Maintaining moisturized skin can be a challenge. In the winter months, the lack of humidity in the air can be the cause of dryer skin. While in the summer months the cause of dry skin is sometimes caused from over exposure to the sun's rays. Choosing a moisturizer is important.
Some have rejected the idea of body oil as a moisturizer, thinking it will be greasy. But a well-made body oil does NOT make you feel like a slimy grease pit! In fact, it's an excellent alternative to traditional lotions. Using body oil can also be very economical as well.
How to use body oil:
1) Use along WITH your favorite lotion...like a cocktail!
The oil can actually extend the life of lotions because they give the skin more "slip" and cause you to use less. It's also fun to experiment with different scent combinations. Try a drop or two mixed with what you're already using.
2) Apply in layers.
Oils thrive on the top layers of the skin, while lotions thrive inside the skin. This is because lotions are water based. (That makes sense, right? Water evaporates. Oil is heavier, and doesn't evaporate.) So applying body oil on TOP of a lotion will help keep moisture locked in and keep the water based lotion from evaporating more quickly. This is what we want: to keep the moisture locked in! Body oil is an excellent protective barrier from wind and dry air, while helping to seal in moisture in the skin's deeper layers.
3) Use immediately after a shower
Moisturizers work best on clean, exfoliated skin. Use after bathing to really lock in moisture from the water molecules.
4) Soften calluses and problem areas.
Body Oil is more concentrated than lotions and can be very helpful for rougher parts of the skin such as heels and elbows. It's excellent for pushing back cuticles as well.
5) Massage
Obviously, oil is naturally slippery, so it can be helpful during massage, to avoid to much friction. Many oils are also infused with essential oils to give aromatherapy benefits to the mind as well as to the skin and tense muscles.