Winter in Canada is harsh, and a great way to avoid painful chapped lips and dry skin during the colder months is to invest in home remedies like homemade lip balm, moisturizing facial masks and deep moisture hand crèmes. Drinking lots of water, wearing gloves and keeping covered up will always help, but some skin types are prone to dryness during the winter.

PHOTO CREDIT - OurHometown.ca

Cornwall - Feb. 9, 2012 - Winter in Canada is harsh, and a great way to avoid painful chapped lips and dry skin during the colder months is to invest in home remedies like homemade lip balm, moisturizing facial masks and deep moisture hand crèmes. Drinking lots of water, wearing gloves and keeping covered up will always help, but some skin types are prone to dryness during the winter.

Cocoa butter and shea butter are great body moisturizers for dry patches of skin. Coconut oil will also help when rubbed liberally into the skin, though using too much can cause an excess of oil that will only create a new problem.

To combat chapped lips, make lip balms rather than buying them and save yourself the money. Use olive oil or cocoa butter, beeswax and an edible flavoring oil to make yourself a great tasting but moisturizing balm. Measure out equal parts into a cup that can safely be heated, then place the cup into a pot of water and heat it until everything is melted together. Once the mixture is melted, place it in a small plastic tub or an empty lip balm container. Lip balm should be applied often to avoid chapping.

Mixing an egg, two teaspoons of raw honey and one teaspoon of olive oil can make a great facial mask that will keep your skin from drying out. Banana, rose water, plain yogurt, avocado and vitamin E can be substituted into the mask to suit your skin. Avocados are amazing for providing moisture and are extremely healthy for you. Mixing up the inside of an avocado with a bit of olive oil can give your skin some of the moisture it might be missing.

During the winter, moisturize your hands with a bit of vegetable oil before going to bed to keep your hands from getting dry and flaky. Vegetable oil is great for keeping moisture locked into your skin. Use cocoa butter, lanolin or coconut oil during the day as a hand crème instead of paying big bucks for crèmes that provide the same amount of moisture.

Remember that keeping yourself hydrated is extremely important during the winter months, and it will save you from painful and itchy dry skin. For more information on home remedies, visit home-remedies-for-you.com