The best 5 natural products to nourish winter dry skin in 2024

As winter approaches, winter dry skin starts to become a real issue. Whether you're at home with the heater on, walking around a shopping centre or in the office at work, winter heating can really dry out your skin. Today we have updated our top 5 products from our natural body lotion and moisturiser category to help nourish, soothe, moisturise and repair try and damaged skin.

Winter Dry Skin Winner #1 - Beauty & The Bees Lotion Bar

This is always the winner for me personally. It probably sells the least amount of everything in this list because it's a little left of centre. Well, it used to be. When we first created this list way back in 2015, the thought of a body moisturiser / rescue balm looking like a cake of soap was unheard of. Fast forward to 2024 and shampoo bars are the norm and this isn't so strange. Fun fact, Beauty and the Bees were the first Aussie company to do the whole shampoo bar thing. They were well ahead of their time.

Why do I love this? Trust me, once you use it, you'll never go back. It looks like a cake of soap. How on earth would that work? This completely natural body balm warms up and starts to melt at the touch of your skin. It's an oil based product with a base of Tasmanian Leatherwood Beeswax and honey. It's infused with olive oil, coconut oil, the oil from hemp seeds, macadamia oil and so much more. It leaves a protective layer on your skin for a couple of hours. It's best used at night after a warm shower when you're trying to heal the damage from the day. Just rub the butter bar over your skin and you'll feel it melting on to your skin. Back in 2015 it was around $24. In 2024, it's only a fraction higher in cost. It's not something I use every day, as it does wear down at a reasonable pace, but trust me, when you have some damage to repair, you'll be glad you have one in your beauty bag. There are so many things you can do with it. Click through to the product for the full 'low down'.

Winter Dry Skin Winner #2 - Weleda Skin Food

As we review this blog post each year, I find it interesting that in 2015, this was 'new' in store and it was just 'Weleda Skin Food'. The original in the dark green tube. Fast foward to 2024 there's the original, there's Skin Food Light, Skin Food Body Lotion, Skin Food Body Butter (which is vegan, a lip balm and now a Day & Night Face Cream.

For the purpose of this list, we're talking about the creamy liquid gold that is the original. Weleda Skin Food is based on sunflower seeds oil, lanolin, almost oil, beeswax and other natural ingredients and essential oils to nourish and protect dry and cracked skin. While you can use this every day, most people keep it in their beauty bag for those times where their skin feels a little dry and horrid. I have taken it in to hospital / nursing home now twice for both of my parents when they were still around, and I always loved the reactions I got from the staff and the success they saw on my parents skin while using it.

Winter Dry Skin Winner #3 - Egyptian Magic

Egyptian Magic will always be on this list, no matter what new products come on to the market each year. Why? It's an incredibly nourishing multi-tasker that has a cult following. This oil based cream can be used on the face and body. It does leave the skin looking and feeling mildly oily for a little while, but when you're badly dehydrated, this is a small price to pay. It contains just six ingredients and is loved by Hollywood celebs, mums and naturopaths alike. Olive oil, royal jelly, honey, bee pollen, beeswax and propolis makeup this healing cream.

Do you want to know just how versatile it is? Read our blog '7 things you can do with Egyptian Magic When You're On Holidays.' to find out. #2 is particularly helpful when you're away.

Winter Dry Skin Winner #4 - Weleda White Mallow Baby Derma Body Lotion

In my own home, the #1 choice on the list is my 'troubleshooter' and the Weleda White Mallow Baby Derma Body Lotion is my every day lotion. If you have sensitive kids or you're a sensitive adult, look past the baby marketing. It's a fragrance free, fast absorbing natural alternative to petroleum based sorbolene creams and it's dermatologically tested. While I'm not as sensitive these days, when my multiple chemical sensitivities was bad around a decade ago, I did not react to this, and while I'm sure I could snap up something a bit more lavish with some essential oils in it, I stick with this for a reason.

Winter Dry Skin Winner #5 - Acure Seriously Soothing 24hr Moisture Lotion

Another unscented option as our #5 for winter dry skin remedies, cocoa butter and colloidal oatmeal are used to keep moisture locked in and the skin barrier better protected for up to 24 hours.

Honorable mention - coconut oil as an 'in shower' moisturiser

As well as drinking ample water to hydrate your body from the inside, one of my favourite body moisturising life hacks is a natural swap for something I used to do as a teenager, which was baby oil in the shower. You can also do it with any vegetable oil you like, I've done it with almond oil too, but I prefer to use coconut oil. Once I week, I get a generous dollop and massage it through my hair and over my entire body. I wait a few minutes and then get in to the shower and wash and shampoo / condition my hair as usual. When I get out of the shower, the coconut oil is all but washed away from my skin, but you can feel a softness and added moisture to the skin. There's no need to moisturise when you get out of the shower after doing this. I do this once a week and sometimes twice a week when I have been subjected to excessive amounts of indoor heating.