12 Simple Home Remedies for Dry Skin

Most people experience dry skin problems at some point in their lives. Dry skin is usually caused by environmental conditions, genetics or excessive bathing and can occur anywhere on the body. If you suffer from dry skin, don’t worry. There are many home remedies you can apply to hydrate your skin and prevent it from drying out again.

Home Remedies for Dry Skin

There are many lotions and moisturizers on the market to combat dry skin. But most of them come with a big price tag. Natural home remedies are not only cheap, but also quite effective in nourishing and hydrating dry skin back to a healthy state.

1. Petroleum Jelly

The hydrating properties of petroleum jelly cannot be understated. Petroleum jelly is very emollient and actually forms a barrier that prevents moisture from evaporating from the surface of the skin. It is also a cheap and cheerful option for treating dry skin on a budget.

As petroleum jelly can be thick and sticky, it may be best to apply it at night. Try dampening your skin, putting on a layer of your regular moisturizer, then a applying a thin layer of petroleum jelly to seal everything in.
You can also use petroleum jelly for dry hands and feet. Coat your hands and feet with a layer of petroleum jelly before bed. Cover them with cotton gloves and socks to promote absorption and prevent the jelly from rubbing off on your sheets. Your skin will be supple and moist in the morning.

2. Olive Oil

Olive oil contains many antioxidants and healthy fatty acids that are good for your skin. It can soothe and condition dry skin all over your body.

Dab a thin layer of extra virgin olive oil under your regular moisturizer.
About a half an hour before taking a shower, rub some olive oil on your hands, legs and other areas with dry skin and massage lightly. Take a shower and then apply a light moisturizer.
Mix equal amounts of olive oil and fine brown sugar. Rub this homemade scrub on your dry skin using light, circular motions for a few minutes. Take a shower and then apply a light moisturizer.

3. Lemon Juice and Sugar

An exfoliating scrub made by concocting lemon juice and sugar leaves your skin soft and glowing. With a circular massage of the skin with this beauty scrub, rough spots on the face become even. The vitamins C in the lemons is a good astringent that lightens the skin tone, removes patches on the skin and encourages cell growth.

Mix a teaspoon of sugar and mix it with juice of half a lemon, use cotton balls to scrub all over the face. Put a jar of it on your nightstand and apply it regularly.

4. Aloe Vera

Aloe vera helps rehydrate the skin and also naturally reduces redness and inflammation.

Break off a leaf from an aloe vera plant and rub the clear, sticky sap all over your face.
Leave it on for 15 minutes, then rinse off.
For best results, apply an aloe mask once or twice a week.

5. Coconut Oil

Coconut oil makes the skin feel softer and removes its previous scaly characteristic by moistening it in a natural way. Coconut oil has sufficient amounts of fatty acid that make up for any loss of moisture from the skin.

Apply warm coconut oil all over your body before going to sleep. Wash it off in the morning. Do this daily to make your skin soft and smooth.
Also, apply coconut oil on your dry skin after you take a bath or shower. When the skin is warm and supple from your bath, coconut oil is more readily absorbed. Do this daily.

6. Milk

Milk has anti-inflammatory and soothing properties that greatly help get rid of dry skin. Plus, the lactic acid in milk exfoliates dead skin cells and increases the skin’s ability to retain moisture. Also, it helps lighten your complexion.

Pour a little whole fat milk into a cup, dipping a soft washcloth into it, then massaging the milk into your skin. The lactic acid gently cleanses the skin, while the high fat content is good for moisturization.

7. Ice Cube

Try rubbing an ice cube all over your face, this makes your blood circulate round your face more, and brings moisture to the surface. Great for getting rid of dry skin and having a glowing face!

8. Avocado and Honey

Avocado and honey combine their qualities of being a good source of sterolin and humectants to treat the misery brought on by having a dry skin. A mask is prepared using mashed avocados and honey for problematic dry areas.

Mash up one half of a fresh, ripe avocado, then add in a quarter cup of organic honey. Include a teaspoon of milk or yogurt, if desired.
Smear this creamy skincare recipe on your face and neck.
Finally, wash it off with cool water after 10 minutes for super-nourished skin.

9. Sugar Scrub

You can make your own sugar scrub for exfoliating and hydrating dry skin using just half a cup of brown or white sugar and a splash of olive oil. If you like, you can also add a drop or two of a fragrant essential oil such as mint or vanilla extract, or a teaspoon of softening honey.

10. Yogurt

Yogurt is an excellent skin-hydrating agent. Plus, its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties help soothe dry and itchy skin. Also, its lactic acid content helps get rid of any germs or bacteria that may cause dryness or itchiness.

Apply fresh yogurt on your hands, face and legs and gently massaging it into your skin. Leave it on for 10 minutes and then take a bath or shower. The mild exfoliating action of yogurt will remove dry skin and leave your skin refreshed. Do this once daily.
Mix 1/2 cup of yogurt and 3 tablespoons of mashed papaya. Stir in a few drops each of honey and lemon juice. Apply it on your skin and leave it on for 10 minutes before washing it off with cold water. Do this once a week.

11. Mayonnaise

Mayonnaise is considered excellent remedy for dry skin.

Apply a mixture of 2 tablespoons of mayonnaise, a tablespoon of lemon juice, and 1/2 teaspoon of honey directly to your face and leave for about 10 minutes.
For best results, use this mayonnaise mask once a week.

12. Oatmeal

You can also use oatmeal to moisturize and get rid of dry skin. The high protein content in oatmeal leaves a protective barrier on the skin, which prevents water loss and helps maintain moisture. Plus, it has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that are good for the overall health of your skin.

Pour one cup of plain oatmeal into your bathtub filled with warm water. Add a few drops of lavender oil. Soak in the bath water for 15-30 minutes. Enjoy this soothing bath once a week.
You can also make a face mask by mixing one mashed ripe banana with one cup of ground oatmeal and then adding a little bit of lukewarm milk. Apply this smooth mixture on your dry skin and leave it on for 10-15 minutes. Rinse it off with cold water. Use this face mask once a week.

How to Prevent Dry Skin

Use a humidifier. If the air in your house is very dry, your skin could be drying out as you sleep, leaving it feeling rough and flaky come morning. In order to prevent dry skin, try putting a humidifier in your bedroom which you can turn on while you sleep.

Putting a bowl or pot of water next to the radiator in your bedroom is a low-cost, DIY alternative to using a humidifier.

Moisturize all year round. This may be obvious to some people, but not so much to others. By moisturizing all year round, your skin will be prepared for whatever the seasons throw at it, whether it’s biting winter winds or scorching summer heat.

People with sensitive skin should avoid creams containing fragrances or lanolin as these can cause the skin to react negatively.
Try to get your hands on products that contain either glycerin or hyaluronic acid, as both of these substances are fantastically hydrating for the skin.

Avoid excessive bathing. Do not shower or wash your face too much, as this will dry out your skin. In order to prevent dry skin, you should limit your bathing to just one bath or shower a day. You should also avoid steaming your skin and washing with water that is too hot.

Use warm or lukewarm water so hydration isn’t stripped from your skin. Water that’s too hot tends to wash away your skin’s protective lipid barrier.
For the same reason, you should also avoid taking long showers or baths.

Cover up. Protect your skin from the elements by covering up as much as possible. In winter, protect your skin from drying winds by wearing hats, scarves and gloves. Wear a protective chapstick to shield your lips. In summer, wear a baseball cap or sunhat to protect your face from harsh rays of sun, and wear loose, light, long-sleeved shirts and pants to prevent skin from burning.

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