Home remedies for dry skin
Dry skin is a common problem especially during the winter months. If you have dry skin you need protection from indoor heating, air-conditioning, cold weather and wind by giving your skin plenty of moisture. Try to avoid using harsh soaps and cleanser. Use warm water and not hot water when washing and keep skin supple by using rich cleansers, toners and moisturizers. Don’t forget to use a mild exfoliation and facials to smooth and soften rough dry skin. Here are some home remedies for dry skin to try.
Pure water
Drink at least 2 litres of pure water a day to provide your skin with moisture. Add slices of lemon or lime and a spring of mint to make it more refreshing.
Boost your oil intake
Include healthy fats in your diet like extra virgin olive oil, avocado and walnuts daily to include enough essential fatty acids. Also take a tablespoon of flaxseed oil daily.
Herbal cleansing milk
This herbal skin wash cleans the skin without drying it out.
250ml whole milk
1 tablespoon dried calendula
1 tablespoon dried chamomile
1 tablespoon dried rose petals
Combine ingredients in a glass jar and keep in refrigerator overnight. Strain, rebottle and store in fridge for up to a week. To cleanse, dampen skin with warm water. Soak a cotton cosmetic pad in the cleansing milk and gently wipe skin. Repeat until skin is clean. Rinse with warm water. Apply a toner and then follow with a moisturizer.
Aromatherapy toner
Witch hazel has healing effects while sandalwood is moisturizing. Rose water soothes dry skin and vegetable glycerin helps draw moisture into the skin.
1 teaspoon distilled witch hazel
20 drops sandalwood essential oil
1 teaspoon vegetable glycerin
250ml rose water
Combine witch hazel and sandalwood in a bottle and shake well. Then add the glycerin and rose water and shake again. Saturate a cotton cosmetic pad or cotton ball with the toner and gently wipe over skin.
Rose moisturizing cream
Jojoba oil and beeswax moisturize, rose water soothes and heals and almond oil cleanses. Vitamin E and grapefruit help to preserve the cream.
2 tablespoon jojoba oil
2 tablespoon almond oil
1 tablespoon grated beeswax
1 400-IU capsule vitamin E oil
60ml rose water
5 drops rose essential oil
3 drops grapefruit-seed extract
Warm the oils with the beeswax in a pot over low heat until wax melts. Add contents of vitamin E capsule. Warm rose water over low heat separately. When liquids are lukewarm, slowly pour rose water into the oil mixture, beating until cool, thick and smooth. Stir in rose essential oil and grapefruit. Spoon into a clean jar and cool completely before covering. Store in a cool pace. Apply this rich cream sparingly.
Herbal scrub
Almonds and oats nourish dry skin and sloug off dead skin cells. Rose petals, calendula and comfrey soothe and heal.
200g rolled oats (not the quick oats)
75g almonds
2 tablespoon dried calendula
2 tablespoon dried rose petals
2 tablespoons dried comfrey leaf
1/2 teaspoon almond oil
Finely grind oats, almonds and herbs in a coffee grinder or blender. Store in a covered container in a cool dry place. When ready to use, mix a heaped teaspoon of grinded mix with 1/2 teaspoon of almond oil and enough warm water to make a paste. Gently massage the mixture onto your skin and rinse well with warm water. Use this scrub once or twice a week.
Avocado mask
Mash a quarter of a ripe avocado, mix with a teaspoon of plain whole-milk yogurt into a paste and apply to skin for 15 minutes. Remove with a warm wet flannel. Use weekly for soft, smooth skin.
