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I suffer from terrible dry skin. Maybe it’s living in this cold canadian climate but 8/12 months of the year my skin is dry, flaky and scaly. Yes, like a snake…and quite honestly, it’s embarrassing. I do my best to moisturize frequently but in the winter that basically becomes a part-time job. My hands are the worst and with my nail-biting habit I can be pretty self-conscious about them.

I’ve tried out all sorts of moisturizers for dry skin but none of them seem to do the trick. They deal with the issue temporarily but are no long(or longer) term solution. Why do these products always fail? If you look at the ingredient list almost always the first one is water! Water-based moisturizers may make the skin feel moist and smooth at first but not so much in the long run. It feels good on the surface layer but the water is unable to penetrate deep down into the skin layers where most of the water content that keeps the skin hydrated resides. 

In the winter months water evaporates from the skin at a higher rate so rather than trying to put water back in, you’re better off trying to seal in the water that is already there. So what you really want is a moisturizer with an oil-base. An oil-based moisturizer works a lot like our bodies subaceous glands. Subaceous glands secrete an oil called sebum providing a protective layer on the surface of the skin.  

Is putting coconut oil on my body taking my obsession too far? Perhaps…but it works! I’m like the Dad in My Big Fat Greek Wedding who thinks Windex is the cure-all. For real though I think I have finally found the solution to my chronically dry skin.

Besides this being the only moisturizer that has ever actually worked for me I love the fact that it’s made with only 3 ingredients and they are all natural! Plus it leaves you feeling soft and smooth all day long. You may need to re-apply once or twice on your hands since you’re likely washing them more than the rest of your body but certainly less than you would normally have to with conventional moisturizers. As for your body, apply immediately after showering and expect your skin to glow and smell a bit like a cookie 🙂

All you need is an electric mixer, coconut oil, cornstarch (or tapioca or arrowroot starch) and any scent of essential oil. You could even omit the essential oil if you like smelling like coconut. For this recipe I did a mixture of lavender and grapefruit essential oils. The combination smelled delicious! I actually wanted to lick my fingers but I showed some self-restraint. So, how do you do it? 
 
1) Put 1 cup of coconut oil into a large bowl and using the electric mixer beat for 5 minutes. Coconut oil should become fluffy and have a “whipped” consistency.
 
2) Add 1/2 tsp of cornstarch and beat for another 2 minutes. Mixture should thicken slightly.
 
3) Using your essential oil of choice add in 20 drops. Continue beating for another minute.
 
That’s it! This makes enough for one small mason jar, which is convenient for carrying around. This will last you quite some time since a little bit goes a long way. Use on your hands and body but avoid using on your face as it may clog your pores. Feel free to double the recipe and gift the other half to a friend. Spread the coconut oil love 🙂

Do you suffer from dry skin? What do you do to treat it? How about all-natural beauty products? Do you use them?

Meet the Maven

Hi! I'm Davida and welcome to my corner of the internet. I'm a wellness blogger, yoga teacher, certified herbalist, and green beauty lover.

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6 Comments

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  3. Yay! Has done wonders for my skin. I’m sure you’re body is probably so confused with the change in climate. Why can’t summer just get here already?

  4. This is amazing!!! I am making this!! I have really dry skin too (read: peeling from holiday sunburn) and this looks great awesome. Also am concerned about the chemicals in my lotions, this is perfect!!!