Are you naturally gifted with dry
skin 😬😒? Or is the seasonal dry weather and cold winters that make your
skin feel tight and irritated? Why just these, dry face can
also be due to frequent use of harsh chemical soaps and cleansers, aging,
unhealthy lifestyle choices and in certain cases due to skin ailments like
eczema, dermatitis or psoriasis.
In all the above cases, you might have tried to follow a particular skincare regime or bought a recommended moisturizing face cream to treat your dry skin concerns. However, despite your best attempts, if your face does not feel and look hydrated and supple and on the contrary there are dry white patches, itchiness and/or roughness on your face, then don’t fret.
In all the above cases, you might have tried to follow a particular skincare regime or bought a recommended moisturizing face cream to treat your dry skin concerns. However, despite your best attempts, if your face does not feel and look hydrated and supple and on the contrary there are dry white patches, itchiness and/or roughness on your face, then don’t fret.
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| Photo by bruce mars from Pexels |
1. Review Your Face Cleansing
Routine
Cleaning your face to get rid of
dirt, dust and grime is important, irrespective of the type of skin you have.
However, if you have dry skin and are using chemical based soaps or cleansers
containing alcohol, sulfate and salicylic acid in it, then you are making one of
the biggest skincare errors.
Dry skin means your skin is
producing less natural oils to keep it hydrated, healthy and soft. Frequent use
of regular soaps, gel-based cleansers, foaming cleansers or a wrong facewash (like an oil-free one which is
essentially meant for oily skin or acne-prone skin), further aggravates your
skin condition by stripping away the natural oils produced by it. To avoid
this, check the ingredient list of the facewash you intend to use and
ensure that it is free from the mentioned ingredients. Exfoliate your face once a week. Wash your face twice daily with a gentle cleanser, that has moisturizing agents or natural emollients mentioned as ingredients in it. Follow it up by applying a moisturizing face cream immediately.
2. Try the Oil Cleansing Technique (OCM)
Are you a bit confused on what
this cleansing method is or a bit shocked on how oil can be used as a cleansing
agent? Do not be. The oil cleansing method (OCM) in fact is quite popular, effective
and is known to suit nearly every skin type (although it is extremely useful for
people with dry skin). This method is a deep cleansing technique, done with the purpose of getting rid of
the impurities and/or residual makeup from your face, while also helping the skin moisturize and heal it, to give it a healthy, hydrated and natural
glow.
The oil cleansing technique should ideally be done before going to bed, when you need to thoroughly get rid of all the pollutants and foreign matter from your face.
Method - To start with the oil cleansing technique for dry skin, you need a blend of oils and towel/wash cloth soaked in hot water.
The oil cleansing technique should ideally be done before going to bed, when you need to thoroughly get rid of all the pollutants and foreign matter from your face.
Method - To start with the oil cleansing technique for dry skin, you need a blend of oils and towel/wash cloth soaked in hot water.
For the oil blend, take ½ a teaspoon of base oil like castor oil or hazelnut oil in the palm of your hand. To this, add 1 teaspoon of your chosen carrier oil like olive oil, almond oil, sunflower seed oil, avocado oil or coconut oil to it. Rub and blend these oils between the palms of your hands to slightly warm it. Massage this oil blend all over your face for about 3-4 minutes, using slow but firm upward motions. Do not rush this process. Massage your face thoroughly. Once you feel that your entire face is massaged well and your facial muscles seem relaxed and calm, pick your towel that is soaked in hot water and squeeze it to remove excess water from it. Cover your face with this steamy towel for about half a minute and then gently start wiping out the oil from your face. You can rinse the towel in hot water, squeeze it and repeat the process of wiping your face, till your face is completely free from oil and you feel fresh and clean.
[Tip: If your skin is extremely dry, then lessen the quantity of castor oil. Also, if you have more than one carrier oils available at home, then you can use it for the oil blend. Example: 1/2 teaspoon of castor oil, 1/2 spoon of avocado oil and 1/2 spoon of olive oil. You can make your own oil blends depending on the suitability of the oils on your face. However, remember to keep the quantity of castor oil to the minimum.]
In case you feel that your face is feeling dry after the OCM, then apply a moisturizer of your choice.
Simple. Isn’t it?
3. Moisturise Your Skin Daily
If I say there are hundreds of
moisturizing creams and lotions available in the market, it won’t be incorrect. In the
times of aggressive advertising and marketing, accessibility to various moisturisers and their
tall claims of being very effective in solving all your skin worries, picking
one moisturizing cream that would actually suit your skin is slightly difficult.
Instead of trying and testing a variety of creams and harming your skin, it is first important to
know what type of moisturizing cream you should actually look for.
People with dry skin should ideally look for moisturizing creams that contain one or more of these ingredients - lanolin, dimethicone, petrolatum (all emollients), glycerin, propylene glycol, lecithin (all humectants), hyaluronic acid, urea, ceramides and lactic acid in it. Moisturizing creams containing aloe vera, shea butter and plant oils also help a lot.
To help you with what creams to look out for, I have made a small list (with the Amazon buying links) given below. These moisturizers are doing really well in the market and cater to dry face skin symptoms. However, before buying one of these creams or any other moisturising cream or lotion of your preference, do check the ingredient list / label that is mostly printed at the back of the container and then make your pick.
5.
Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief (effective but very expensive)
7.
The Body Shop Vitamin E Moisture Cream (highly priced)
4. Home Remedies to Get Rid of Dry/Dull Skin
Be it skin, hair or health, I just love making and using homemade cures whenever needed. And believe me, I use them a lot. Chemical-based moisturizers and even natural / organic moisturizers (they contain chemicals too) are not that cheap. Sometimes, these costly moisturisers also do not live up to the hype of their effectiveness in getting rid of dry skin symptoms. So, instead of completely relying on them, it is more advantageous to try homemade solutions that are extremely doable, effectual and cost-effective in treating dry skin problems.
Raw milk, milk cream, buttermilk, yoghurt and curd
are some dairy products that are known to help people with dry skin. The lactic
acid, fats and vitamins contained in these produces help in moisturizing and
nourishing the skin, shrinking pores, exfoliating dead cells and smoothing fine
lines. You can use any one of these natural ingredients by applying it
generously on your face and neck and massaging it in a circular outer motion
for 1 minute. Let it sit for about 10-15 minutes and then wash it off with water.
Honey is a natural moisturizer, a humectant
and has anti-bacterial properties. Rich in antioxidants, honey can be used
as is or mixed with other ingredients to get rid of dryness, rejuvenate your
skin and give it a soft and supple feel. To use only honey as a moisturizing
agent, apply 1 to 2 teaspoons of pure/raw honey all over your face and tap your entire face with your fingertips for about a minute. This helps in improving blood circulation in your face while also helping in deep moisturization. Leave the honey mask for 20 minutes.
Subsequently, wash it off with lukewarm water. Milk and honey is another well-known
combination. For this, take equal quantity of both the ingredients, mix it well
and then apply it over your face and neck. Let it sit for 20 minutes
and then wash it off with water.
If you have aloe vera plant at home then you can cut the leaf cross-wise to get fresh aloe vera gel. The gel obtained from aloe vera soothes irritation and inflammation and moisturizes the rough areas of your dry skin. Aloe vera gel is also known to aid collagen production. You can apply and massage some aloe vera gel all over your face or affected areas of the skin and leave it overnight. Wash your face with water and a mild sulfate-free cleanser the next morning.
Natural oils have been used since ages as a cure for dry skin. Almond oil, unrefined coconut oil, calendula oil, sunflower seed oil and olive oil in particular are natural moisturizers that hydrate the skin and give a shiny appearance to your face. Besides these, you can also buy facial oils for dry skin from the market to hydrate and repair your dry skin symptoms.
You do not have to buy expensive creams to treat dry skin, if you have petroleum jelly at hand. According to a few recent studies, petroleum jelly has been found to be safe and effective in not only sealing moisture in the skin but also healing cracked, chapped and irritated skin. In short, your good old Vaseline petroleum jelly will work wonders for your dry and sensitive face.
5. Make Healthy Choices
The health of your skin depends on a number of factors. It is not just the moisturizers, oils and cleansers that you use externally that help you a lot. The number of healthy and unhealthy choices you make or follow on a daily basis also affects your skin. To keep your skin healthy, naturally glowing and slow its natural aging process, make it a practice to include these positive lifestyle choices.
a) Drink 1.5 litres of water every day, irrespective of the weather. It will keep your body and skin hydrated.
b) Eat smart by including more whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables (especially those with high water content), lean proteins and sea
food in your daily diet.
c) Protect your skin from the sun by walking in shade, dressing according the weather and applying a broad spectrum sunscreen (SPF 30 and above). Carry an umbrella, wrap a scarf around the lower part of your face or wear a hat/cap when needed.
d) Limit the number of chemical-based makeup
products on your face, especially during winters. However, if you simply can't stay away from makeup, then see to it that the products are non-comedogenic and have liquid or creamy formulas.
e) Avoid alcohol and smoking. It helps a great deal.
f) Get enough sleep on a regular
basis to boost your energy levels, health and skin.
Thanks for sharing natural remedies for skin care of dry skin....the winter season is going on it is very useful.
ReplyDeleteGood to know that you are finding the tips really useful. Thank you for the comment.
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