Oils are more than just food

Oils are more than just food

Hello winter! With the drop in temperature also comes dry itchy skin. I remember the days where my skin would be burning it was so dry. It was during the beginning of my Herbal studies when we learned the importance of using oils. The use of oils and herbal infusions is a mainstay practice in Eastern medicine. From food to massages, oils are nourishing for the body inside and out. Of course, I was skeptical when we were challenged to begin blending and using our own body oil recipes. I mean when it comes to dealing with dry sensitive skin, isn’t the rule of thumb, the thicker the lotion the better? Won’t I just end up an oily mess and stain my clothes? So, after some trials and errors, I found my recipe and hot dang imagine that, my predecessors were right!  Blending and infusing various oils with herbs and massaging them into the skin is an incredible way to hydrate and soothe the skin! Of course, I had to re-adjust my moisturizing method. Gone were the days of pumping out as much lotion as I can in an effort to keep the dry flakiness at bay. With oil, less is more. Give it a moment to soak in, like when we’ve applied too much lotion, and I don’t have stained clothes. I like to massage my body oil in right after coming out of the shower or tub. Skin is more absorbent when damp. Introducing certain herbs, like comfrey or chamomile, also adds a great level of healing and nourishment. Gone are the days of buying heavy moisturizers in bulk, crying that my legs are on fire due to jeans and cold weather.  No more dry rough knees and elbows. I use a quarter of the amount of oil in comparison to lotions, and my skin is so much happier!! So, give your skin some oil and see what happens. You’ll likely end up pleasantly surprised.