Dry skin can be a real bummer but there are are easy ways to get that glow back. If your skin is itchy, flakey, parched looking, or even cracking, read on - we've got a few tips to help you restore moisture and keep your skin protected and hydrated with natural methods that will sustain hydration.
HYDRATE FROM WITHIN: Drink lots of hydrating fluids like water, herbal tea, and coconut water. Honey is a powerful humectant and will help to retain moisture so adding it to your tea will give it that extra boost. You can also increase moisture retention by adding more oils and fats, like avocado and olive oil to your diet.
DEHYDRATE LESS: Consume less coffee, alcohol, energy drinks, and sodium. When you do consume these, you can counter the effects by drinking extra water.
PROTECT YOUR SKIN FROM HOT WATER: Apply rich and protective butters like shea butter and cocoa butter to the drier areas of your skin before showers and baths. Do the same to the backs of your hands before washing dishes, bathing the kids and pets, or other activities that require warm water. This practice is especially helpful for skin disorders like eczema and psoriasis, however, take care that you're using clean, pure ingredients that don't contain any fragrance.
TAKE SHORTER SHOWERS: Warm to hot water washes away your bod's natural oils leaving your skin parched and itchy. The cooler and shorter your shower, the better.
DON'T USE SOAP ON (MOST OF) YOUR BODY: We highly recommend using soap on your pits only. Soap and warm water together will dry your skin out and leave you with flaky, scaly cells. Soap can also cause serious irritation to the nether region and disrupt your pH (which you don't want). Truthfully, you can get your bod perfectly clean most of the time with just water, but if you want that extra assurance, go with a low to zero fragrance, clean-ingredient soap.
PAT YOUR SKIN DRY: The less you rub your skin or face dry with a towel, the happier your skin will feel and look. Rubbing pulls skin and wears out its elasticity. It will also pull out more natural oils that keep you plump and hydrated.
BABY EXTRA DRY AREAS: For cracked skin and patches affected by psoriasis, eczema, or dermatitis, you'll want to take extra precaution and care. We recommend using only "neat" oils and butters on these areas - meaning single-ingredient and no fragrance. We even suggest not using essential oils on these areas. Our go-tos are jojoba oil for the face and cocoa butter or shea butter for the bod. Apply liberally, throughout the day - especially before showering - unless it's on your feet because we don't want you slipping in the tub! In any case, investing in a non-slip bathtub mat is always a good idea. Pro-tip for cracked feet: We recommend gently exfoliating the cracked and calloused areas with a pumice or paddle near the end of your shower. Once you're out and dry, apply a rich butter, like shea or cocoa and slip on a pair of non-absorbant, non-porous flip flops. Keep them on for at least 20 minutes to give the butter time to absorb into your skin. Do this once or twice a week and you'll soon see amazing results!
If you've got your own tips and tricks for dry skin, leave us a comment! We'd love to hear what you're doing to keep your skin dewy.
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