5 All-Natural Cures for Better Skin and Hair

Thanks to their ability to withstand cold climates, these all-natural cures are perfect for winter-proofing skin and hair. Here’s five ways on how to harness their beautifying powers.

Calm red, rashy skin with pine.

Winter’s harsh elements can be a recipe for itchy, inflamed skin. To remedy, look to pine! Oil from the tree’s needles has anti-inflammatory compounds that soothe irritated skin. And use with skin-repairing coconut oil to prevent future rashes.

Try: Mix 2 drops of pine oil like Artizen Pine Essential Oil (Buy on Amazon, $9.99) and 1⁄2 tablespoon of coconut oil. Rub on skin, let sit 15 minutes; dab away excess.

Fade age spots with mushrooms.

The skin-drying effects of the season’s cold outside air and dry indoor heat can cause pesky skin discoloration on the hands, face and décolletage to come into harsh focus. What can help: mushrooms! Potent kojic acid in the fungi acts like a mild bleach to naturally lighten dark spots. Even better? Mushrooms also have humectant properties that re-moisturize and lock hydration into skin to help make spots appear less noticeable even faster.

Buy: Origins Dr. Weil Mega-Mushroom Skin Relief Advanced Face Serum (Buy on Amazon, $44.13)

Repair dry, brittle hair with birch bark extract.

Winter weather can strip moisture from tresses, leaving them weak, dehydrated, and straw-like. The fix? Birch bark extract. It’s loaded with antioxidants and polyphenols that repair damage and strengthen strands at the roots. Plus, it balances hair’s pH level to keep it healthy and hydrated.

Buy: Herbal Essences Birch Bark Extract Sulfate-Free Hair Shampoo and Conditioner Kit (Buy on Amazon, $13.99)

Brighten the complexion with rowanberry.

A buildup of dry, flaky skin, thanks to cold temperatures and whipping winds, leaves the complexion looking dull. To the rescue: forest-grown rowanberry. The fruit’s vitamin C, an all-natural skin brightener, boosts radiance instantly. And in scrub form, it sloughs off dead, dry cells to reveal shiny, luminous skin underneath.

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Buy: Viking Beauty Secrets Exfoliating Face Scrub (Buy on Amazon, $34)

Heal chapped lips with juniper berry.

When winter leaves lips cracked, juniper berry oil can help. Its antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties mend damaged skin and calm irritation. And mixing with moisturizing aloe vera speeds healing.

Try: Mix 2 drops of juniper berry oil like Gya Labs Juniper Berry Essential Oil (Buy on Amazon, $9.99) and 1 tablespoon of aloe vera gel. Rub on lips; dab off excess after 5 minutes.

A version of this article originally appeared in our print magazine, Woman’s World.