winter skincare for the bath

 Winter Skincare

If you're like me, winter takes a toll on your skin.   My favorite recipe to help my dry winter skin is bath creamers.  You just drop them in your bath and they moisturize your skin while you're soaking. You can make them very simple with just coconut oil and shea butter or add more ingredients like powdered milk and oatmeal.  Below is a recipe you can start with and some other ingredient ideas. Have fun and I hope this helps your skin too.

½ cup cocoa butter

5 1/2 tbsp shea butter

1 ¼ cups baking soda

¾ cup milk powder

¼ cup cornstarch

1 ½ tbsp citric acid

Mix dry ingredients in a bowl.   Melt butters. Pour melted butter in dry ingredients and mix.  Form into balls or pack into ice cube trays or silicone molds.  Put it in the fridge to cool and harden.

Other ingredients you can add:

Ground oatmeal -

It is emollient, soothing, purifying, moisturizing, anti-inflammatory, 

antioxidant, soothes itches, stimulates the epidermis, and is great for sensitive skin.

Powdered milk - any type will do. Milk is great for your skin. You can use whole milk, coconut milk, buttermilk, goats' milk, or rice or soy milk. Whole milk is best as it is the most nourishing for the skin. Milk can soothe and hydrate skin. The lactic acid in Milk baths can be exfoliating and smooth skin’s dry rough patches.

Cocoa butter - Cocoa butter helps skin elasticity, skin tone, and collagen retention and production.  It is gentle and good at soothing burns, rashes, infections, and things like eczema or dermatitis.  It is also beneficial to use cocoa butter as a pre-shave lotion to prevent nicks from occurring and to have softer skin. Using butter in bath creamers makes this easier.

Epsom salts - It is good for getting rid of toxins, exfoliating, and relieving stress and muscle pain.

Honey powder - . Honey is antiseptic, antimicrobial and anti- inflammatory.   It is good for strengthening your skin’s foundation. It is a humectant, and it will brighten your complexion.  Honey cleans pores, controls surface oil, defends from breakouts and blemishes, it exfoliates and hydrates.

Rosehip seed powder - They are hydrating, moisturizing, exfoliating, and brightening.  They help hyperpigmentation, scars and fine lines

Olive oil - Olive oil is a skin strengthener. It hydrates skin, soothes skin, and improves quality and evenness of complexion.  It is a moisturizer, eye makeup remover, smooth shaving cream, softens elbows, minimizes stretch marks, and softens feet. 

Almond oil - Almond oil is good for sensitive, normal and dry skin. Use almond oil for hydrated glowing skin. It helps the skin retain moisture, stimulates the production of new cells, and reduces fine lines, and bacteria. Almond oil helps prevent dermatitis, and fades scars and stretch marks. It helps in healing sun damage, reducing the signs of aging, puffy eyes, psoriasis and eczema.

Ground roses/lavender/chamomile flowers

Roses are antibacterial and anti-inflammatory. They are moisturizing, relaxing and toning. They are great for sensitive, weak and mature skin.

Lavender is one of my favorites for the bath as it is very relaxing and sedative and helps with insomnia.

Chamomile is very beneficial for many skin types.  It is also soothing and relaxing and great for a bath right before bed.  Use it for itchy dry skin, sensitive skin, skin with acne or eczema, or relieving sunburned skin.

Sandalwood powder - Sandalwood powder is soothing and helps relieve itching and irritated skin. It is a good oil reducer and is effective for getting rid of acne, spots, wrinkles and blackheads. It promotes glowing skin.

Spirulina Powder - Spirulina is a blue-green algae that contains essential amino acids, omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins and Iron. Spirulina can be used to combat the signs of aging and free radicals. It helps support collagen production and skin’s firmness.

If you like this recipe, and would like to learn to make your own skincare check out Carrie's Herbal Infused Skincare Cookbook.  

If you'd like more bath recipes, try The Cozy Bath.