural Cottage is sharing her natural skin tips for winter.  If you haven't heard, she has written a very helpful ebook, "The Cottage Mama's DIY Guide," which features nourishing, healthy tips, tricks, and recipes.  She covers natural skin care, toxin-free cleaners, and more!  You can read more about her book here.  AND --- drumroll, please --- not only is it on sale today for just $3, but she's also given LABB readers an extra-special discount code for an additional 25% off!   The code is WINTERBROOK and is good until Thursday.  Enjoy!

Even in the "warm" state of Texas, delicate skin endures mistreatment during winter time. If you've ever suffered with eczema, chronic dryness, dandruff, or other winter-related skin maladies, then I'm sure you can relate!

Here are a few of my favorite tips for nourishing our family's skin during the cold weather season:

Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.

Dry bodies mean dry skin. We simply cannot expect the largest organ of our bodies (our skin!) to compete with an insufficient supply of water. Health experts recommend drinking at least two quarts of filtered water per day; I personally believe this is a minimal amount. My goal is to encourage my children to drink two quarts of water a day; I strive to drink about twice that much.

If you're not accustomed to drinking a lot of water throughout the day, fill a pitcher with water in the morning and see how much of it you can drink by supper time. Make it your goal to empty that container before the evening meal! Even children can develop healthy habits in this area. It's vitally important for our overall health, and the health of our skin.

Eliminate skin allergens in the home.

Several of our children suffered with eczema as infants. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that "going green" with our household and body products basically eliminated this issue for our family. Detergents, soaps, lotions, and just about any product that comes into contact with our skin has the ability to create irritation; this is especially true for those with sensitive skin. Switching to "green" products, or using quality homemade products, can help skin endure winter dryness free of rashes and itching.

There are many wonderful "green" brands to choose from; our family's favorite is Melaleuca. We also love using the moisturizing handmade soaps from Simply Cleansing and Vintage Handmade Soaps.

Whole foods can help!

Not only will a diet of whole foods nourish your body (and thus your skin) with proper nutrients, but whole foods are also a great option for treating your skin topically.

• Extra virgin coconut oil is a superb choice for moisturizing your face and hair (a little goes a long way!).
• Warm olive oil treatments can help keep your hands, hair, and even your scalp from becoming too dry (use sparingly if you have oily skin).
• A simple face mask made from oats, bananas, and yogurt will exfoliate and cleanse your face. (You can find this recipe in The Cottage Mama's DIY Guide.)

Resist the urge to spend a fortune on skin products... take a peek inside your kitchen pantry instead!

Humidify your home.

Our family spent seven winters in west Texas during the years my husband served as pastor to an area church. West Texas has cold, severely DRY winters.

During the cold weather months, I found it extremely helpful to keep a humidifier going nearly around the clock in our home. I used a steam vaporizer in our bedrooms at night, and a cool mist humidifier during the day, to keep a level of moisture in the air.

We are no longer in dry, west Texas, but I learned a few tricks that still work when we need them!

How do you nourish your skin during winter time?

Kristy Howard is a believer in Jesus Christ, a pastor’s wife, and homeschooling mother of four.  She is passionate about living simply, naturally, and Biblically for the glory of God.  She is also the editor and owner of LittleNaturalCottage.com, where she furiously writes about her loves during nap time.  Be sure to check out her book, The Cottage Mama's DIY Guide.

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