Hydrated skin is healthy skin.
Our skin acts as a barrier between our internal organs and the environment. Healthy skin keeps us hydrated, helps with temperature regulation, retains body fluids, and protects us from infections.
When skin is dry or has a compromised barrier, it is harder for it to do these things and we are at increased risk of skin infections.
As the crisp winter air and internal heaters start to strip our skin of moisture, there are a few things that can help sustain a strong, healthy skin barrier all over our body.
Start using a body cream rich in plant glycerin, hydrating butters & olive oil
Plant glycerine
Glycerine is a humectant meaning it draws and binds water into the skin so it is a perfect ingredient to look for in your all-over body lotion or cream. Check the ingredients to make sure it says that the glycerine is plant based. Plant based means it is derived from plant fats and oils such as coconut, palm, soy or rapeseed. This is the superior and safest choice because it is free from petrochemicals and is hypoallergenic.
Cacao Butter
Butters like cacao, shea and mango butters are essential for winter skincare. They posses emollient and occlusive properties and form a thick, protective seal on the top layer of skin which helps to reduce water loss - which we are more susceptible to in dry, indoor heating. Plant butters generally have high nutritive value and can deliver additional nutrients to your skin. Cacoa butter for example is rich in lipids like stearic and oleic acid, and is full of antioxidants & polyphenols - together these help to prevent flaking and cracking skin and prevent oxidative stress and environmental damage.
Olive Oil and Squalene
Olive oil is an amazing moisturisers for your skin body. It is full of antioxidants and vitamins to help nourish the skin and fight oxidative stress. Olive oil is rich in the active squalene which provides many benefits similar to hyaluronic acid and more. It is incredibly hydrating and moisturising and also has antioxidant properties.
The Healthy Body Lotion is made from olive oil, sweet almond oil, cacao butter, plant glycerine , avocado oil and plant extracts like pomegranate, rose hip and calendula. It provides skin with a luxurious moisturising barrier while bringing vitamins A (vitamin A is where retinol is derived from) & E.
Slugging without petroleum for extra dry skin patches
Slugging is a skin protection technique where you apply a layer of product over extra dry areas for ultra hydration and in some cases, to proved a thing barrier. It is often suggested to do this with Vaseline or petroleum jelly. But here's why we think this is old-school thinking and why ditching the petrochemicals and upgrading to plant-based slugging options is much better for your skin.
Plant-based options provide nutrients. Petroleum and its by-products don't contain any nutrients. When you use something like The Skin Balm, you get a nutritive rich boost to your skin, full of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. It nourishes and protects. The Skin Balm is a beautiful blend of beeswax and mango butter which offer a protective breathable layer, olive and macadamia seed oils full of vitamins and squalene and plant extracts like calendula, carrot seed and chamomile for bonus soothing and restorative properties. Petroleum can provide a layer of protection, but that is it, the skin cannot breath which means it cannot heal, and it doesn't receive any additional rejuvenating and healing nutrients.
Slugging can be done on certain areas like cracked heals, elbows, hands and lips and you leave it over night. Some people like to apply a thin layer over whole areas like their face or legs if they are experiencing very dry, sensitive skin or eczema flareups.
The Skin Balm customer results, quickly cleared a dry, irritated & itchy patch
Ditch synthetic foaming agents in body wash and soap for gentle, hydrating all over body cleanser
This is a quick win for improving your skin barrier, hydration & health. Soaps and body washes with synthetic surfactants can be very drying and strip the natural oils on the skin. Switching to a gentle, pH balanced cleanser with moisturising properties can keep skin hydrated, feeling soft and smooth. The Tea Tree Whipped Body Wash is a creamy cleanser made with a hydrating coconut base and terpinen-4-ol from ETTO's tea tree leaf oil to help soothe redness and irritation.
It's also best to avoid hot showers and baths as this can quickly dehydrate and irritate the skin. Stick to lukewarm showers under 10 minutes.
Shop The Tea Tree Whipped Cleansing Foam for smooth, clear skin
Keep lips hydrated naturally without petroleum
The lips have the most fragile skin that is quite thin and needs extra care. Winter can really take its toll on our lips often resulting in super dryness and cracks. Avoiding petroleum based lip products is the best way to avoid unnecessary chemicals, synthetics and petrochemicals. Petrochemical based products don't allow the skin to breathe and they don't provide additional naturally occurring nutrients. Petrochemical derived products can be shown on the ingredients list under many different names. Stick to ingredients lists with names of products you actually know. Like beeswax, macadamia, hemp seed oil and Manuka honey - all naturally occurring ingredients full of nourishment and effective properties.We especially like using The Lip Shield at this time of year as it contains lysine, zinc & terpinen-4-ol - powerful protectors from solar & viral irritants. Lysine is well known as a remedy for cold sores. Zinc is a natural healer and provides some solar protection. Terpinen-4-ol is the bioactive in ETTO's tea tree leaf oil and is a powerful and potent ingredient. Studies show terpinen-4-ol has antimicrobial, antiviral and antifungal properties.
Some practical everyday tips for keeping skin hydrated during winter
Stay hydrated internally - drink warm water and herbal teas. Caffeinated drinks are dehydrating so if you do have some coffee or caffeinated tea, make sure your also having drinks that will rehydrate you throughout the day.
Eat healthy fats - for plump, supple and moisturised skin, you are what you eat so make sure to eat plenty of whole foods including things high in omega 3s and omega 6 fatty acids. Salmon, walnuts, flaxseeds, avocados, olives and coconut oil are all good fats.
Eat foods high in antioxidants - just as we speak of the antioxidant ingredients in our skincare products, like vitamin e and a, it's important to eat them too! These bring antioxidants to our whole system and this helps with skin health, healthy aging and skin ageing. Think dark colour berries, leafy greens, dark chocolate, fruits high in vitamin c like kiwi fruits, red capsicum and Kakadu plum powder, nuts and seeds like sunflower seeds, pepitas (pumpkin seeds), pecans and brazil nuts for selenium.
Moisturise after a shower - this one is fairly well known but it's always a good reminder as sometimes in the name of saving times it doesn't happen! It is best to massage on your body lotion or oil straight after your bath or shower while the skin is still damp to improve absorption.