Winter Skin Care 101

Winter is just around the corner and the cold weather can play havoc on the skin. Every season we should evaluate our skin care routine. For instance, during the winter months the sebaceous (oil) glands produce less oil; thus for those with oily skin during the summer months they may find some relief from excess oil during the winter. However for those of us with combination skin or dry skin, the winter months dry out the skin even more.

Below are suggestions to help you combat dry skin in the winter time:

Hydrate the Face - both inside and outside. Winter is the perfect time for warm herbal teas loaded with antioxidants. Additionally, you should have a daytime moisturizer that still includes SPF and an emollient rich nighttime cream. Consider a lotion during the day and a cream at night time. Consider creams that contain shea butter, avocado oil, and olive oil for example. Avoid moisturizers that contain alcohol and synthetic preservatives, fragrances, and coloring, as these have a tendency to strip the skin of its natural oils and have a drying effect on the skin.

Cleansing - we all know that we should stay clear of harsh soaps on our face. We also know that we should avoid extremely hot showers, although they are so tempting when it's zero degrees! Hot water strips the skin of its natural oils thus drying out the skin.

Cleansing for the body, consider a body wash that is gentle and can enrich the skin such as aloe Vera. I love these body washes.

After your shower pat down with a lotion rich in moisture such as shea butter. Check out these body butters loaded with nourishing ingredients body butters.


Facial Cleansing - this is probably the most important part of your skin care routine. A good cleanser will thoroughly clean the skin and not strip away natural oils. Check out this gentle cleanser loaded with hebal extracts, omega 3's, and natural oils.

Facial Toning - this is a matter of preference. I have read and written several articles about the importance of toners, however there are some that say it is not needed. Personally, I love my homemade green tea and chamomile toner. Get the recipe here

Body Exfoliate - A good exfoliate once a week will perk up skin and color by promoting circulation under the skin. There are various types on the market and there are also some great body scrub recipes. If looking to purchase a body scrub consider these body scrubs. If you are considering making your own or would like to make some for a gift, read my post DIY Christmas Gifts

Facial Exfoliate - usually once a week. For an easy exfoliate, add a little cornmeal to your facial cleansing. You will notice a difference in the feel and look of your complexion.

Facial Masks - A facial mask can do so much to hydrate deep down into the lower layers of the skin. There are numerous types on the market, I like this dead sea mud mask. Addtionally, I make my own masks, such as an Oatmeal mask or visit Complete Skin Care Therapy


Lips - thin skinned and no oil producing glands in the lips. They take a beating during the winter. If you suffer from chapped lips all winter long consider a waxy lip balm to lock in moisture and protect before you got outdoors. Consider a lip balm that contain avocado, olive, or soybean, they soften and soothe, while vitamin A-rich shea butter promotes healing. Check out Burt's Bees Replenishing Lip Balm with Pomegranate

Hands and Feet - just like the face, if you do not wear gloves, the hands are exposed to the winter elements. They need moisture and protection to. Consider a day lotion with SPF and at night give them a treatment with some shea butter for example. The feet which never see the light of day during the winter months are still vulnerable to cracks and dry skin and prone to developing fungus. Consider a balm with peppermint or tea tree oil at night to fight fungus, and cover your feet with cotton socks. Additionally a weekly soak in Epsom salts does wonders to relieve foot ache, fungus and cleanse.

Well those are my winter skin care tips; I would love to hear what changes you make in you skin care routine for the winter. How about eye makeup, do you change colors or application during the winter?

Happy Holidays from Carol at Complete Skin Care Therapy

Don’t let Seasonal Affective Disorder get you down – there are home remedies!

It is that time of year again when the days are getting shorter and winter blues have a tendency to set in. These winter blues is known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), and the primary cause of this of this disorder is lack of light. That is why Seasonal Affective is more prevalent in the northern parts of the country due to the extremely long periods of darkness. For some, this type of depression can be incapacitating due to severe depression, feelings of hopelessness, anxiety, and social withdrawal to name a few.

There are approximately 10 million to 25 million Americans, 75 percent of whom are women, who suffer from this subtype of depression called seasonal affective disorder. As indicated above this condition can incapacitate otherwise healthy people while others may experience mild symptoms such as grumpiness and general irritability.

SAD usually sets in about late October when the days start getting shorter and dissipates in early spring. The difference between this type pf depression and other mental illness diseases is that, as the name implies, it is seasonal. Furthermore SAD symptoms can be remedied with out the use of prescription drugs for the most part. However, if light therapy and home remedies do not alleviate your SAD symptoms, you should visit your doctor to ensure that there are not other health issues causing your depression.

Light Therapy – This should be your first line of defense. Lighten up your living and workspace that closely match natural daylight. Start at about 30 minuets a day and evaluate your symptoms on a weekly basis, if symptoms do not improve increase your light therapy to 45 minutes a day. Believe it or not you should feel better in three to four days. Light boxes specially made for light therapy can be quite expensive. However, light therapy should be your first choice in combating SAD and so much better than prescription drugs. You can find light boxes at Amazon.com starting at about $70.00

Diet and Exercise – we all know exercise reduces stress and anxiety. Make it a point to get a little exercise each day. Additionally eat more foods high in omega 3 fatty acids, such as mackerel and salmon. A study found that people with depression often have low levels of omega 3s.



Natural Remedy such as St. John’s wort has been used to ward off depression. It may be helpful if you symptoms are mild to moderate. Get St John’s Wort for $5.50!




Tired of singing the blues? Brighten your spirits with St. John's wort and start whistling a happy tune! St. John's wort has become one of the world's most popular herbal supplements, thanks to the unique support it provides for emotional well-being. Our easy-to-take capsules provide 375 mg of whole herb for effective daily supplementation. Limit 3 Bottles . Get your St John's Wort


Aromatherapy – consider aromatherapy with your light treatment. Select one of these essential oils and use in a diffuser, or mix with some potpourri. Essential oils such as basil, bergamot, cedarwood, clary sage, frankincense, geranium, grapefruit, lavender, lemon, jasmine, myrrh, neroli, rose, sandalwood, spruce, orange, and ylang ylang. Get your essential oils at:







Check out this handy dandy difusser light bulb ring! Just place a few drops of essential oil on the ring and fill your home with a wonderful scent. Only $3.75




I do hope these home remedies help, if not seek professional help. There is no reason to sing the winter blues all winter long.

EASY DIY Holiday Gifts

While the White House and Wall Street state the recession is almost over here on Main Street that does not seem to be the case. Seems like everyday I hear about more layoffs and people struggling to get by. So what can you do in this tough economy when discretionary $$ are scarce and the holiday’s are just around the corner.


Below are easy DIY holiday gifts that will please and delight any recipient. Additionally they are eco-friendly.

Relaxing Lavender Sugar Scrub
1/2 cup of jojoba oil
3/4 cup of white cane sugar
1 teaspoon Vitamin E
1/4 cup almond oil
6 drops of lavender essential oil
Directions: Combine all ingredients in large bowl. Mix until combined, and then pour into desired container.

Rejuvenating Body Scrub
3-4 drops of Peppermint Oil
5 tablespoons of sea salt
1/2 teaspoon carrier oil such as almond or grapeseed.
Mix the peppermint oil and sea salt together. Add the carrier oil and then add enough water to moisten the mixture.

Candy Cane Bath Salts
3 cups of Epsom salts or sea salts
3 Teaspoons of Sweet Almond Oil
9 drops of Peppermint Essential Oil
1 drop of red food coloring (more if you like)
1 drop of green food coloring

Get three bowls, in each of the bowls add 1 cup of salts, 1 teaspoon almond oil, 3 teaspoons of peppermint essential oil. Add 1 drop of each of the food coloring to two of bowls. You will end up with a bowl of red, green and white. Let sit a few hours.

To create the candy cane effect layer layers of each color, a layer of red, a layer of green , a layer of white, over and over until you fill the jar.

Decorate the jar with red and green ribbon, candy cane gift tags or several small candy canes.

Euphoric Fizzy Bath Salts
Sea Salt--3 tbsp
Baking Soda--3 tbsp
Citric Acid--1 tbsp
Essential Oils--8 drops
Jar--4 oz
Choose 3 or 4 oils from these essential oils: Champaca absolute, Clary Sage,
Grapefruit, Jasmine absolute, Linden absolute, Myrrh, patchouli, Rose, and
Ylang Ylang. Add sea salt, baking soda, citric acid and oils to jar. Gently shake to mix ingredients. Add to tub of running water.


Get your oils and salts at:

Klutz - Natural Beauty Book - A celebration of beauty without artifice, The Natural Beauty Book is filled with wonderful ways to treat your skin, hair and nails. Think of it as a complete home spa experience in a book. It features more than 60 simple recipes, for everything from bath salts and facial masks to tub infusions and hair rinses, all made using easy-to-find ingredients from your kitchen cupboard. Attached to the book is a complete personal home spa kit, including a facial loofah, a nail brush, a pumice stone, and vials of fragrant essential oils.

In Making Faces, Kevyn Aucoin, North Americas preeminent makeup artist, shares his secrets, explaining not only the basics of makeup application and technique but also how to use those fundamentals (sometimes in unconventional ways) to create a wide range of different looks.

Also check out my Green Christmas Gift Ideas

For skin care recipes and skin care articles, visit Complete Skin Care Therapy

Avocado - not just for guacamole – a splendid skin care treatment

Avocado and avocado oil offers so many benefits when used in your skin products. Did you know that avocado contains vitamins A, B1, B2 and D, lecithin, potassium as well as vitamin E. In addition to the vitamins it contains proteins and more than 20% essential fatty acids (amino acids). It is a sought after skin care ingredient because it has so much to offer.

Avocados are used in anti-aging products because of its nourishing and hydrating abilities. The Department of Food Engineering and Biotechnology, Technion Israel Institute of Technology in 1991 found that avocado oil significantly increases collagen in the skin which is why it is commonly found in antiaging products. Furthermore because of its deep penetration into the skin it is a perfect ingredient to combat dry skin. For those that suffer with eczema or psoriasis avocado offers healing properties that will relive dryness. Both avocado and avocado oil is gentle and well tolerated by those with sensitive skin.

In addition to its moisturizing and healing properties, it is also high in sterolins, AKA plant steroids, which are reported to diminish age spots and heal scars. If you never had an avocado facial, try one; your skin will love you for it!

Below are a few avocado skin care recipes:

Facial Mask for Dry Skin½ avocado
1 teaspoon almond oil (Note if allergic to nuts use different oil such as jojoba oil or olive oil). Even a vegetable oil in your cupboard will do.)
Mash avocado and then add almond oil or oil of your choice.
Apply to face, avoiding the eye area, and let set for 15 minutes. Rinse with warm water then cool water. Follow with toner and moisturizer.

Avocado and Honey Face Mask – for dry skin
2 tablespoons of avocado
2 tablespoons honey
1 egg yolk
Mash the avocado, add the honey and egg. Mix until thoroughly blended. Apply to face avoiding the eye area. Let set 10 minutes then rise with warm water then cool water. Follow with toner and moisturizer.

Avocado Mask for Oily Skin
1 avocado, mash
1 egg white
1 tsp. lemon juice
Place all ingredients into a blender and blend until you get a mixture. Apply to a clean face with fingertips on the oiliest part of the face (T-zone). Let dry for 20 minutes. Rinse with warm water then cool water, follow with toner and moisturizer.


Avocado’s can be hard to find and/or a little pricey if living in a northern climate, so here are some recipes that use avocado oil instead.

Dry Skin Cleansing Cream
1/2 oz. Beeswax
1 oz. Lanolin
2 oz. Almond Oil
1 oz. Avocado Oil
1 oz. Grapeseed Oil
2 drops Clary-Sage Essential Oil
2 drops Lemon Essential Oil
3 oz. Spring Water
Instructions:
Using a double boiler, melt beeswax, lanolin, and oils. Stir well. When melted, take off heat and add essential oils, then water. Wisk until cool.


Get your ingredients at:

For more skin care recipes and skin care articles, visit Complete Skin Care Therapy




Avocado Facial Mask

Skinsational Ebook

The Naturally Skinsational recipe ebook provides a wonderful selection of homemade natural skin care recipes for facial treatments.

Oatmeal facial mask video – a luxurious skin care treatment

Oatmeal in skin care products has been around as long as I can remember and I will say that I am now over 50 years old. As a teenager I recall using facial masks and bath and body products that contained oatmeal. I loved oatmeal skin care products then, and to this day I still use oatmeal in my skin care routine. The only difference now is that I make my own oatmeal scrubs and masks and will soon try my hand at making some oatmeal bar soaps.

Oatmeal has wonderful properties that can nourish and heal and good for all skin types. It is hypoallergenic and contains amino acids which will keep the skin will hydrated. As we all know amino acids have a positive effect upon cells. They can help improve skin that has been scarred and I have read that they are more powerful than alpha-hydroxyls in terms of smoothing the skin and improving tone and color. Another plus is amino acid is not photosensitive and does not cause irritation that alpha and beta hydroxyls have.

Additionally you may have seen the term colloidal oatmeal listed in your oatmeal bath and skin care products, this is simply oats that are ground into an extremely fine powder. The oatmeal is ground so fine that it blends easily with water, such as in a bath, or in lotions and creams.

Also, did you know that oats are recognized by the Food and Drug Administration for its natural skin protection? Furthermore, oats are so versatile; you can mix and match your ingredients depending on your skin type and skin care need.

So without further ado, get out the oatmeal and prepare for a wonderful facial mask. If a soaking bath is in order, get out the grinder and grind up some oats and add a little to your bath water. I suggest that you use old fashioned rolled oats.

Basic Oatmeal Facial mask with exfoliating properties
3/4 cup dry Oatmeal
1/3 cup warm water
Mix the ingredients together until a paste is formed. Spread evenly over face and neck avoiding the eye area. Sit back and relax, maybe through a couple of sliced cucumbers on the eyes for the ultimate spa experience. When the mask starts to feel a little itchy, because ithe oats are drying, rinse with warm water then cool water. Follow with toner and moisturizer.

Oatmeal Dry Skin Facial Mask
1 Egg (naturally if allergic to eggs do not use)
1/2 cup Oatmeal
2 teaspoons extra virgin Olive oil or almond oil (do not use almond oil if allergic to nuts)
Mix all the ingredients to form a paste. Adjust oatmeal or oil so that you have a thick paste that will not run. Apply to face and neck avoiding the eye area. Leave on 15 to 20 minutes. Rinse with warm water then cool water. Follow with a homemade toner and moisturizer.

Oatmeal Oily Skin Mask1 Egg white (has astringent properties)
1 tablespoon Oatmeal
1/2 teaspoon Lemon juice (has astringent properties and skin whitening properties)
Beat the egg and slowly add the oatmeal then lemon juice. Adjust if needed so that you have a good paste that will not run. Apply over face and neck avoiding the eye area. When the oatmeal starts to dry and slight itching begins rinse with warm water then cool water. Follow with a toner and moisturizer. Note: lemon has photosensitivity properties so best used in the evening.

These are just a few of the facial masks you can make with oatmeal. There are a variety of other ingredients you can use such as honey, yogurt, milk, baking soda, etc. However, as with all skin care products a patch test is always recommended.


Wild oats, honey and vitamins combine to create this unique hydrating mask - deep penetrating and long lasting moisturizing. Soothe and moisturize dry, rough skin, soften and eliminate skin rashes. Provides healing skin care that moisturizes and hydrates renewing molecular moisture and retention. Increases cellular rejuvenation and turnover for fresh moisture rich skin. Get your oatmeal mask.

Aveeno Active Naturals Daily Moisturizing Body Wash with Natural Collidial Oatmeal - 18 oz bottles, pack of three!

For more skin care recipes and skin care articles, visit Complete Skin Care Therapy

Is Your Hand Sanitizer Working?

With the onset of the H1N1 pandemic and the normal flu season at bay, it is no wonder that hand sanitizer sales are on the rise. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers kill harmful bacterial, such as streptococcus, salmonella, staphylococcus, E. coli and shigella. Hand sanitizers physically destroy the germs however these products do not claim to kill viruses.

While hand sanitizers can be useful when soap and water are not available, there are key elements that make them effective. For a hand sanitizer to be effective it must contain at least 63% Ethyl Alcohol, any percent less than that will not be effective in killing germs. Unfortunately there are hand sanitizers on the market with an alcohol content of 40% which will have no effect when sanitizing the hands. Always check the label for the concentration of alcohol if buying an alcohol based hand sanitizer.

Furthermore, just like properly washing your hands a hand sanitizer needs to be applied to the top, bottom, sides, inside fingers and fingertips. Rub vigorously with enough cleaner to get them damp and continue rubbing together until they appear dry. If this dry feeling occurs within les then 15 seconds you have not used enough cleaner.

Lately it has also been an issue in schools about the flammability of the alcohol in hand sanitizers and the potential misuse they may pose as an intoxicant. Thus alcohol based hand sanitizers have been banned from some schools. As an alternative to these alcohol based sanitizers a chemical called benzalkonium chloride is used instead of alcohol.

If you are an environmentalist such as me, I have a problem with throwing all those little plastic bottles in the trash. I also have a problem with the chemicals contained in them and the fact that they are getting a little pricey! How about a more natural remedy to sanitize your hands and with no ill effect on the environment!

Here is the recipe!

2 parts aloe gel (NOT juice)
1 part distilled water (NOT tap)
1 part ethyl alcohol-(such as vodka) (NOT isopropyl)
4-5 drops tea tree oil - a great antibacterial essential oil
Lavender oil or other fragrance oil to your liking, also blends well with blends well with lemon, eucalyptus, clove, cinnamon, and orange to name a few.

Although this may not have a concentration of 63% alcohol, the essential oil Tea tree oil has antiseptic, antibiotic, antiviral, and other wonderful properties to ward of germs.

Get your ingredients at:







CleanWell hand sanitizers are made with a patented formulation of essential plant oils lab proven to kill 99.99 percent of the harmful germs. CleanWell is the only hand sanitizer that is all-natural and alcohol-free. The ingredients in CleanWell are safe for kids, non-toxic, and come from rapidly renewable resources that grow abundantly worldwide.