My number one go-to for great winter skin? Olive oil, extra virgin.
A bottle of this from the grocery store will last you ages, and you can even use it in your salads!
But yes, olive oil is great for moisturizing all skin types (with the exception of very oily), and is easily absorbed. Add some essential oils and a teeny bit of jojoba oil to your olive oil, and you have yourself a great multi-purpose body oil. Essential oils of lavender and rosemary are relatively easy to find and make a great calming and refreshing blend for body oil. That would definitely be a winter pick-me-up!
I like using olive oil for moisturizing my cuticles (they become insanely scaly due to frequent hand washing and the cold/heat exposure indoors and outdoors), arms/elbows, and legs (but only before bed, during the day it's too much unless you keep your PJ pants on all day).
I would suggest taking a nice, hot (but not too hot) shower, and then using your body oil right after drying off. The more moist your skin is out of the shower, the deeper penetrating your body oil will be through the layers of epidermis.
If you can find yourself an empty glass bottle with a cap, here is a good recipe. Make small amounts at a time to keep your body oil fresh and to not waste. Remember, you can always make more in a pinch.
Easy-peasy Body oil
60 ml Extra Virgin Olive Oil
20 ml Jojoba oil (this can be found in most health food stores, and some pharmacies)
10-15 drops essential oil *
*You can use the lavender/rosemary combination I wrote above, or you can come up with your own blend. Just be sure to do your research and make sure they are non-irritating to the skin and there are no negative interactions (for example, pregnant or nursing women should avoid certain essential oils).
Other things to remember for combating winter dryness are:
a) Drink more water. You'd be amazed at how many people are constantly dehydrated. I learned this when I started losing weight and realized that I really needed to drink more. Way more. Get a cheap water bottle and keep it with you so you don't forget.
b) Do NOT take boiling hot showers! Biggest mistake ever!
I know it's cold, and sometimes you just need a hot shower, but keep the heat at a normal temperature. Try not to have red skin when you exit the shower. It seems that men have a habit of taking super hot showers, though I have no idea why...so change that.
c) Invest in a good lotion/cream and keep it nearby.
The most common reason for not using moisturizer is because it is not accessible. I'm not saying you have to strap it to yourself, but keep it handy during the day, especially for after post-hand wash moisture.
I also want to say that expensive is not necessarily better- go online, read some product reviews (I suggest makeupalley.com) and try out a few small sized products. If you find one you really like, there is nothing wrong with sticking to it. One of my favourite hand creams of all time is Udderly Smooth Udder Cream.
Don't knock it 'til you've tried it. If it's good enough for cow boobies, it's good enough for me.
d) Wear gloves outside and to bed. It is winter, so the first part should need no explanation. For indoor use, slather on a good amount of cream, get some cotton gloves from the pharmacy, and wear those babies for at least 30 minutes. Sleeping with them on would be even better. For superior results, once a week use a scrub on your hands to get off all the dry, flaky skin, then rub down with your body oil. Apply hand cream, put on your gloves and you're good to go.
Well, there are probably more tips I can give you guys, but I will save those for a later post.
Keep warm, keep well, and keep moist!
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