A bad hair day is a menace. But dry skin is even worse. No facial cream or moisturizer ever seems to work. And if they do, patience should be a virtue you own.
Dry skin is a result of aging and underlying skin conditions. The skin is normally itchy and uncomfortable, forcing you to use moisturizing products regularly.
Having dry skin means that your skin’s top layer lacks adequate moisture. Once the layer begins breaking down, flaky texture with visible lines and cracks begin to develop. It’s at this stage that you realize you require help.
If you’ve been wandering the aisles of beauty stores without assistance, maybe it’s time to go natural.
Nature always has answers to every problem. Here are 10 natural home remedies (DIY) to fix your dry skin. Thank me later!
What Causes Dry Skin?
Before jumping to the main topic, let’s take a small detour into knowing what causes dry skin. Know the root of your problem before finding a solution to it.
Generally, dry skin is a result of a decrease in fatty acids. These acids (lipids) are responsible for locking in moisture and maintaining the skin’s suppleness and softness. Different reasons can lead to this situation:
- Changes in the climate, especially during dry and cold winter months.
- Using skin cleansers excessively.
- Hot baths or showers.
- Having skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, and atopic dermatitis.
- Harsh chemicals present in soaps and detergents
- Coming into contact with chlorinated water mostly from swimming pools
- Dry air in ASALS (Arid and semi-arid lands).
From the above list, what’s the cause of your dry skin?
10 Natural Home Remedies To Fix Your Dry Skin
1. Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is known for treating dry and patchy skin. Many manufacturers also include it in their commercial products.
What role does it play?
Aloe vera contains polysaccharides that help retain the moisture levels of the skin. It’s also rich in collagen, which restores the skin’s elasticity and suppleness. So, if your dry skin results from eczema or psoriasis, aloe vera will prove to be very useful.
Here’s how you can make use of Aloe Vera to treat your dry skin at home.
What You’ll Need
- Aloe Leaf
What To Do
- Cut the aloe vera leaf diagonally to extract the gel inside it. Be careful not to cut yourself with the leaf’s edges.
- Apply some of the fresh gel on your face. Close your eyes while doing so to avoid applying the gel in the eye.
- Massage your face gently so that the gel is absorbed into the skin.
- Leave the gel overnight and wash it in the morning.
- You can store the remaining gel in a cool, airtight condition.
Pro Tip:
Repeat this process every night before going to bed for the best results.
2. Jojoba Oil
Jojoba oil acts as a moisturizing agent for all skin types – and that’s why all high-end moisturizers use it. The oil softens the skin and promotes the growth of new skin cells. It also eliminates flakiness.
Jojoba oil boasts of anti-inflammatory properties that help to soothe the skin.
That’s not all; its antioxidant effect heals wound and also promotes anti-aging. In short, every problem to your dry skin is tackled by this heavenly-sent oil.
How do you use it at home?
What You’ll Need
- ½ teaspoon of jojoba oil
- Two cups of warm water
- Washcloth
What To Do
- Soak the washcloth in warm water then place it on your face. Leave it for about five minutes before removing it.
- Gently massage the jojoba oil to your skin in circular motions. Do this for a couple of minutes.
- When the oil is sunk in, wipe off the excess ones using the wet washcloth.
Pro Tip:
Repeat this procedure once or twice a week for the best results.
3. Coconut Oil
Coconut oil will do wonders in replenishing your skin’s natural moisture. Here’s how to go about it.
What You’ll Need
- Virgin coconut oil
What To Do
- Apply the coconut oil on your dry skin and leave it on
Pro Tip:
Apply coconut oil once or twice each day for the best results
4. Olive Oil
Similar to jojoba and coconut oils, olive oil also comes with moisturizing properties that nourish the skin. Its antioxidant property counteracts the damage created by harmful UV rays.
In addition to this, olive oil heals wounds and promotes dermal reconstruction. It helps with skin breakage and itchiness brought about by dry skin.
What You’ll Need
- 1 or 2 drops of lavender essential oil
- 2 teaspoons of extra virgin olive oil
What To Do
- Mix the two oils (lavender and olive).
- Massage the concoction into your skin. Use a washcloth to wipe off the excess oil.
- You can alternatively use a small amount of the concoction as a leave-in moisturizer.
- Other oils that you can use instead of lavender include black seed oil, cypress oil, and grapeseed oil.
Pro Tip:
Apply this concoction every night before going to bed for the best results. Also, keep in mind that lavender oil can irritate if used in large volumes or undiluted form.
5. Glycerin
Away from natural oils and now to a different ingredient – glycerin.
Glycerin is not only good for dry skin but also chapped lips. It will improve your skin hydration and barrier function. How do you use it at home?
What You’ll Need
- 1 tablespoon of rose water
- 1 teaspoon of glycerin
What To Do
- Combine glycerin with rose water.
- Apply the paste to your skin’s dry patches and leave it for about 30 minutes.
- Rinse it off.
Pro Tip:
Apply this remedy once a day for the best results.
6. Vaseline
That’s right – a simple application of Vaseline can improve your dry skin drastically.
Vaseline is composed of petroleum jelly. This ingredient is known to lock in moisture and prevent water loss from the skin. Since the oil can be a little greasy, it’s best used overnight.
Remember to cover your pillow to avoid soiling the pillowcase.
What You’ll Need
- Vaseline
What To Do
- Apply Vaseline to your entire face. It’s highly advisable that you do so at night.
- If you find it to be too sticky, leave it for about an hour before wiping it off with a washcloth.
Pro Tip:
Repeat this procedure every night.
7. Strawberry Face Pack
If you love the scent and taste of strawberry juice, then you’ll also love it on your face.
Strawberry is rich in vitamins and polyphenols, which help protect the skin from harmful UV rays.
If you’re confident the fruit will work perfectly on your dry skin, here’s how to go about it.
What You’ll Need
- ½ teaspoon fresh cream
- 1 teaspoon coconut oil or olive oil
- 1 teaspoon strawberry juice
What To Do
- Blend all the ingredients.
- Apply the mixture as a face pack.
- Allow it to dry (10-15 minutes) before rinsing it off.
Pro Tip:
Apply this face pack once or twice a week for the best results.
8. Milk Powder Face Pack
Milk powder is undoubtedly delicious. But the next time you’re scooping some out of the container, don’t forget to use some for your dry skin.
What You’ll Need
- Water
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 2 teaspoons milk powder
- Turmeric
What To Do
- Mix the milk powder with turmeric and honey.
- Add water and mix it thoroughly to form a paste.
- Apply the paste to your face. You can either apply the paste to the entire face of the specific dry parts.
- Allow time for the paste to dry up before washing it off.
Pro Tip:
Repeat this procedure twice a week for the best results.
9. Watermelon Face Pack
Watermelon is rich in skin-friendly vitamins and also has high water content. Its face pack will leave your skin hydrated and moisturized.
How do you make it?
What You’ll Need
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1 or 2 teaspoons watermelon juice
What To Do
- Mix the watermelon juice with honey.
- Apply the mixture to your face then leave it for 10 minutes.
- Rinse it with water.
Pro Tip:
Repeat this twice a week for the best results.
10. Brown Sugar
This may sound weird, but brown sugar scrub is good for your dry skin. It helps to exfoliate dead skin cells, unclog the pores, and improve blood circulation.
In addition, brown sugar also improves the skin’s texture and elasticity.
Although there isn’t any scientific research established to prove its effect on dry skin, brown sugar can work miracles.
Here’s how to go about it.
What You’ll Need
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
What To Do
- Mix the oil and sugar.
- Use it to scrub your face in gentle, upward motions.
- Continue scrubbing for a few minutes, then leave it to dry (2-3 minutes).
- Rinse it off.
Pro Tip:
Repeat this procedure once or twice a week for the best results.
Conclusion
When modern products don’t seem to work, it’s always wise to turn to nature.
Natural remedies don’t use chemicals and aren’t associated with any side effects. Moreover, most of the ingredients are easily obtainable.
The remedies given above are only the tip of the iceberg. There are tons of other natural products that you can use to combat your dry skin.
Other unmentioned remedies include sour cream, sandalwood face pack, dead sea-salt, and rice powder.
While using these remedies, don’t forget to also take care of your skin.
Avoid smoking, showering too often, and using skincare products with alcohol. Drink plenty of water, consume foods rich in fiber and moisturize daily. Do all these, and the results will astonish you!
How are you treating your dry skin?
