Ayurvedic Oils For Dry, Chapped Winter Skin

By Author: ria sen
Total Articles: 24
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Elitebiotech might not want to admit it, acknowledge, or even think about it but winter is around the corner – bringing us a whole host of skincare problems such as dry, flaky, irritated, chapped and cracked skin.

These issues are primarily caused by exposure to a dry environment. The air outside is drier in winter as colder air has a lower moisture-carrying capacity, and the air inside is stripped of moisture by heating systems, log burners and open fires. This drier air means that the water in our skin evaporates more quickly – it is thought that our skin loses more than 25% of its ability to hold moisture in winter.

When skin cells dry out, they don’t shed as quickly, which leads to a build-up of thicker, flakier skin. This skin doesn’t retain water as well as moist skin and so creates a vicious cycle of dryness. While dry skin is usually harmless, if not cared for properly, it can lead to irritation, sensitivity, and more serious problems such as atopic dermatitis (eczema) or infection if the skin becomes cracked and allows bacteria in.

So, rather than wait for those chapped lips, red noses, ...
... dry skin patches and cracks to occur we can start to prepare and protect our skin – using Ayurvedic as a preventative method as well as a cure!

There are a variety of Ayurvedic oils that are particularly recommended for dry, sore, chapped or cracked skin. We look at some of the top choices below.

Carrier oils for dry winter skin

The Carrier oils offer one of the best ways of moisturising your skin and protecting it from the elements. Oils rich in essential fatty acids – oleic acid (omega-9), linoleic acid (omega-6), gamma-linolenic (omega-6) and alpha-linolenic acid (omega-3) are particularly recommended for preventing moisture loss and soothing, healing and revitalising dry skin. Top choices include:

Hemp Seed Oil

Hemp is one of the most nourishing carrier oils available. It is rich in vitamins and fatty acids (linoleic, alpha-linolenic and gamma-linolenic acid) and is thought to have the ideal ratio (3:1) of omega-6 to omega-3. It is excellent for nourishing, moisturising and regulating the skin’s own natural oil, while calming irritation and inflammation.

Avocado Oil

Unrefined Avocado oil is intensely rich and moisturising – containing high levels of oleic, linoleic and linolenic acid along with lecithin, minerals and vitamins A, C, D and E. It is an excellent for enriching dry, damaged or chapped skin.

Jojoba Oil

Jojoba is a skincare hero. It’s a lighter feeling oil, but deeply moisturising and rich in vitamin E, B complex and minerals that are important for healthy skin. It also contains precious oleic acid, which is naturally found in human sebum, and essential for maintaining optimum skin health. Being so structurally similar to the skin’s own oil, it is very easily absorbed and penetrates right down to the deepest layers of the skin, sealing in moisture while nourishing, soothing and healing the skin from within.

Argan Oil

Argan oil is often referred to as liquid gold in the beauty world. It contains high levels of vitamin E and essential fatty acids (namely, oleic acid and linoleic acid), along with squalene, which is an excellent emollient and antioxidant. Squalene is a lipid produced naturally by our own skin cells, but unfortunately declines with age. Argan has traditionally been used in the treatment of skin infections and has been shown to improve skin elasticity and skin hydration by restoring the barrier function and maintaining the skin’s water-holding capacity.

Sea Buckthorn Oil

Sea Buckthorn is excellent for mature, dry and damaged skin. It is rich in omegas 3, 6 and 9, as well as omega 7 (palmitoleic acid) which is beneficial for collagen production and healthy skin. It is also one of the richest natural sources of beta-carotene (vitamin A) which helps to heal damaged skin and promote cellular growth.

Calendula Oil

Calendula oil has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and anti-fungal properties that are ideal for supporting, restoring and protecting the skin. It is a perfect choice for soothing many different forms of sore, inflamed skin conditions including chapped skin, eczema and psoriasis.

Essential oils for dry winter skin

The Essential oils that gently stimulate the sebaceous glands to function more efficiently, and oils that improve the general health of the skin and blood supply to its growing layer are the most beneficial.

Rose essential oil would be our top choice, along with other floral oils such as Chamomile, Jasmine or Neroli, all of which are gentle enough to use on dry skin that is often also sensitive and delicate.

Oils that are good for balancing/normalising sebum production include Geranium, Lavender and Sandalwood, with resinous oils such Benzoin, Elemi, Frankincense and Myrrh being the best choices for soothing and healing very dry, cracked skin.

Ayurvedicblends for dry winter skin

Rich moisturising cream

Mix 150ml Organic Moisturising Cream, 5ml Sea Buckthorn Oil, 5ml tsp Jojoba Oil, 10 drops French Lavender, 8 drops Geranium and 4 drops each of Frankincense and Rose.

This recipe is especially good in the cold winter weather to nourish the skin and help maintain a smooth, youthful skin tone.

Rich moisture mask

Mix 2 tbsp Aloe Vera & Rose Gel, 5ml Sea Buckthorn Oil, 5ml Avocado Oil, 2 drops Neroli, 4 French Lavender and 2 Benzoin.

Apply to face and neck and leave on to allow nutrients and oils to sink in. Wipe off any excess with tissues and splash face with cold water before moisturising.

Aloe Vera is a wonderful hydrator/humectant which means it draws moisture from the atmosphere into your skin and holds it in place.

We at Elite Biotech are committed to supplying top quality herbal raw. We are a team of dedicated professionals and take care of each step of producing herbal raw such as essential oils & herbal extracts.