“Natural Remedies For Dry Skin”
Here we give skin care tips for dry skin naturally.
1. Aloe Vera For Dry Skin
What You Have To Do
- Cut the aloe leaf diagonally and extract the gel present inside it.
- Apply some of this fresh gel on the face and massage it in, so it is absorbed into the skin.
- Leave the gel overnight.
Store the remaining gel in an air-tight container in a cool place.
How Often You Should Do This
Repeat this every night before going to bed.
Why This Works
Aloe vera gel is often used in the treatment of dry and patchy skin. It is also included in many commercially available lotions and creams, but using fresh aloe gel is the best way to use it. Its polysachharide helps to retain the moisture levels in the skin. It also enhances collagen and elastin production in the skin thus restoring its suppleness and elasticity. If your dryness is due to skin conditions like psoriasis or eczema, aloe vera can also help to deal with them as it has healing and anti-inflammatory properties. These properties help to alleviate the symptoms of such skin ailments.
2. Oils For Dry Skin
(a) Coconut Oil For Dry Skin
You Will Need
Virgin coconut oil
What You Need To Do
Apply coconut oil on dry areas of your skin and leave it on. It will get absorbed by the skin.
How Often Should You Do This
Apply coconut oil once or twice a day, as needed.
Why This Works
Simple to procure and use, coconut oil does wonders to replenish and lock in the natural moisture of the skin. It contains healthy fatty acids that replenish the skin’s lessened fatty acid reserve (4). Baby oil and vegetable oil can be used similarly.
(b) Jojoba Oil For Dry Skin
You Will Need
- 1/2 teaspoon jojoba oil
- 2 cups warm water
- Washcloth
What You Have To Do
- Soak the washcloth in warm water and place it over your face. Keep the washcloth on for 5-7 minutes, and then remove it.
- Now, massage the jojoba oil into your skin using gentle, circular motions. Keep massaging the skin in upward motions for a few minutes.
- Let the oil soak in and then wipe off the excess oil with the washcloth.
How Often Should You Do This
This should be done once or twice a week.
Why This Works
The structure of jojoba oil closely mirrors that of sebum, your body’s natural oil. This makes this oil an excellent moisturizer for every skin type. It softens the dryness and gets rid of the flakiness. It also promotes the growth of new skin cells. It has anti-inflammatory properties that help soothe your skin (5, 6). Argan oil is an excellent alternative for jojoba oil and can be used to treat dry skin problems.
Caution
The water should not be too hot; else it can scald your skin.
(c) Olive Oil For Dry Skin
You Will Need
- 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1-2 drops lavender essential oil
What You Have To Do
- Mix the lavender oil with the olive oil.
- Massage the concoction into your skin, and wipe off the excess oil with a washcloth.
Alternatively, you may use a small amount of it as a leave-in moisturizer. Other oils that can be used instead of lavender oil are grapeseed oil, cypress oil, and black seed oil.
How Often Should You Do This
Use this every night, before going to bed.
Why This Works
Olive oil has moisturizing properties, which nourish your skin. The presence of polyphenols in this oil also helps counteract the damage caused by the Sun. Since time immemorial, lavender oil has been used to treat a multitude of skin conditions. It has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, which help with itchiness and irritation caused by the dry skin.
Caution
Lavender essential oil can cause skin irritation if used undiluted or in large volumes.
(d) Almond Oil For Dry Skin
You Will Need
- 4 tablespoons sweet almond oil
- 2-3 drops geranium essential oil
What You Have To Do
- Transfer the almond oil into a sterilized glass bottle.
- Add the geranium essential oil and shake the bottle to combine.
- Use this mixture in place of your moisturizer.
Other oils that can be used instead of geranium oil include rosehip oil, flaxseed oil, and peppermint oil.
How Often Should You Do This
To reap the maximum benefits of this remedy, use it every night.
Why This Works
Almond oil has been used for centuries to treat dry skin. It is moisturizing and thus makes your skin smooth and supple. An added advantage of using this oil is its ability to improve your complexion and skin tone (9). Geranium oil is an antiseptic and an anti-inflammatory agent due to which it is often used in skin care. It can also treat conditions such as eczema which is one of the causes for dry skin.
(e) Vitamin E Oil
You Will Need
1-2 vitamin E capsules
What You Need To Do
- Pierce the capsules and empty the oil into a bowl.
- Apply this to the affected areas and massage for a few minutes.
- Leave the oil overnight.
- Rinse your face as usual in the morning.
How Often Should You Do This
Apply this oil overnight all over your face or on specific problem areas.
Why This Works
Vitamin E oil is used to target excessive dryness because it can improve the skin’s hydration significantly. It is rich in antioxidants that also helps clear the skin. This oil battles skin aging, scaly skin, and other related dry skin problems. Evening primrose oil capsules can be used similarly for dry skin management.
(f) Mustard Oil For Dry Skin
You Will Need
1-2 drops mustard oil
What You Have To Do
- Lightly warm up the oil in between your fingertips and apply on the dry patches of your face.
- Leave it on overnight.
Some alternatives for mustard oil, if you don’t have some handy, are hemp oil, sesame oil, jasmine oil, keri oil, and tamanu oil.
How Often You Should Do This
Repeat this once or twice a day, preferably every night for a deep moisturizing effect overnight.
Why This Works
The fats present in mustard oil hydrate and nourish the skin, making it soft and supple.
(g) Kumkumadi Tailam For Dry Skin
You Will Need
2-3 drops kumkumadi tailam oil
What You Have To Do
Massage the face with this oil and leave it on overnight.
How Often You Should Do This
Repeat this every night.
Why This Works
Kumkumadi tailam is an Ayurvedic herbal concoction which has saffron as its main ingredient. This potent mixture works on various levels and factors to improve the skin’s health. It reduces dryness, flakiness, pigmentation, dullness, and even fine line and wrinkles.
Apart from the topical application of oils, supplements like cod liver oil or krill oil are also beneficial to get rid of dry skin issues. These oils supply the required fatty acids to the skin from inside the body. Within a few weeks, you will be able to notice your dry patches going away and softer skin coming up to the surface.
NOTE
If you have never used any of the above-mentioned oils on your skin before, conduct a patch test on the upper forearm to check for allergies.
3. Glycerin For Dry Skin
You Will Need
- 1 teaspoon glycerin
- 1 tablespoon rose water
What You Need To Do
- Combine glycerin with rose water and apply on the dry patches of your skin.
- Leave the glycerin mix on for a few hours.
- If you feel that it is too tacky, you can rinse it off after an hour or so.
How Often Should You Do This
Use this remedy once every day for quick relief from dry skin.
Why This Works
Glycerin works wonders not just on the dry skin but also chapped lips. It is a wonderful humectant and emollient that locks in the skin’s moisture.
