Winter skin - stay beautiful this winter

Winter has a unique fresh beauty, crisp, breathtaking and awakening. 

If the first blush of youth is way behind you, winter can also have a negative effect on your skin and hair as you get older. With skin regeneration taking longer, what can you do to stay looking beautiful through the winter months.

In times gone by Ancient Native Americans would use powdered root of Fire weed rubbed on their skin to protect from the cold. Ancient Romans used Olive oil in the same way and the tribes of Asiatic India were found to use butter.

Olive oil contains vitamins A and E and is still a great favourite. The most exposed skin in the winter is undoubtedly the face. One of the best ways to ex-foliate those dry dead skin cells away is a simple flannel with warm water every evening, not too abrasive to use daily , you can use olive oil on the flannel as it contains four powerful antioxidants which will cleanse, moisturise, protect and restore elasticity in a natural way.

To protect your face in the daytime, Rose hip Seed oil contains pro-vitamin A to regenerate the skin and is a source of essential fatty acids omega 6 and 3. Follow this with organic unrefined coconut oil, a good source of vitamin E, to add a protective barrier against the chill of the wind. Both of these oils can be used under make-up. Coconut oil also works well to protect your hair. Rub a little into the palms of your hands and gently smooth down to the ends.

Taking a daily bath with a half cup of a carrier oil such as Olive or Avocado will naturally protect and keep your skin feeling soft and looking dewy, I find this a much better alternative to using body lotions as the bath does the work for you.

People who suffer with dry flaky skin which worsens in the winter months, could be Omega 3 deficient according to reports from Mercola.com “Omega-3 fats help to normalise your skin fats and prevent dehydration in your cells. This keeps your skin cells strong and full of moisture, which can help to decrease the appearance of fine lines. Omega-3 fats can also help calm irritated skin, giving you a clearer, smoother complexion courtesy of its anti-inflammatory activity”.

Cod liver oil is a great supplement to take, it contains large amounts of Vitamin A,D and Omega 3 fatty acids and helps to improve dry skin conditions from the inside.

vitamin C, is key to the production of collagen, a protein that aids in the growth of cells and blood vessels and gives skin its firmness and strength. Vitamin C helps skin repair itself because it is an antioxidant that slows the rate of free-radical damage -- free radicals are unstable molecules that damage collagen and cause skin dryness, fine lines and wrinkles. New research shows that ascorbic acid 2-phosphate, a derivative of vitamin C, not only neutralise free radicals, but also reverses DNA damage [source: University of Leicester].

Stay beautiful this winter with these natural oils and essential vitamins and minerals.