The Beijing cold is back, and that means dry skin for the whole family. I love my showers and baths, but the water in Beijing leaves something to be desired, and if you don’t have a fancy filter your skin can get a bit crispy. My daughter was used to daily baths, and her skin was starting to look like she was a reptile. Last year I tried many home remedies to keep our skin moist and supple. Here are some wise tips from the internet and my mother.
Don’t shower every day
This is a tip I can’t adhere to as I love my twice-a-day shower, but I have cut my daughter’s daily bath routine and her skin is the evidence: smooth like a baby’s bottom.
Oat Bath Socks
Stuff a sock with rolled oats and pop it in the bath. The whitish slime that comes of the oats is like liquid gold, and is a natural balm for your skin. Kids also love to play with the slimy sock in the bath.
Coconut Oil Baths
I like to lace my baths with coconut oil and some lavender essential oil for my daughter and me. I have no idea if the oil is suitable for the bathroom plumbing, but it keeps our skin glowing and smelling like a tropical drink.
Olive Oil Rub
I like to rub down my daughter with olive oil before she jumps into the warm water. It might sound slightly weird but it creates a barrier between her skin and the Beijing water. The olive oil keeps her half-Italian skin smelling like a true Latin toddler.
