Winter lotions

[Shekinah Lawrence]

I was thinking of doing s coconut oil and olive oil lotion with a touch of vanilla oil for scent. It will be a bit oily but it will smell great. Really easy to make and good for right out of the shower. If using for an infant leave out the vanilla oil. It would make them smell great but they be a bit sensitive to it. Plus it should still smell good.

[Brandy Lance]

Hi Shekinah,
Do you have a recipe for this or the equivalents that I should try? My 4 yo has an awful rash on his hands (we are thinking it's linked to dairy but also the dry winter air) and the only thing that seems to help is when I use a scent free, organic lotion and have him wear little gloves throughout the day and while he sleeps at night. I'd love to try something else that might take care of it faster and better. Thanks!

[Shekinah Lawrence]

So far I've just used plain olive oil or plain coconut oil.  I mix the two or use whatever is available.  Many times I can't even find my essential oils in time to add them for fragrance.  Rashes are hard to deal with.  I know a friend of mine has a daughter that has exema. ( I know I spelled that wrong!) and she uses Melaluca's Renew lotion and that seems to work really well.  I like it too but you can only buy it from them at Melaluca.com.  Not promoting them of anything, I just used it before and I like it too.  I'm always on the hunt for natural lotions and soaps because I'm a bit lazy and new to making them myself.  Make sure to wash your baby's hands in luke warm water because too hot or too cold will only irritate the rash.  Hope that helps!

[Sally Bishop]

I use oil instead of lotion and have for years.  Coconut and olive oils are a good mix for me, too.  I use whatever essential oil seems "right" to me.  Usually it's a lavender, sweet orange and rosewood blend, and very mild. 

 

I apply the oil sparingly after I shower, when my skin is still wet.  It rubs in quite nicely.  In fact, I have a theory that  since lotion is simply emulsified oil and water, rubbing oil into wet skin creates a sort of emulsion as well.  If you rub oil into dry skin, it's not quite the same - you get oily skin rather than moisturized skin. 

 

I have eczema as well, and the oil helps alleviate the discomfort, but does not heal it.  Stress makes it worse, as does winter.  But I figure I need to figure out what to *eliminate* and that will cure my eczema. 

 

Vanilla sounds yummy!

[Susan Roragen]

Coconut oil is my go-to for many things, but on my face it just causes awfully dry skin (and I've tried for years hoping it would get better). So I've begun using straight olive oil before bed and no more dry flaking! I do use CO on my damp body after a shower and that works well. :)