Shopping For Better Home Accessories

For many people with dry skin, it is difficult to find products that not only absorb into the skin but help retain the moisture. Additionally, if you prefer natural or organic products, moisturizing can be even more challenging. There are different strategies you can use to help improve dry skin.

Start With Cleansing

Alleviating dry skin starts with how you cleanse your skin and the products you use. You should start with testing your water to see if you have a hard water problem. When you have hard water, it prevents soap from lathering and can often leave a film on your skin, contributing to dryness. If possible, have a water softening system installed. When choosing a soap, it is best to stick with either bar soap or body wash that has fewer ingredients. For example, some are made with natural ingredients and are free of dyes and perfumes that might irritate the skin. Castile soap is a good natural option, especially since it can be an effective cleanser from head to toe. Whatever soap you choose, be sure to rinse thoroughly to avoid any remaining soap residue.

Use Hydrating Lotions

All lotions are not created equal, although it may seem like they all should be moisturizing. People with dry skin should focus more on thicker lotions and creams that are water-based and free of alcohol or other potentially drying ingredients. It may be tempting to use oils in place of lotions, but few oils have small enough molecules to penetrate the skin, so they just sit on top of the skin and do not absorb. Applying an unscented organic lotion shortly after exiting the shower or bath is the best time to moisturize. Your skin is softer and damp, and the pores are open. This allows your lotion to better absorb into the skin. Apply your lotion liberally and give it time to absorb into the skin before adding other products or putting on your clothes. If you put your clothes on too soon, the lotion is more likely to absorb into the fabric of your clothes rather than your skin. Organic lotions containing aloe and/or honey are a good option for dry skin.

Layer Moisture Retention Products

If you want to use thicker products, like body butters or oils, you should use them as your last step. Most butters and oils work well to add a protective layer on the skin to prevent evaporation of moisture from your skin that can lead to dryness. Look for products with good emollient properties, which means they help smooth the skin. Although there are many options, you will have to try different oils and butters, and experiment with different amounts to avoid being oily. Also, some oils or butters are not ideal for moisture retention in certain weather conditions. For example, shea butter, mango butter, and coconut oil are solid at room temperature. If you use these products in the colder months, they are more likely to leave a film on your skin if exposed to cooler temperatures. It is best to rely on oils that remain in liquid form during the cooler months.

Severely dry skin can become a serious problem that seems impossible to rectify. Being mindful of preventing dryness, adding moisture, and retaining moisture throughout all steps of your personal care routine can help you develop smoother, more moisturized skin.