Ah! Winter… What a wonderful time of year! I love this season where nature freezes and lays dormant under a thick white coat of snow. Whether it’s snowshoeing in the woods, enjoying a good book by the fire, or the calm that reigns after a big snowfall, winter always finds a way to warm my heart. However, I understand that for some, the cold weather may bring about small inconveniences: Dry hands; a dull complexion; chapped lips; and even cracked, itchy skin. To help you enjoy this beautiful cold season, try these easy recipes to hydrate and moisturize your skin this winter.
 

Moisturizing Lavender Bath Bomb

• 1 cup baking soda
• ½ cup citric acid
• 1 tbsp. cocoa butter
• 20 drops New Roots Herbal’s Organic Lavender Essential Oil
• Dried lavender flowers (optional)

Mix the baking soda and citric acid together in a bowl until the mixture is smooth, and ensure that there are no lumps. Add and mix the dried lavender flowers (optional) as well as the cocoa butter. Add in the drops of essential oil, and mix again; it is very important to mix everything well. Press the mixture as firmly as possible into a muffin pan*, and let dry overnight. Remove the bath bombs from the pan, and let them dry on a flat surface for a day or until they are solid.

*If you want to make a ball shape rather than a disc, you can use a spherical mold.
 

Frosty Winter Scrub

• 4 tbsp. coarse sea salt
• 1 tsp. sweet almond oil
• 3 to 4 drops of New Roots Herbal’s Organic Peppermint Essential Oil*
• Dried mint leaves (optional)

Mix ingredients together and use immediately. You can add more sweet almond oil if the salt seems too dry and is not sticking together well. Massage the mixture over your entire body in a circular fashion, starting at the feet and ending with the top of the neck, placing emphasis on the rougher areas (heels, knees, elbows). Rinse your skin and pat dry with a towel. Finish by applying sweet almond oil.

*You can replace the peppermint essential oil with lavender essential oil for a more relaxing exfoliation.

**You can triple or quadruple the recipe and place it in an airtight glass container. It can be kept for several months in a cool and dry place. If there is separation between the oil and salt, simply mix again.