It's that time of year again. The heat is on full-time at your office and at your house. You walk outside to below freezing temps. It's always windy. These things can take a toll on your skin, severely drying it out. This is the time of year you need a heavy duty moisturizer.
Castor Oil - for all you oil haters out there, this isn't your typical oil. In fact, it feels nothing like oil. It's a thick, clear, odorless, tasteless substance that has been around for years. Castor oil is a vegetable oil made by pressing the seeds of the ricinus communis plant. It's primary use is as a liquid laxative but it does wonders for the skin. It contains certain beneficial salts and esters that function primarily as skin-conditioning agents. It penetrates deep into the skin tissue and nourishes it with the fatty acids. It's famous for its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. Castor oil reduces pigmentation, fades blemishes, and reduces acne. The fatty acids in castor oil help stimulate the production of collagen and elastin. It also aids in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and works especially well for crows feet. It's basically miracle in a bottle. The best part is the price tag, around $3 a bottle. Grab one today at your local grocery store, Walmart, or Target in the laxative section.
-Dry skin? This is your answer. I had really bad dry skin around my nose. I applied the castor oil with a q-tip before bed. The dry skin was significantly better the next morning. I applied it for a few days and the dry skin was gone.
-Need a night-time moisturizer? Wash face as normal and don't dry it all the way. Immediately apply the castor oil while face is still wet. The castor oil is thick, and a little sticky, so the water allows you to rub it in easier. One applied, your skin absorbs castor oil very quickly so you aren't left with an oily feeling. Your face will feel super soft in the morning.
-Have an eczema patch? Put the castor oil on that too. Skip the cortisone creams and opt for an all-natural alternative.
Beautycounter Cleasing Balm - don't let the name throw you off. This versatile formula can be used as a cleanser, moisturizer and as an intensely nourishing face mask. I don't use it to cleanse the skin, I only use it as a moisturizer. With vitamin C to brighten the appearance of skin, vitamin E to protect the skin and raspberry and cranberry seed oils to hydrate, it's basically another miracle in a bottle. With its high concentration of natural butters and oils, the cleansing balm is an easy way to soothe and treat areas prone to chronic dryness. You can even use it on elbows, knees and knuckles or to soften cuticles before a mani. Just rub a small amount where needed, as often as needed to keep those irritation-prone areas supple and smooth all winter. Not familiar with Beautycounter? Their Ingredient Selection Process ensures safer and cleaner products that work beautifully. This rigorous process handpicks the best ingredients, such as an antioxidant-packed fruit trio. What’s not included? Approximately 1,500 questionable or harmful chemicals on their “Never List” that they never use to formulate products. The cleansing balm comes with a hefty price tag of $80. Honestly, it's worth every penny. A little bit goes a long way so the bottle will last you a while. This is my favorite moisturizer and I don't know if I can ever live without it.
