How to Avoid Winter Chapped Skin & Lips

Throughout the winter our hands and face are exposed to the elements, and here in New England that means cold wind and raw snow.

Increased hand-washing to decrease exposure to both seasonal and environmental threats adds another layer of dryness to the mix!

Here are a few tried-and-true tips and oils to support chapped hands, cheeks, or lips.

1. Hydrate!! Our skin tends to “dry out” when we are dehydrated more easily, so drink at least 1/2 your body weight in ounces of water daily. If you have an 80-lb child, they should be drinking 40 oz. of water a day. Need a little help getting your little ones excited about drinking their water?

   1. Use frozen fruit in place of ice cubes or consider buying mustache straws.

   2. Infuse your water with flavor by adding fruits like berries, cucumbers, lemons and limes. In the winter months, it may be easier to reach for your oils for delicious flavor infusions! Add one drop of doTERRA’s ginger, wild orange, grapefruit, lemon, lime and even lavender for a flavor boost all year long.

   3. Freeze ice cube trays with berries and add this to your water to keep it extra cold.

   4. Provide your child with their own special drinking cup.

   5. Buy tiny water bottles (4 or 8 ounces) that are easy for kids to hold and drink. Teach and encourage them to use the faucet to fill their cup, how to use the water dispenser on the fridge, or the Berkey on the counter.

   6. Set up a reward system when your child drinks more water.

   7. Be a role model. The more your children see you carrying out healthy habits, the more likely they are to do the same.

2. Don’t skip your fruits and veggies!! I understand it can be challenging finding good quality fruit after experiencing all the farmers markets or your own garden through the summer, but grab frozen and thrown it in a smoothie, or make it a habit to eat a spinach salad every other day.
   
   A simple and delicious winter spinach salad:
   INGREDIENTS

   • 10 oz. bunch baby spinach

   • 1/2 cup dried cherries or craisins

   • 3 green onions sliced

   • 1 green apple cored and thinly sliced

   • 1/2 cup seedless red grapes cut in half

   • 1/4 cup pecans

   • 1/2 cup crumbled Gorgonzola cheese

   DRESSING:

   • 1/2 cup olive oil

   • 1/4 cup cider vinegar

   • 1/2 tsp dried onion

   • 2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice (No fresh lemons on hand? In general 2-3 drops of lemon essential oil equals around a teaspoon of lemon juice).

   • 2 Tbsp maple syrup

   • 1/4 tsp salt

   • 1/4 tsp pepper

   INSTRUCTIONS:

   • Combine spinach, cherries, green onions, apple slices, grapes and pecans

   • Add dressing and toss

   • Garnish with Gorgonzola cheese

   For the dressing, combine all ingredients in a jar and shake until evenly combined.

3. Protect your body, use high quality lip balm (stir away from petroleum based) and cover your skin with fractionated coconut oil or almond oil after showers. I put it on when my skin is still wet and rub it in (careful if you do this in the tup it gets slippery) then dry off as usual.

4. Use doTERRA’s Frankincense, Lavender, and Yarrow-pom to support healing if damage has occurred.

5. Create a moisturizing nightly routine. I lather up with doTERRA’s Body Butter and the unscented lotion ( I add a drop of Adaptiv and Copaiba to help replenish my skin and settle my emotions).

6. Cover up! If you’re outside exposed to wind or cold, make sure as much skin is covered as possible. Remember the skin on your face is just as sensitive as the skin on your hands.