Winter Skincare: The Power of Carrier Oils and Essential Oils

We love Winter – it brings crisp air, cosy evenings, and festive gatherings. But it also ushers in dry, cold weather that can wreak havoc on skin. The combination of low humidity, indoor heating, and chilly winds can leave your skin feeling dry, flaky, and irritated, but fortunately, nature provides us with a treasure trove of oils to combat these seasonal skincare issues.

Carrier oils and essential oils, when used correctly, can transform your winter skincare routine and keep your skin nourished, hydrated, and glowing.  Carrier oils are plant-based oils extracted from the fatty parts of plants, such as seeds, nuts, or kernels and are typically used to dilute essential oils but are also fabulously therapeutic used alone. Carrier oils are rich in vitamins, fatty acids, and antioxidants, offering numerous benefits for the skin – unlike essential oils, they can be used directly on skin.  Essential oils are concentrated plant extracts which are usually obtained through distillation or cold pressing. They capture the plant’s natural scent and therapeutic properties, the ‘essence’ of the plant or fruit if you like! Essential oils are highly concentrated and should never be applied directly to the skin without dilution in a carrier oil or an unscented cream or base lotion. They offer a wide range of benefits, from soothing dryness to calming irritation and boosting the skin’s natural glow.

The Benefits of Using Oils in Winter Skincare

1. Deep Hydration: Carrier oils penetrate deeply into the skin, locking in moisture and preventing dehydration caused by cold weather and indoor heating.
2. Protection: Many oils form a protective barrier on the skin, shielding it from harsh winds and environmental aggressors.
3. Nourishment: Oils are packed with vitamins, essential fatty acids, and antioxidants that nourish the skin and support its natural barrier function.
4. Healing: Many essential oils offer natural antibacterial, calming and soothing properties that help ease winter skin issues like redness, irritation, and flakiness.
5. Customisation: By blending carrier oils and essential oils, you can create personalised solutions tailored to your skin’s needs.

Best Carrier Oils for Winter Skincare

• Jojoba oil closely mimics the skin’s natural sebum, making it an excellent choice for Winter skincare. It’s lightweight, non-greasy, and deeply moisturising, ideal for all skin types, including oily and acne-prone skin.  It balances oil production, soothes irritation, and protects the skin barrier.  To use, just apply a few drops to damp skin after cleansing or mix it with your moisturiser.

• Argan oil is often referred to as “liquid gold,” it’s rich in vitamin E, antioxidants, and essential fatty acids. It’s particularly beneficial for dry or mature skin as it hydrates, improves skin texture, and improves skin elasticity.  Massage a few drops into your face and neck at night for intense hydration.

• Rosehip oil is packed with vitamins A and C, making it a powerful glow-boosting oil. It’s also great for soothing dry, flaky skin.  Blend it with your favourite essential oils for an overnight treatment – we love a drop of Rose essential oil.

• Sweet almond oil is lightweight, easily absorbed, and excellent for nourishing dry, sensitive skin.  It softens skin, soothes irritation, and reduces flakiness.  Use it as a body oil after a shower to lock in moisture.

• Coconut oil is a versatile carrier oil that works wonders for extremely dry skin. Its antibacterial properties also make it a good choice for soothing skin irritations.  Coconut oil is available as a solid product – you may have even seen it in the cooking aisles in the supermarkets, but it is also available as a fractioned version too which is made by separating the solid parts from the liquid, leaving a clear, odourless oil that will remain liquid even in cooler temperatures.  It’s fabulous as it provides intense hydration and creates a protective barrier on the skin’s surface.  Apply sparingly on extra-dry areas like elbows, knees, and heels.

Best Essential Oils for Winter Skincare

As much as we love these ultra-moisturising carrier oils, their therapeutic properties can be further elevated by combining them with essential oils.  Each essential oil has its own benefit and use and one of our classic favourites will always be Lavender oil!  And we think our lovely customers agree with this as year on year it’s always one of our best sellers.  It’s well-known for its calming and healing properties and has been used for thousands of years for its ability to soothe and relax, and for its naturally occurring antibacterial properties.  With regards to skincare, Lavender can be equally as calming to our body as it can our minds.
It reduces redness, soothes irritation, and promotes relaxation.  Just mix a few drops with a carrier oil and use it as a face serum or body massage oil – using it before sleep can also help instil a deep sense of relaxation.  Chamomile oil is excellent for sensitive or irritated skin, reduces dryness and soothes irritated or dry skin – just add 2-3 drops to a carrier oil and apply to affected areas (or just 1 drop for faces).  Throughout history, Frankincense oil has been prized as a powerful anti-aging essential oil that supports skin renewal and elasticity.  Combine it with a carrier oil like Rosehip for a rejuvenating night serum.  Tea tree oil is a great choice for those with acne-prone skin, even in winter.  It has been used as a key ingredient for blemish-prone skincare, and also in first aid remedies because of its powerful naturally anti-bacterial qualities.  It’s pretty concentrated so always dilute it at a ratio of about 1% in a base like a carrier oil or unscented face cream and apply as a spot treatment.

Get Creative at Home and Make your own, Bespoke Skincare to suit your Seasonal Needs

Don’t forget to perform a patch test of all ingredients you’re using if this is the first time you’re choosing them. Some skins can be sensitive so always follow dilution ratios of around 1-3% of essential oil to base for body and 1-2% for face, to ensure the perfect blend is achieved, as essential oils shouldn’t be used neat on the skin.

Hydrating Face Serum Recipe

Create a hydrating facial serum by blending 1 tablespoon of a carrier oil (e.g., Argan or Jojoba) with 3-5 drops of an essential oil (e.g., Lavender or Frankincense). Apply this serum at night to wake up with soft, glowing skin.

All-Over Body Oil

Mix Sweet Almond oil with 3 drops of your favourite essential oils (e.g., Chamomile and Geranium make a lovely combination). Massage onto damp skin after a shower to lock in moisture and leave your skin beautifully scented.

Dry Winter Lip Treatment

Combine a teaspoon of solid coconut oil with a drop of peppermint essential oil for a refreshing and hydrating lip balm.  To combine the oils, warm the solid coconut (it will be worth making a few batches as they make lovely gifts…) in a bain-marie and met the coconut oil gently.  Remove from the heat and add a few drops of Peppermint, then pour into small jars or pots and leave to set.  Apply as and when needed.

4. Scalp Treatment

For a dry, flaky scalp, mix 2 tablespoons of coconut oil with 3-5 drops of tea tree oil. Massage into your scalp, leave it on for 30 minutes, and wash thoroughly.  For a hair-growth boosting treatment, substitute the Tea Tree with Rosemary as this oil has been used for thousands of years to encourage healthy hair growth.

5. Hand and Foot Balm

Blend 2 tablespoons of shea butter with 1 tablespoon of sweet almond oil and 5 drops of lavender essential oil. Similarly to when making your lip treatment, melt the Shea in a bain-marie slowly and only add the essential oils when the butter is off the heat as too much heat can damage the therapeutic properties of the oils.  Apply generously to hands and feet before bed and wear cotton gloves or socks overnight.

As well as these lovely at-home, DIY treatments, it’s always lovely to visit a therapist and treat your skin to some professional care whether that’s a facial, pedicure or massage to get your circulation going in this chilly weather!

Winter doesn’t have to mean dry, dull skin. By incorporating carrier oils and essential oils into your skincare routine, you can nourish, protect, and rejuvenate your skin throughout the colder months. These natural oils provide a customisable, luxurious way to maintain healthy, radiant skin no matter how harsh the weather gets. Start experimenting with your own blends today and embrace the beauty of winter with confidence.