Itchy, dry, flaky skin can be very unpleasant. And with winter upon us, this is one common problem! Those over-the-counter products seldom work, and also leave a hole in your pocket....We need that money for christmas presents, right? So what can you do to soothe that cracking skin? Try out these home remedies that are sure to take you closer to the smooth skin you desire.
Oil therapy: Rub on some olive, almond or coconut oil and massage lightly on to your hands, legs and the rest of your body before heading for a shower. If time permits, heat the oil and then apply. Post shower, use a light moisturiser/sunscreen, because winter sun isn’t any less harsh.
Scoop some milk cream: Milk cream makes for a very good moisturiser. Mix a few drops of lime, a tsp. of milk and two tsp. of milk cream and rub onto your hands and legs. Leave it on for a while before you head for a shower. You’ll see the difference immediately.
The good ol’ curd: Curd makes for an excellent skin hydrant, and its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory properties will help soothe your dry, itchy skin. Apply curd just as it is or mix it with some honey and a few drops of lime. Leave it on for at least 10 minutes before you wash it off. It is sure to do wonders for your skin.
Honey! Honey helps lock in moisture, has antioxidant and anti-microbial properties, which makes it a sought after ingredient in many over-the-counter skincare products. Why shell out money on those, when you can buy yourself a bottle of honey (which is cheaper) and use it to treat your skin. Lightly heat 2 tsp. of honey any apply it onto your skin (face, hands, legs) while warm. Leave it on for 15 minutes, and then wash it off. There’s nothing better your skin can ask for.
Dab on some aloe vera: If you don’t have an aloe plant at home as yet, then make a trip to the nearest nursery when spring is back and get one, because aloe is super duper good for your skin! (I would know i used to slather it on after being BRUTALLY burnt from that hot aussie sun!) After a bath, slice a piece of aloe, squeeze all the gel out and apply onto your face, hands or legs. It will not only moisturise your skin, it will also form a protective layer that will keep impurities from entering your pores. Although aloe is a good skin hydrant, it can leave your skin feeling tight. So you might want to dab on some moisturiser. (Obviously an easier alternative to the plant, and seeing as though it is December and all, is to head down to your shoppers drugmart or pharmacy and pick up a bottle with the pump on it of gel aloe vera)
Go the milky way: 4 tsp. milk, Add a few drops of rose water/ lime and rub it all over your body and wash with cold water. Do this twice a day. And your skin will feel baby soft.
A vitamin-E boost! Make a trip to grocery store pharmacy (in canada) if in Australia just the pharmacy - I am not sure if they have pharmacys in them YET..anyway buy some vitamin-E capsules (they don’t cost much at all!). Poke a hole into 2 capsules, squeeze out the oil, mix a few drops of lime juice and apply all over your body. Take a shower and feel the difference.
Stock up on glycerine: Glycerine helps absorb and retain moisture, so it would be a good idea to buy a bottle again from Grocery store, Shoppers Drugmart, Rexall etc. Mix a teaspoon of glycerine with a few drops of lime and massage onto your skin. Leave it on for a few minutes before you wash it off.
A serving of coconut milk? Coconut milk not only reduces skin dryness, but also helps combat dark spots and blemishes. If you have time to spare, make some fresh coconut milk at home (Of course not in Canada but for all you Aussies who are lucky to be close to the beach) or buy one of those canned ones (I know Safeway sometimes sells the whole coconuts but they are expensive i think). Rub it onto your face and body, and leave it overnight.
Top tip for dry skin:
Once you’ve done either of these treatments a couple times, you must pay attention to exfoliating dead cells. Use a loofah or buy a body scrub that isn’t very rough on your skin (apricot or walnut) and scrub your body at least once a week.
Do not use any exfoliator until your dry skin heals a little, else it gets worse!
AND before i forget DRINK LOTS OF WATER :D
xx Lana (complexions)
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