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My skin has been ridiculously dry lately. I know it is winter and I know I live in Colorado, but my skin has never been this dry! Also, my hands never get overly dry because I constantly put lotion on but for some reason, they have been so dry and itchy!!
So I went on a little quest to find out which is better, oil or lotion? I was slightly surprise by what I found. Turns out, they are both great but they do have a greater impact depending on when you use them. I’ll first break down their benefits and then discuss when the best time to use them is.
Lotion
I would assume that most people use lotion. People love lotions!! I mean you can’t even walk through Bath and Body Works!! It’s always so packed! Lotions are typically water based so our skin absorbs the water and then the moisture is locked in. Lotion works wonders for dry skin, however; you do need to be aware of nasty chemicals that can be added to lotions. Since they are water based, they have to include preservatives which can be toxic chemicals! If you’re looking for a great non-toxic lotion, I use Alba Botanica and I absolutely love it! Also, avoid alcohols or gels in lotions that could potentially dry your skin out more.
Oils
If you are anything like me, you will think I am crazy for telling you to replace your lotion with oil. I thought it was going to make my skin greasy and break out! Turns out, it doesn’t make your skin greasy once it’s set in and it works great! Oil can mimic the natural lipids in our skin which means that when applied, our body treats it like our own skin. This allows the oil to help aid in repairing and regulating our moisture barrier. It seems pretty incredible! Until recently, I have only used jojoba oil on my body. But I will share my new oil mixture that I have been loving!
Typically, I use oils on my face rather than lotions. I thought at first my skin would break out but I have found the opposite to be true. I use an essence water right before I apply my serum, which makes sense, because you want that layer of water and then the serum to lock in that moisturizer. If you want to see the system I use for my face routine, you can check out my Things I Love page! Also, feel free to send me an email if you have any questions, because it’s a process!
Which One Is Best
Through my research, I have found this: If you are stepping out of the shower and your body is wet, oils are going to be the most beneficial. Also, in my opinion, oils are best for your face due to their restorative properties. When you body is dry (as in not wet), I would use lotion so that your body can pull in the water from the lotion and create that moisture. Finally, I really think it mainly comes down to personal preference. In the end, you just want soft, moisturized skin. So whatever works for your lifestyle is what I would go with!
My New Oil Mixture
I found this oil mixture when I was researching oils. I have been using it and my skin has been loving it! I put it on when I get out of the shower or bath while I am still wet! I don’t even towel off first. My warning for this oil is that a little goes a long way. If you put too much on, it’ll take a long time to soak in and “dry”. Also, do not put it in a mason jar like I did. It is hard to control the amount that comes out! Next time I make it, I plan to use something with a better pour spout!
The recipe for this oil is:
- 4oz organic sunflower oil
- 2oz organic jojoba oil
- 1oz organic sweet almond oil
- 1 teaspoon vitamin E oil
Even though I give measurements on here, do not think you have to follow them exaclty. I actually messed up and put in four ounces of jojoba oil and to level it out, I added slightly more sweet almond oil and vitamin E oil. It still came out great and works perfectly!
Let me know if you try this oil mixture and if you have any mixtures of your own, drop them in the comments!