Oatmeal Bath DIY with Nourishing Coconut Milk

Oatmeal baths can bring much needed relief for those suffering from dry skin conditions especially in the wintertime. This easy oatmeal bath DIY combines the skin benefits of ground oats with rich moisturizing coconut milk - a match made in bathtub heaven, if you ask me 😉

Winter weather can be rough on your skin. The cold air outside, the dry air inside and the back and forth between the two oftentimes leads to dry, cracked and itchy skin. None of us can escape this completely and we end up reaching for that lotion bottle pretty often. But folks with dry skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis in particular can really suffer this time of year.

My son has mild eczema that practically disappears in the summer, but right now it looks pretty bad. We slather him up with whipped shea butter before bed and have eliminated any irritating ingredients and fragrances from his bath time and even switched our laundry detergent. But it's tough to keep him from scratching, especially at night.

To help with his eczema and to soothe and nourish his dry skin I made this creamy oatmeal and coconut milk bath. And when he comes out of the bath I've noticed his skin being much softer and less irritated. A big bonus is that the ground oatmeal serves as a natural gentle cleanser so that we can use soap very sparingly.

What are the Skin Benefits of this Oatmeal Bath DIY?

• Ground oats contain lipids that nourish skin and replenish oils that have been lost from the skin
• They have moisturizing properties
• They contain avenanthramides which is an anti-oxidant solely found in oats
• They're anti-inflammatory
• They're well known for their ability to soothe itchy skin
• And have cleansing properties thanks to a small amount of saponins

What is coconut milk?

Technically coconut milk isn’t really milk. It comes from the meat of a coconut which is finely ground and then strained. It's a great vegan alternative and unlike buttermilk or goats milk it has a very pleasant smell to it.

Why is coconut milk (fresh or powdered) good for your skin?

• It’s an awesome skin food containing vitamin C, E, and B6, iron and magnesium
• It’s packed with unsaturated fatty acids that help moisturize and soften the skin
• It has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial (acne anyone?) powers (mainly thanks to lauric acid, a fatty acid also found in human milk)
• Used in face masks it clears, brightens and tightens

Frequently Asked Questions:

• Do I have to rinse off after taking an oatmeal bath? You can, but I typically don't. I leave all the soothing goodness of the oats and coconut milk on my skin. I've never had any adverse effects.
• How much of this should I use if I'm giving my baby a bath? ½ cup
• How long is the shelf life? If kept in a dry cool location at least a year. if you detect a rancid smell, please discard.

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What you’ll need for this Oatmeal Bath DIY:

• Bowl for mixing
• Sifter (optional)
• Whisk (optional, you can use your hands)
• Coffee grinder (if you don't have colloidal oatmeal on hand and want to make your own ground oats)
• Container for storing

Oatmeal Bath Recipe:

• 1 cup Coconut Milk Powder
• 1 cup Old Fashion Rolled Oats or Colloidal Oatmeal
• 20 drops Lavender Essential Oil (optional)

Can I use ground oats if I don't have colloidal oatmeal on hand?

Yes, you can. Colloidal oatmeal has finer particles that easily disperse in water instead of sinking to the ground, but ground oats will do in a pinch. Make sure though that you're using whole oats, you want them to have the bran that has all the beneficial properties. I used old-fashioned rolled oats and ground them up to a fine powder with my coffee grinder.

Instructions:

Step1: Grind your oats in a coffee grinder or blender until you have a fine flour (if you're using a coffee grinder do it in 2 batches)

Step 2: Sift coconut milk powder Note: Don't attempt to grind this up in a food processor or coffee grinder- it will turn into a pasty mess. I suspect because of the high fat content of the coconut milk.

Step 3: Add all ingredients to mixing bowl and stir

Step 4: Mix in essential oil

Step 5: Fill into airtight container

Add 1 cup to your warm bath water and stir with your arm

Enjoy!

Until next time. Happy Tinkering!