How To Make An Oat Bath Using White's Oats
Winter is tough on skin. The cold air can leave skin feeling dry, itchy and irritated. Most of us have to change up our skin care routines to compensate for the dry air and lack of moisture as well as the extra time spent indoors with the heating blasting. Frequent daily handwashing, while essential can also take its toll on our hands, leaving them dry, red and flaking.
There are so many great products out there for dry skin, however a lot of them can be expensive and other commercial body products can feature cheap petroleum products as their main oil which can just sit on top of skin which doesn't absorb or help add any moisture. Oat baths are a natural and effective solution that you can make at home using simple ingredients that can be found in your pantry.
What is an oat bath?
Oats have been used to cool and calm the skin for centuries. They have an anti-inflammatory effect, which can help to relieve itching and calm allergic reactions.
Colloidal Oatmeal is a primary ingredient in many medicinal and commercial skin care products used to treat conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. Colloidal Oatmeal is simply oats that have been ground into a fine powder.
You can purchase ready made oat bath products or learn to make your own using White’s Oats to help all sorts of skin conditions.
What skin conditions do oats treat?
People use oats to treat the symptoms of a variety of skin conditions, including:
It is important that if you’re dealing with any above that you consult with your doctor for treatment, and they can help you determine if oat baths are right for the skin condition you’re dealing with.
What are the benefits of oat baths?
- Moisturises skin - Oats contain vitamin B3 which has been shown to improve the epidermis (outermost layer of the skin), to retain moisture.
- Soothes irritated skin - Oats contain polyphenols called avenanthramides that have natural antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits.
- Natural product - As it is a natural product it is less likely to irritate sensitive skin than some commercial products.
- Inexpensive & easy - You can use oats straight from your pantry. Any rolled oat or instant oat will work.
How to make an oat bath using White’s Oats
To make your own colloidal oat bath at home using White’s Oats simply use the following steps to create this skin-soothing bath.
- Purchase White’s Jumbo Organic Oats or Speedicook Porridge Oats to make your own colloidal oath bath. You can also use any oats that are free from added flavourings, chemicals, sugars and salts.
- Grind the oats into a fine powder using a blender, or food processor. You can test if the oats are ground enough if they easily dissolve in a tablespoon of hot water. The water should look milky and not feel gritty.
- Draw your bath with warm — not hot— water. Start by adding a half-cup of oats to the bath. You can add up to one and a half cups to the water for soaking.
- Let it steep for 1-2 minutes.
- Enjoy a relaxing soak in the oat bath. Limit bathing time to 15 minutes to avoid moisture loss.
- Rinse off your skin to remove any residue before getting out of the bath.
- Pat skin dry with a clean dry towel and moisturise skin as usual with your favourite (ideally unscented) lotion.
Pro Tip: Take the oats and put it into a clean sock or old pair of tights/nylons and tie it off instead of pouring the oats directly into your bathtub. Let it soak in the tub, swish it around and squeeze it about, and you'll get all the good, milky oatmeal essence without the clean-up.
Other oat skin care solutions
Oats are used in a variety of products to moisturise, cleanse, and protect the skin. Some examples of these products include:
- Hair Masks
- Exfoliants
- Face Masks
- Lotions
- Face Wash
- Bath Bombs
- Shaving Creams
If you’re feeling thrifty, crafty or simply want to start the New Year using more natural products which are not only good for your skin but also the environment, then check out our Using Oats To Boost Skin Health blog for some more DIY tips.
