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Wellness

The DIY Canadian winter body oil recipe your skin will love

Julie Clark, owner of Province Apothecary, shares her favourite homemade body oil recipe that balances skin and fights winter dullness.
Homemade body oil Make this DIY body oil at home for supple, soft skin this winter (Photo iStock).

When the air becomes cold and dry and I make this hydrating body oil to soothe my skin. You can find all of these ingredients at your local health food store:

Canadian winter body oil recipe Ingredients* 40 ml hemp oil 40 ml sunflower oil 20 ml olive oil 10 ml avocado oil 10 ml pumpkin seed oil 1 ml vitamin E

*Use organic and cold-pressed oils when possible

Directions 1. Blend oils together and add desired essential oils. Keep in a dark bottle in a cool place.

2. After exfoliating your body in the shower or bath, apply your body oil to slightly moist skin.

For a stimulating wake-up oil add any of these to the mixture: Peppermint, basil, rosemary, lemon, grapefruit, cypress and geranium.

For a calming night oil add: Clary sage, lavender, chamomile, lemongrass and jasmine.

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The benefits
Avocado oil is excellent for dry, dull, dehydrated and mature skin. It contains large amounts of antioxidants like vitamins A, D and E. It's rich in lecithin, potassium and omega-3 fatty acid. It also penetrates the outer layers of the skin, allowing it to be more deeply absorbed.

Hemp seed oil is believed by some to be nature's most perfectly balanced oil. It contains the perfectly balanced 3:1 ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 EFAs that nourish and moisturize your skin. These omegas also have great anti-aging benefits and help relieve dry skin, eczema, and psoriasis.

Sunflower oil is rich in vitamins A, B, D and E. It helps the skin retain its moisture, improving the appearance and health of your skin. It's light and absorbs easily without clogging or blocking pores and it's great for all skin types.

Balms are also an effective, easy and satisfying way to nourish the skin. They're extremely hydrating, healing and soothing. You can make them for any skin type and ailment (think baby balms, hand balms, sore muscle balms and seasonal ones too) — you just need the right mixture.

Based primarily on carrier and active oils, balms are made by adding things like beeswax to help solidify oils and slow down their oxidization process (which also prolongs the shelf life). Beeswax is a natural emulsifying, moisturizing and protecting agent that can't penetrate the outer layers of the skin so it helps to lock in moisture, soften skin and create a long-lasting protective layer against the elements.

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To learn more about homemade balms and oils, join me for a workshop at the Detox Market Toronto this Saturday (November 16, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. EST). To RSVP click here.

Julie Clark, founder of Province Apothecary, is a holistic health practitioner and aromatherapist. She has been hand making organic skincare products and treating clients with skin concerns for the past two years in her Toronto studio. Province Apothecary has taken the Just Beautiful Pledge and never uses any toxic ingredients!

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