Here are her five natural and green winter skin tips to protect your skin:

1. Honey, olive oil, and fine sea salt combo. This is the best thing to use on dried-out cuticles, flaking skin, and rough elbows and knees. Sea salt is awesome as an exfoliating grain because it melts on your skin, so there's little risk of overdoing it, and it is also very tightening and anti-inflammatory."

2. Acne and blemish quick fix. "When my skin feels unruly, I quickly whizz up half an onion, some parsley from my windowsill, a dollop of honey, and a tablespoon of applesauce. Apply this as a mask all over your face and neck, and relax for 15 or 20 minutes. Rinse off to reveal super-smooth, gorgeously glowing skin."

3. Clear skin in a glass. "Begin your morning with hydromel—a glass of purified tap water with a teaspoon of honey and juice of half a lemon. Prepare the drink in the evening and sip it immediately after you wake up. This amazing drink kicks up your metabolism and also keeps you from nibbling on sugars and chocolate later."

4. Oily grail. "Keep these three oils in your beauty routine: rose otto, for skin rejuvenation and mood uplifting; tea tree essential oil, to keep your skin and hair clear and pure; and calendula flower oil, to mend skin rashes, redness, sores, and burns."

5. Winter hair saver. "Jojoba oil can be used as a shampoo to soothe and nourish a dry, itchy scalp and splitting hair. To revive 'hat hair' and add more bounce to your locks, carry a small spray bottle filled with water mixed with sea salt (one teaspoon per cup of tap water) and a few drops of rosemary oil. Shake the bottle and spritz your locks starting at the roots, then shake your head to add some movement."

For more on Julie Gabriel and The Green Beauty Guide:
TheGreenBeautyGuide.com
The Green Beauty Guide book on Amazon.com

Published 11.19.09 at 12:00 AM