Traveling all around the world is incredibly adventurous.
It also can be hard on the skin, especially feet, hands, and even fingernails.
Why?
Biggest culprit is the especially dry recycled air inside airplanes.
Often, I’m outside an entire day and fail to drink enough water. Add to the lack of water, I drink coffee, tea and wine...all are diuretics.
The hand and shower soap provided by apartments and hotels is very harsh, void of any oil or cream.
What to do?
Drink plenty water.
Cut back or at least be aware of your coffee, tea, and wine consumption. Increase your water intake, when needed.
Use soap products made with olive oil.
Use creams on your body, especially face, hands and feet, day and night.
Creams?
With so many brands and varieties of creams on the market, choosing the right one can be tricky...especially when you are in a country that doesn’t carry familiar products. Even if you are familiar, you may have to shell out a hefty amount for a small tub of cream. What’s in that stuff, anyway?
I prefer my own homemade creams, made of natural ingredients. When you use good quality, natural products, your own homemade creams are safer and they don’t burn holes in your pocket.
Here are a few of my favorite recipes below:
Foot and Hand Cream
Fingernail Serum
Also, be sure to scroll down to Notes and Suggestions for information about containers, Cocoa Butter, Jojoba and Avocado oils.
Special note: Although unusual, allergic reactions to essential oils do occur. Please, stop any use should you experience itching, redness, etc.
Please see below for additional information.++
Foot Cream
(Good for hands, too.)
Ingredients
¾ cup coconut oil
½ cup shea butter
15 drops lavender essential oil
(or any essential oil you wish, or a combination like lavender/mint or lavender/tea tree to further combat fungal issues.)
Instructions
Combine the coconut oil and shea butter in a saucepan and place on low heat. Once they’ve melted, remove from heat and stir in the essential oil. AFTER soaking and exfoliating (I use exfoliating gloves) your feet, massage the cream into feet. I like to put on cotton socks and wear them to bed. For hands, I also wear gloves to bed.
Fingernail Serum
Onychoschizia* or Splitting Fingernails
“Onychoschizia or splitting of the fingernails is a common problem seen by dermatologists. The term onychoschizia includes splitting, brittle, soft or thin nails. Only very rarely are internal disease or vitamin deficiencies the reason (iron deficiency is the most common). One tip is that if the fingernails split, but the toenails are strong, then an external factor is the cause.” Source: The American Osteopathic College of Dematology.
(The following Fingernail Serum is used to repair dry, brittle nails due to external factors.)
1 3/4 tsp. Jojoba Oil
15 drops Lavender Essential Oil
15 drops Lemon Essential Oil
15 drops Frankincense Essential Oil
1/2 tsp. Vitamin E Oil
10 ml Roll On Bottle or Dropper Bottle
Instructions
Add Essential oils to roll-on container or dropper
Add Vitamin E Oil
Add Jojoba Oil until bottle is full
Shake to combine
For best results:
Remove all nail polish before using
Start with damp, clean hands
Shake vigorously before use
Apply two to three drops per fingernail and massage in
Use two to three times per week
Apply at night for best absorption
Wear cotton gloves.
(Actually, I also put cream on my hands and then put on cotton socks.)
Notes and Suggestions
I don’t carry all these ingredients around as I travel...too many, too heavy and too cumbersome. Rather, I buy the ingredients in the quantities I need for a batch of serums and creams.
Containers: I store my concoctions in either dark or blue glass bottles with an eye dropper for eye serums. Larger plastic flip-top bottles for face cream and a plastic tub for foot cream.
Cocoa Butter
In general, cocoa butter around the eyes is good as an anti-aging agent. This antioxidant is a good moisturizer. It promotes elasticity and tightens the delicate skin around the eye area. The active property in cocoa butter is polyphenol which stimulates the skin by reducing the amount of active oxygen carrying blood to prevent the buildup of cholesterol. Finally, cocoa butter fades dark circles.
Jojoba and Avocado Oil
Two of my favorites for skin care recipes! Jojoba is an oil that’s very close to our skin’s natural oil, and you can use it for just about anything (much like coconut oil). It’s non comedogenic, so it won’t block pores, and, in fact, it helps oily skin level out oil generation. Plus it’s loaded with vitamin E, linoleic acid, and antioxidants that regenerate skin cells.
How to make sure essential oils are real and quality?
Click on this link:
“7 Signs Your Essential Oils Are Fake” by "Prevention Magazine."
Finally, isn't it nice to pamper yourself?
Click HERE for a related BLOG:
“When Traveling, Take Special Care of Your Face and Skin around the Eyes.”
Resources
To be clear, I didn’t create these concoctions. I have no special knowledge about essential oils. Rather, I've learned by reading articles written by those in the know.
My recipes are gleaned and combined together based on my personal preferences from sources, such as, Livestrong, The Indian Spot, One Good Thing by Jillee, and HelloGlo. Also, I learned from the Great American store in St. Petersburg, Florida.
++Please note, I am not a physician, nor am I certified in any way with regard to health, healthcare, vitamins, essential oils, or creams. Always discuss with your medical practitioner before using any alternative medicines, natural supplements, vitamins, essential oils, or creams. All information, content and product descriptions contained within this site are for reference purposes and are not intended to substitute advice given by a pharmacist, physician or other licensed health-care professional. You should not use this information for treating a health problem or disease or to make a self-diagnosis.
Actual product packaging and materials may contain different information than shown on this website. Contact your health care provider immediately if you suspect that you have a medical problem. Information and statements regarding Wellington Fragrance products have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any health condition or disease.
The following safety precautions are guidelines only. You should consult with any aroma therapist about essential oil usage and always inform your primary care physician what you are using as they may not be conducive with his/her prescribed therapy and medications.