The turkey's been eaten, the champagne has been cheers-ed, and now we're left looking forward to sunnier days for the rest of winter. If you're like me you've got sallow eyes, flaky skin, and a desire to stay at home on the couch watching a Bridget Jones marathon. Fortunately, we have a solution (for the skincare only, we strongly recommend you run that marathon). Below is a guest post from Melanie, founder of Dalish Cosmetics, our favorite allergy-friendly natural cosmetics brand. Read some of her natural skin care solutions for winter's most common problems using ingredients you already have in your pantry.

Tea bags for under-eye circles

This is a great trick to help with dark circles, puffiness and eye health in general. Take any tea bags you have (I use green tea) and once you’ve soaked them in hot water and drank the liquid put in the fridge for 20 minutes. Make sure you squeeze the liquid out before putting them in the fridge. Lay them on your eye for approx. 10 min. I do this about 2-3 times a week especially since it’s been so dry out. 

Coconut oil for dry, ashy skin

Any who knows me is familiar that I use coconut oil in my cooking, baking & head to toe. Cold-pressed organic coconut oil mimics sebum, the skin’s lubrication system. Also, because its anti-microbial, anti-viral, and anti-fungal, it helps strengthen your body’s defences which is the immune system’s first line of defence. Treat try heels, hands or any parts of you body by lathering in the cold press coconut oil and then wrapping with plastic. Leave on for as long as you can. 15-20 min is great. I also use this about 30 min before I wash my hair on the tips and it will do wonders for your hair health as well. 

Sugar scrub for body exfoliation

I make this concoction up on a weekly basis. I save all the coffee grinds from my Keurig and will add fine salt & sugar to a bowl and mix in coconut oil (or olive oil). Whatever you have handy. Be careful that the grinds, sugar or salt are not too big as they can tear your pores. Use just enough oil of your choice so that it's easily applicable. This is great to do just before you shave and is a great way to remove all the dead skin on a weekly basis. Removing dead skin is important in keep your skin hydrated so that what ever moisturizer, in my case coconut oil, will have the best benefits of absorption.

Tea tree oil for dry, flaky scalp

This is the best treatment that I’ve found to work for myself and there’s a few ways of using it. One way would be to take a few drops of the tea tree and massage it into your scalp the night before. Really work it in and then wash your hair in the morning. Remember that you’re not drenching it. If you don’t want to do the night before then use a teaspoon of Jojoba oil and mix 10 drops or so of the tea tree oil in and apply to your scalp. Do this one hour before you shampoo. I do this treatment once a week.

What are your natural skin care solutions?