Natural Winter Skincare: A Comprehensive Guide
Why skin needs special care in winter
As temperatures drop and the days get shorter, not only does our wardrobe change, but so do our skin's needs. In winter, our skin has to contend with the dry, heated air indoors and the cold, sometimes harsh air outside. These extreme temperature changes can stress the skin barrier, leading to dryness, redness, and itching . A key to maintaining healthy skin during these months is not only external care but also a skin detox from the inside and out. A relaxing bath with zeolite can work wonders here, detoxifying the skin while simultaneously supplying it with essential minerals.
Facial care in winter
1. Gentle cleansing
Use mild, moisturizing cleansers that don't dry out your skin. Oil cleansers are great. Rub them onto your dry face until makeup and dirt dissolve, then emulsify with water until a milk forms, which can then be easily rinsed off with water. Your skin will be cleansed without feeling dry.
DIY: A homemade scrub made from zeolite, coconut flakes, honey, and yogurt is ideal for gently exfoliating the skin while nourishing it.
2. Intensive moisturizing care
Use rich moisturizers or facial oils to strengthen the skin barrier. A blend of shea butter and jojoba oil offers deep nourishment, especially in winter if you tend to have very dry facial skin. Combined with a facial massage, this is also an absolute treat and, incidentally, smooths out wrinkles caused by tension in the face.
3. Weekly masks
A homemade mask, for example, made with avocado and aloe vera, provides intensive moisture and soothes the skin. In our blog post "5 Recipes for Masks with Zeolite," you'll find many great recipes for face, hands, and feet. Be sure to try them out; in addition to intensive care, you'll also have fun trying out different recipes and mixing up masks and scrubs from scratch.
DIY winter skincare
Body care in winter
1. Creamy shower gels
Use oil-based shower gels, such as shower oils or homemade soaps with glycerin, to avoid over-stressing your skin while showering. This gently cleanses your skin without drying it out, and provides intensive care. Shower oils are also a great, non-drying alternative to shaving cream, and razor bumps are much less likely to develop. It's important to thoroughly clean any oil residue from your razor afterward to prevent the blade from becoming dull.
2. Regular peeling
A gentle body scrub made with sugar and olive or coconut oil removes dead skin and stimulates circulation. If your skin is sensitive and doesn't respond well to scrubs with abrasive agents, you can also use chemical exfoliants. These are usually creams containing AHA or BHA, sometimes both. These are acids that gently exfoliate the top layer of skin, and BHA also cleanses the pores, removing impurities at the same time. AHA is especially helpful for rough skin. If you tend to have "strawberry skin" on your upper arms (which has a spotty, red-dotted texture), AHA is a real game-changer.
3. Rich body butter
After showering, your skin can be wonderfully cared for with a body butter made from coconut oil or olive oil and cocoa butter to lock in moisture. It's best to apply the oil-butter mixture to damp skin . Since grease stains on clothing are often unavoidable, it's recommended to practice this body care ritual in the evening. Combined with a massage, this becomes a doubly sensual pleasure.
Hand and foot care in winter
1. Intensive care for the hands
Apply a hand cream containing shea butter and almond oil several times a day to prevent chapped skin. Ready-made hand creams in tubes come in various sizes, so you can always carry one in your pocket or purse. We're fans of keeping hand cream everywhere: in the bathroom by the sink, on the nightstand, in the car, in your purse, in your jacket pocket, and even in the kitchen by the sink. This way, you'll always be reminded to moisturize your hands and always have a cream handy.
Would you like to make your own hand cream?
In the drugstore, you can find small empty cream jars in which you can store your homemade cream, or you can use a cream jar from a cream that you have emptied, clean it thoroughly, and store your homemade cream in it.
2. Foot masks for the night
Use a rich foot cream or a homemade mask made with shea butter and jojoba oil, which you can leave on overnight. It's best to apply it thickly to your feet before bedtime and then wear cotton socks over them. This way, you won't make a mess on your bed, you won't slip if you need to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night, and the warmth will allow the cream or mask to absorb wonderfully into your skin. The next morning, you can look forward to soft, silky feet.
Lip care in winter
Nourishing lip balm
A homemade lip balm made from beeswax, coconut oil, and honey offers protection and care for chapped lips. You can take the balm with you in a small jar and, like hand cream, keep it in one of the places you spend a lot of time during the day.
A little extra tip: Lip balm is not only wonderful for your lips, but can also care for irritated skin under your nose, especially during cold season.
Another extra tip if you're breastfeeding: Sometimes sore nipples also benefit from lip balm. However, it's important to make sure it only contains ingredients that are safe for your baby. Honey, for example, is very unhealthy for infants in their first year.
Special care: Cleopatra beauty bath with zeolite and (plant) milk
A soothing bath during the cold season can do wonders for your skin. A Cleopatra bath with zeolite and milk (plant or cow's milk) offers a luxurious combination of skin cleansing and care. Zeolite detoxifies and remineralizes the skin, while milk provides softness and moisture. Simply add a few tablespoons of zeolite and two cups of milk to your bathwater (maximum 38°C). Also add half a shot glass of microorganisms . More on this below.
General tips for winter skin care
1. Drink enough: Even in winter, it's important to drink enough to hydrate your skin from within. You should drink at least 2 liters of water and unsweetened tea throughout the day. We have self-motivation tips and support tips for staying hydrated on our blog. We'd like to dedicate an entire post to this. Coming soon.
2. Healthy diet: A balanced diet with plenty of vegetables and omega-3 fatty acids supports healthy skin. Find many tips for beautiful and healthy skin from within in our article "11 Powerful Anti-Aging Foods – Beauty from Within." A healthy gut flora is crucial for healthy skin. So, make sure you also eat foods with valuable bacterial cultures, such as yogurt.
3. Humidifier: A humidifier can help balance the dry air from heating and preserve skin moisture. Additional benefit: Keeping the air moist also helps if you're prone to coughs, for example, when you have a cold.
4. Soft clothing: An often forgotten and underestimated tip is to wear clothing with soft and smooth fabrics made from natural materials like cotton to avoid skin irritation. Anything rough and scratchy will irritate already irritated, dry winter skin.
5. Sun protection: Equally underrated: sun protection in winter! Don't forget sun protection, because even in winter, the sun can damage your skin, even if it's not very strong. UV rays still penetrate and stress the skin.
Zeolite and healing clay in skin care
1. Zeolite face masks: Mix zeolite with water or rose water for a detoxifying face mask. Stir a small amount of water into the zeolite powder until a paste forms. Apply this to cleansed skin and leave it on until dry, then remove it with lukewarm water. Your skin will be super cleansed and matte for a long time.
2. Healing clay as a gentle exfoliator: Use healing clay mixed with a little water as a gentle exfoliator for your face and body. Rub the mixture over your skin in gentle circular motions and then rinse it off with lukewarm water.
3. Zeolite in dental care: Zeolite can be used as a natural ingredient in homemade toothpastes to support oral hygiene. Simply dip a moistened toothbrush into the zeolite and brush your teeth.
4. Healing clay as dry shampoo: For a quick freshening boost for your hair, you can use healing clay as a dry shampoo. To do this, dust the healing clay onto your hair, sectioning at a time, and then comb through your hair with a natural hairbrush to remove excess healing clay.
5. Zeolite baths for the whole body: A full-body bath with zeolite can help cleanse the body of toxins and soothe the skin. Simply add 2-3 tablespoons of zeolite to your bathwater.
You can find many more ideas for external skin care in our article Beautiful with Zeolite.
Use of microorganisms in skin care
Microorganisms are becoming increasingly important in natural skincare. These little helpers can support the balance of skin flora and thus contribute to skin health and resilience, especially during the winter months when dry skin is a common challenge. Check out our organic microorganisms. They're ideal for mixing into your own cosmetics or adding to your bathwater. Natural skincare has never been easier. We think so.
Importance of microorganisms for the skin
Microorganisms on the skin, especially beneficial bacteria, play an essential role in protecting the skin from harmful influences and maintaining its natural balance. They help strengthen the skin barrier and microbiome and regulate the skin's pH , which is especially important in winter when skin tends to be dry.
Use of microorganisms in DIY skin care products
1. Probiotic face masks: Add probiotic yogurt or kefir to your homemade face masks. These ingredients are rich in beneficial bacteria that can help balance skin flora and moisturize the skin.
2. Fermented skincare: Fermented ingredients like sauerkraut juice or fermented rice water extract can be incorporated into DIY skincare products. These ingredients are rich in antioxidants and can help regenerate and nourish the skin.
3. Skincare with Kombucha: Kombucha, a fermented tea beverage, can be used as part of a face mask or as a facial toner. It contains both probiotic bacteria and organic acids that can contribute to skin health.
4. Skin care withAM+Plus organic microorganisms : Active microorganisms from Austrian organic herbs based on lactic acid bacteria are commonly used in gardening. They also do a great job in animal grooming and on our skin.
Apply a few drops to your hands and rub in lovingly, or mix with hand cream in the palm of your hand, mix with water as a facial toner and add to your bath water together with zeolite.
Microorganisms in skin care:
Microorganisms can be a valuable addition to winter skincare. They help strengthen the skin's natural barrier and retain moisture. Combined with natural ingredients like zeolite and healing clay, you can develop a comprehensive and effective skincare routine for the colder months.
In conclusion, natural skin care in winter isn't just about applying creams and balms. It's a holistic approach that includes care from the inside and out. Using natural products like zeolite and healing clay, as well as microorganisms, can be an excellent addition to your skincare routine to keep skin healthy and radiant in winter.
