Winter Skin Protector- Vitamin E Oil

Is anyone else seeing their skin's overall wellness take a drastic hit this season? 

I have noticed a serious difference in the dryness, texture and appearance of my face since October, and not a good one.  My skin has literally been peeling and flaking off, the texture feels like sandpaper, and I'm pretty sure the black bags under my eyes have gotten blacker and those darn wrinkles have gotten deeper (not kidding).  And to make things worse, last week Marianne told me my pores were looking bigger.  I cried a little inside! She told me I should probably start using a face serum.

A WHAT???  My skin is extremely sensitive when it comes to the products I use, so I have never been one to regularly put night cream or even lotion on my face.  And now I should start putting a serum on my face?  That sounded like a breakout waiting to happen.  I decided to do a little experimenting.  In our bathroom cupboard, we have a "skin" shelf and I knew there were some bottles in the back that I had never tried.  I took a good look at all of them, but could not bring myself to intentionally slather unknown chemicals all over my face.  I saw rashes, breakouts and disaster in my future.

SO.... I had a thought.  Why not take what I already use, and just use it in a different way? 

In 2009, Marianne and I were at Smith's, and saw liquid vitamin E oil.  We had both heard of "vitamin E" but had never really paid much attention to it.  We were at the age, though, where we knew we should probably start taking better care of our skin, so we picked this bottle up for about $8 and haven't looked back.  

 So, folks, meet my favorite skin protector- VITAMIN E OIL

How I use:  Squeeze a dime size amount into hand and rub between palms. Lightly apply all over face, focusing under the eyes and on cheeks.  Also around mouth and on lips.

  

 

For the last 3 years I have been using the oil on my face, but only when I get out of the shower.  That is when my skin seems to be the driest, and I felt like if I used it any other time (after my skin got its moisture back) it would just make it too oily and cause a breakout.  But last week, I decided to try something new with the oil. 

After I took my makeup off, I looked in the mirror (somewhat horrified) and could not deal with the flaky skin around my mouth, the weathered skin on my cheeks, and the terrible wrinkles screaming at me from under my eyes any longer.  That was it.  I took a dime size of vitamin E oil, rubbed it all over my face and went to bed.  To be honest, I was terrified imagining what I may wake up to the next morning!  I was just waiting for pools of oil on my forehead or a breakout around my mouth.  

But, to my very pleasant surprise, when I woke up, my skin was smooth and the dry, flaky texture had disappeared.  I could have cried (this time from happiness, of course)!  I could not believe I hadn't broken out!  So I kept this up for the next few nights, and added an under eye serum to assist in the wrinkle department, and I have to say, just after a week of this little regimen, my skin is a different animal.  My face is looking brighter and healthier, noticeably CLEARER, Marianne told me my pores are looking smaller, and I can actually put on powder without pieces of my face flaking off.  

As I thought about this experiment, I tried to figure out what the scary skin change was from.  Age?  Climate?  Was I not giving enough attention to my skin?  I hadn't changed anything in my routine, and then I realized, that was precisely the problem.  As we get older, we change and therefore we must change our habits and routines to adapt to these natural changes.  As I said before, ever since I was a teen I had just been keeping my skin as dry as possible in order to prevent breakouts.  

Dry skin is NOT the answer.  I guess I thought that if I could continue to dry my skin out (the climate was definitely helping me out with that one), then I would be good to go the rest of my life.  That was not the case.  Skin needs moisture to be able to look its best.

Here are a few benefits of Vitamin E oil I thought were interesting:

• A wonderful benefit of vitamin E oil is that it can be used to treat scars, acne, and wrinkles because it speeds up cell regeneration. This creates an anti-aging effect, which makes the skin look younger. Vitamin E oil benefits the skin by helping it retain its natural moisture content. Vitamin E oil makes dull-looking, dry skin look healthier and fresher.  (More info here)

• Vitamin E oil provides the skin with necessary moisture as well as antioxidants for intense healing.  An intense vitamin E oil bedtime therapy is ideal for concentrated skin healing and preservation.  (More info here)

• Topical application of Vitamin E oil promotes production of two important protein components namely, collagen and elastin that improves skin elasticity. This in turn reduces the appearances of the visible age spots, fine lines or wrinkles and gives you a younger looking skin. Its antioxidant properties further fight off damaging effects of free radicals and minimizes the chances of appearances of new wrinkles.  (More info here)
  
  Remember, try to get vitamin E through your diet as well.  Avocados and nuts are a great source.  Try this out and let me know how it goes!  Thanks for reading!
  
  --Angela