People with dry skin are not the only ones who experience dryness. People with normal, combination, and oily skin also need to moisturize. A moisturizer is necessary for beautiful skin in any season. Using a moisturizer on a daily basis can give your skin a healthy shine and offer deep moisture. After all, seasonal variations in weather and the UV rays from the sun can harm the skin and make it exceedingly dry. This dryness can cause dry patches, itching, and various other skin issues. You must moisturize your skin on a daily basis if you want to keep it free of these issues. Although there are numerous moisturizers available in stores and online, you can make one at home as well. These DIY moisturizers are packed with nutrients and can deliver incredible benefits. Scroll down to check them out!
How To Moisturize Skin Naturally At Home
Get Soft Skin With These Natural Remedies
1. Moisturize Skin With Oils
Coconut oil OR baby oil OR olive oil OR castor oil OR jojoba oil OR Mineral oil OR sesame oil. You can pick whatever is available at home. Do this 2-3 times a week. Dry and itchy skin requires deep hydration and what better than natural oils to do the trick? The many oils mentioned above offer excellent soothing effects for all skin types. They are very rich in vitamin E, vitamin A, and fatty acids. They lock in moisture and also supply the skin with essential nutrients for optimum skin health (1). With regular application, you’ll soon notice a smoother and softer skin.
2. Moisturize Skin With Honey
Organic honey Repeat this twice a week or more often if you have very dry skin. Honey is one of the best natural moisturizers for skin. It is natural emollient and humectant. It penetrates to the deeper layers of the skin to moisturize it. It also helps in cleaning up your skin pores and restore the dull skin to it natural glow with its antioxidants (2, 3).
3. Aloe Vera Gel
An aloe vera leaf You can store the remainder of the aloe vera gel in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for a few days. You can repeat this once in every 2-3 days. Keep an aloe vera plant on your balcony. It grows very quickly and within no time, you’ll have a home moisturizer at your disposal! Aloe vera gel has plenty of nutrients like vitamin E and vitamin A that are great for the skin. It also contains plant steroids that have anti-inflammatory property (4). This will help to relieve the itching sensation seen with dry skin.
4. Milk Or Buttermilk
Cold milk or buttermilk Do this twice a week before taking a shower. Dry and dull skin can really make you look haggard. But the solution is in your fridge! Both milk and buttermilk are effective ways to hydrate all skin types. They are quickly absorbed into the skin pores. Additionally, they can help in keeping away wrinkles as well (5, 6). If you are allergic to milk and other dairy products, do not use this remedy. Plant-based milk can be used instead.
5. Avocado As Moisturizer
An avocado Repeat this twice a week. All your dry and flaky patches will soon be gone with this home remedy. Avocado contains plenty of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals such as fatty acids, carotenoids, vitamin C, and vitamin E. These will nourish your skin and also protect it from free radical damage. Vitamin C aids in collagen and elastin synthesis leaving your skin firm and young-looking (7).
6. Cocoa Butter
Cocoa butter If you have difficulty melting the butter, place a few pieces in a double-boiler for a couple of minutes and then apply on the skin. Use this to moisturize your skin twice a week. This natural butter extracted from cocoa seeds increases the skin’s elasticity and moisturizes it. This is due to the saturated fats present in it (8). The polyphenols in cocoa possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. They help in reversing the damage caused by UV exposure and have anti-aging effects (9).
7. Shea Butter
Organic shea butter Use this every night, before going to bed. Shea butter is an excellent moisturizer for the skin as it is rich in saturated fatty acids. It also has healing and anti-aging properties (10).
8. Mango Butter
Mango butter Use this daily or every alternate day. Rich in antioxidants and compounds that moisturize the skin, mango butter is fast becoming the next big thing in the skin care industry (11). It is easily absorbed into the skin and does not leave a greasy residue.
9. Cucumber Juice
1 large cucumber 8 oz. paraffin wax 2 oz. carrier oil (almond oil works best)
Store the rest of the mixture in an air-tight container. Use this every night. Cucumber is majorly water, and when used in a skin moisturizer, it hydrates the skin. It is a soothing agent that replenishes and rejuvenates the skin (12). Caution Do not use this remedy if you have excessively oily or acne-prone skin as paraffin wax can cause acne breakouts.
10. Beeswax
1 cup olive oil 1/2 cup coconut oil 2 oz. Beeswax 5-6 capsules Vitamin E oil
Close the glass container with a tight lid and store for future use. Use this every alternate day. Beeswax softens the skin and also improves its elasticity (13). Coconut oil and olive oil are excellent moisturizers as well. They also possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties (14, 15). Caution Do not use this remedy if you have excessively oily or acne-prone skin as beeswax can cause acne breakouts. These cost effective, easy to make moisturizers can keep you looking beautiful and young. Why spend a fortune on chemical laden products when you can get the same benefits at a much lesser cost! Here are some tips you should keep in mind when moisturizing your skin and taking care of it.
Tips For Moisturizing Your Skin
Use a gentle moisturizer on a daily basis. You can use richer moisturizers during the winter months to counteract the dryness caused by the cold temperatures.
While taking a shower or washing your face, ensure that the water is lukewarm and not hot. Hot water can sap moisture from the skin.
Do not use harsh soaps or body washes as these can make your skin dry and dull.
Use a moisturizer that is universal for all skin types or is for your specific skin type.
Every part of your body is important. You need to use both facial and body moisturizers.
Use a moisturizer with SPF in it or a sunblock on top of the moisturizer to protect your skin from UV damage.
Knowing what suits your skin and what doesn’t is essential. Conduct a patch test if you are unsure about any ingredient in the home remedies.
Risks Of Moisturizers
It is important to know if the moisturizer you are planning to use contains ingredients that are safe to use. When purchasing a product from the market, read the label carefully to know exactly what it contains. When it comes to the home remedies, the ingredients listed above are all safe to use and suit most skin types. As mentioned above, a patch test will remove any doubts from your mind about experimenting with a new ingredient. Can the skin moisturize itself? Check out the infographic below for more details. Yes, the skin is equipped to hydrate itself by drawing in moisture from the air and moisturize itself with the sebum it produces. However, excess or frequent use of external moisturizers may inhibit this activity. Is Vaseline a moisturizer? Yes, Vaseline is considered to be a very effective moisturizer as it prevents the skin from drying out.
Now that you know how to moisturize skin naturally at home, what are you waiting for? Have you used any of these home remedies for moisturizing your skin? Do let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.