Dry skin is a common problem for many people throughout the year and for others only during the winter season. So, in this blog, I bring you 5 self-care tips for dry skin.
Ayurveda describes the reason for the condition as an accumulation of Vata in the body. Excess Vata in our system leads to dry skin, and also makes our hair dry and brittle.
Nutrition deficiency, extreme weather conditions, blockage of oil glands, or certain medication can also make your skin dry and dead. Apart from that, use of wrong skin care products is a big mistake that can cause dry skin!
So, here are some of the self-care tips for dry skin that has worked for many!
Also Read: How to do DIY Pedicure at home
Ayurvedic self-care tips for dry skin
1. Abhyanga
Try self-massage or abhyanga with herbal massage oil daily. Oils like coconut oil, almond oil, sesame oil and castor oil can be used to treat dry skin. Choose any of the oils and warm it to massage your full body.
Also Read: Amazing benefits of Abhyanga
How to do it?
You can massage yourself for 10 minutes daily before taking a shower. You can also use infused oil with Vata balancing herbs like Brahmi, to massage your body at least twice a week.
How it helps?
Daily oil massage restores balance to the three doshas, increases circulation, and improves the quality of your skin, moisturising it thoroughly and making it smooth and soft.
Cautions!
Are you Vata?
You have to be careful in choosing the oil. If you have Vata type skin, you may experience premature wrinkles as you have the driest skin of all the three doshas. For people with such dry skin, Ayurveda recommends using heavy and highly moisturising oils for massage. Sesame and almond oils are the best oils for such dry skin.
Are you Pitta?
If you have Pitta type of skin which is imbalanced, you may experience inflammation and oiliness. The excessive heat associated with Pitta generally creates a combination of oily and dry skin. Sunflower and olive oil are good for such skin as they are cool in nature and can balance Pitta.
Are you Kapha?
The Kapha type skin manifests as oily, and congested, and as a result, the skin feels cold to the touch. To counterbalance these symptoms, one can use safflower and grapeseed oils that are lighter and warmer and promote circulation.
2. Diet: Care from within
To treat your dry skin, your diet should include herbs, spices, and nutrients that will make your skin nourished from within. Foods like chamomile, liquorice (mulethi), and calendula (common marigold) should, therefore, be included in your diet.
If your skin is dry, you should eat warm, moist meals like thick soups and stews. You would also need plenty of fat intake. So adding ghee (clarified butter) to your meals, which contains saturated fat, can be effective.
Also Read: Ghee in Skincare
Walnuts are also a good source of healthy fat. You can have them after soaking them in water overnight to make them easy to digest.
3. Cream of the milk
You can try this homemade moisturising treatment to soothe and hydrate your dry skin. Heat some cow’s milk in a small pot. When a skin forms on top, take out the skin and place it in a small saucer. When it cools down, add a few drops of lemon juice or a little rose water.
Mix this into a creamy paste and apply on your face or any dry skin area. Leave it on for 30 minutes or 1 hour, and rinse it off with water. This cream of the milk nourishes the skin effectively.
4. The joy of almonds
Blend a few almonds into a fine powder and refrigerate it in a clean glass jar. Daily take out a teaspoonful of almond powder and add a little warm water, and blend it into a paste. Almonds contain fatty acids that keep the skin smooth.
How to use?
Don’t use hot water as it strips the skin of its natural protective oils. Now apply the paste on your face and massage gently in circles to boost circulation and also to exfoliate the dead skin cells. Leave it for 30 minutes and rinse off with warm water and moisturise as you usually do.
For rough elbows, knees, and feet, you can use a paste of bean flour mixed with full-fat yoghurt. Massage the paste in circular motions onto your rough spots. Leave it for 30 minutes and let it dry. Rinse with water and moisturise the skin.
Also Read: To peel or not to peel almonds
5. Homemade cream
Dry skin requires constant moisturising. Aloe vera gel is a natural moisturiser that makes the skin smooth. The gel of Aloe vera, which is loaded with anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and cooling properties, is a good cure for dry skin.
You can also choose to make your own face cream at home by mixing cocoa or shea butter with avocado oil and rose oil. Rose is another great moisturiser with a lot of anti-ageing properties. Either make it freshly and apply or you can store the cream for a few days depending on the weather. Apply this cream twice a day.
Takeaway – Self-care tips for dry skin
These were some of the secret self-care tips for dry skin that has worked for generations. Try these simple natural tips, they are not only safe but will also save you a ton of money!
Tell me which one are you going to try first!