Protect your skin from winter

Soothe dry skin all winter long with pure balms, lotions and oils that are crafted from plant-based ingredients, not petroleum. Rachel Marcotte, health and body care coordinator at Edmonds PCC, shares some best sellers and personal favorites.

For your hands

Look to balms and other emollients for potent healing and protection, Marcotte says. A perennial best seller at PCC is Weleda Skin Food. This wonderfully nourishing cream, rich with organic ingredients, heals stubborn dry, rough skin on hands (and elbows and feet) and offers long-lasting protection. Banish dryness with Snohomish Soap Company lotion bars, made with beeswax and botanical oils.

For your face

During the winter months, look to facial oils for maximum moisture and protection, Marcotte says, especially skiers, bike commuters and others who spend time out in the elements. Try organic and fair trade argan oil, a traditional beauty treatment that hails from Morocco. It may seem counterintuitive, but a good quality oil won’t clog pores and instead complements skin’s natural oils. For those who prefer a cream, Weleda’s Cold Cream offers soothing comfort.

For your body

Again, Marcotte recommends body oils, such as pure jojoba oil and pure sweet almond oil, as your best bet in winter due to their purity and effectiveness. Try the sandalwood and lavender bath and body oils from Soothing Touch and the variety of fragrant organic body oil options offered in convenient spray bottles from local producer Bodyceuticals.

Local favorites

Bodyceuticals — Duvall, Wash.
Bodyceuticals offers Body Cocktail organic body oil in a handy spray bottle for easy application and offers scents including Coconut Chi Chi, Pink Grapefruit and Vanilla Cream.

Snohomish Soap Company — Snohomish, Wash.
Snohomish Soap Company moisturizing lotion bars are rich with beeswax, coconut oil and olive oil and smell as good as they feel, with fragrances including grapefruit, lemongrass and peppermint.

Alaffia — Olympia, Wash.
Alaffia creates soothing lotion from fair trade shea butter. Find Alaffia’s unscented body lotion in bulk at most PCC locations or by the bottle on our shelves.