by Vivian Nelson Melle

Before the breezy fall winds and cold winter air wreak havoc on your skin, reach for natural alternatives to traditional skin care. Worry a little less about allergic reactions, chemicals and poor animal treatment by winterizing your skin with natural beauty treatments.

Moisturize

One of the best all-around treatments for all types of problem skin is oil, in particular, sesame oil. It may seem crazy, especially if you suffer from oily skin, but skin overcompensates when it’s lacking in moisture and skin that is dry does not make enough oil. Sesame seed oil is a nourishing oil that’s good for most skin types. Simply massage a drop or two into your face using your ring and middle finger in circular motions.A nightly treatment is usually all it takes for cold weather moisturizing.

Exfoliate

It’s important to help the body remove dead skin cells so it can replenish with new ones. New skin cells are better able to defend against the elements as well as offer vibrancy. A few options for quick face scrubs are oatmeal and corn meal. Simply take a tablespoon of either and mix with a dime size portion of face soap massaging in circular motions avoid delicate eye areas. Since you are cleaning and exfoliating, rinse and you are done. For some, this can be done every night, but most faces can handle once or twice a week. For more sensitive skin, yogurt makes a great facial massage which gently removes dead skin cells and impurities. Again use about a tablespoon and leave on the face for about ten minutes and then rinse.

Nourish

Nourishing your face is as simple as nourishing the whole body. Fresh fruits and veggies are actually as helpful to skin as they are consumed. All the vitamins, nutrients and antioxidants are absorbed topically as well. A good fall choices is harvest fresh pumpkin. The canned pumpkin can be used, but nothing beats fresh pumpkin pulp with a little honey and sugar added. This treatment also provides some exfoliating which shaves off a little time from your beauty treatment. Even a tablespoon of pure honey diluted in a little milk makes a quick a nourishing treatment.

Protect

Just as in summer, fall and winter skin needs protection both from the sun and the elements. Remember, sunburns can and do occur in the winter as the rays reflect off of snow or off coastal waters. Sunscreen now comes in most foundation formulas and the ingredients in mineral make-ups actually serve as a natural sunscreen. Mineral products are an excellent choice since they seldom contain harmful and irritating chemicals. Liquid facial sunscreen may be a better choice for windy conditions since the thin layer of cream actually provides an additional barrier against the harmful environment.