Growing up I learned to apply my lifestyle and home remedies to successful dry skin fixes. Be it winter or summer, I would use in-season berries, fruit and vegetables to care for my skin. Naturally, with more research and clinical trials of different skin care products and the active ingredients in them, the woman of today has advantages. Her skin care routine can be designed in a powerful and thoughtful way.
When it comes to your skin, you may think that lotion is enough to keep it soft, smooth and clear of flakes. Unfortunately, lotion alone may not always get the job done.
As we age, our skin naturally becomes drier. And harsh elements like the sun, wind and low humidity, not to mention stress, can compromise its ability to hold on to moisture, says Vermén Verallo-Rowell, M.D., a diplomat and fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology and American Society of Dermatopathology.
Thankfully, it takes just a few simple tweaks to your routine to enhance your skin’s ability to hold in moisture and win the battle against dryness. Can dry skin repair itself? Depends on the severity of your skin condition and your proactive steps.
Try these dermatologist tips for trapping moisture into the skin of your face, hands and body.
Exfoliate Dry, Dead Skin Cells
A buildup of dry, dead cells on the skin’s surface can block the water in moisturizers from fully penetrating, says Dr. Verallo-Rowell. Look for a mild facial scrub or cleanser to gently exfoliate once or twice a week.
Dry skin fixes don’t need to be expensive. Once you become aware of the situation, you can decide how to treat your dry skin on your face, feet, legs, hands and arms, and your entire body core.
Dry Skin Fixes for Your Face and Neck
For your face and neck, use gentle exfoliants like Activated Hydrogen Water skin cream. Uniquely designed around the needs of the skin, this cream is a very gentle cleanser that washes away the dead skin cells. Once the face and neck are rid of them, new skin cells are readily available to accept your skin care products with actives in them.
Also remember to lock in the moisture inside the epithelium, which could be a huge culprit for draining all the precious water from the deeper skin layers. Using Hyaluronic Acid as part of your regular skin routine could change your dry skin situation into a huge win.
Scroll down a bit where I give a link to the post that elaborates in details how hyaluronic acid could be of daily support to your skin condition.
Educate yourself on how different face washing mistakes not only dehydrate your skin, but also damage and age it.
Dry Skin Around the Mouth Fixes
First, you need to determine whether your dry skin around mouth is NOT any of these skin conditions: eczema, perioral dermatatis or contact dermatitis. A good indication that you need to make an appointment with your dermatologist is when this condition is persistent and is accompanied with more just a dry skin. It could be small wounds in the skin, bleeding and even pain.
Explore Nitric Oxide benefits for your body and skin. It is a chemical that makes life possible.
Once the above severe skin conditions are ruled out, then your skin probably needs more moisture inside to get the right nutrients in and toxins out. A very easy way to get your skin around the mouth to the conditioned and healthy level is to practice these steps in lip care.
– Exfoliate lips with a gentle exfoliator.
Do it regularly, at least once a week. But do not overdo it! You can make your own lip scrub with powerful antioxidants like Manuka honey.
Grab your recipe for Lip Sugar and Honey Scrub recipe to make at home
– Moisturize your lips to promote a healthy complexion.
You do know that the skin needs plenty of moisture to function properly. The skin on the lips is very thin and calls for moisturization regularly, no matter what climate you live in. Use natural ingredients like Manuka honey, fruit peptides, ceramides in the lip care! The key is to moisturize the lips several times during the day.
– Wear Sunscreen in your Lip Care Products
To avoid dry skin around your mouth, use sunscreen with SPF 30. The sun has its damaging effect on the skin, lips’ skin included!
– Hydrate yourself during the day
To provide moisture to the skin it is a must you drink enough water. It doesn’t take much to fulfill your body’s requirements for water. This could be your the first go-to solution when evaluating dry skin around the mouth.
Best Dry Lip Treatment Moisturizers List
Check out these quality products that have a truly amazing ingredients list to attack dry skin around the mouth.
Lip Treatment Moisturizers
Here are some of the best non-toxic lip treatments that will keep the skin on the lips moisturized and protected from outside pathogens.
Lip Treatment Moisturizer and Conditioner. Daytime or Overnight Lip Care, Rose, 15g
Hanalei Lip Therapy and Dry Lip Repair with Hawaiian Kukui Oil, Shea Butter, Agave, and Grapeseed Oil.
Lip Treatment by Hanalei. Cruelty free, Paraben Free.MADE IN USA. Clear (15g/15ml/0.53oz)
Made with Kukui Oil, Shea Butter, Agave, and Grapeseed Oil Soothe Dry Lips.
Lip Treatment by Hanalei. Cruelty free, Paraben Free. MADE IN USA. Mauve Pink (15g/15ml/0.53oz)
Made with Kukui Oil, Shea Butter, Agave, and Grapeseed Oil Soothe Dry Lips.
Cliganic USDA Organic Lip Balm Set - 6 Flavors - 100% Natural Moisturizer for Cracked & Dry Lips
Formulated with natural ingredients that hydrate, nourish, and protect lips, our lips balms ensure your lips stay healthy and soft. Paraben-Free. Phthalates-Free. Petrochemical-Free.
Lip Rescue: Collagen + Peptide Complex
You need only a thin layer of this lip collagen formula.
It contains 3 types of lip collagen, peptides and organic plant stem cells to increase lip vibrancy, hydration and to strengthen lip barrier.
This lip formula fills in lip lines, wrinkles and can be applied around the eyes to infuse collagen.
Easy Dry Skin Fixes for the Entire Body
For your body, use a loofah, sugar scrub or even a washcloth. The light exfoliation buffs away the layer of cells, clearing the way for your lotion to do its job.
More on skin exfoliation for the entire body is in Dry Skin Brushing Benefits.
Repair Your Dry Skin with Natural Salves
How long does it take to repair dry skin? Mother Nature has done something truly magical. When we put together the right ingredients upon the patches of the dry skin, it will respond to such cure in no time.
In fact, jojoba and shea butters, essential oils of Grapeseed, Calendula and St. John’s Wort are some of the best ingredients to sooth dry skin.
I like to use different salves and butters that are based on the above ingredients. Using just a small amount of such salve or lotion will bring a quick relief to the irritated and dry skin.
Here’s my favorite list of salves and butters made with all-natural ingredients. You can use these formulas on any part of the body. They work wonders for the skin.
Skin Care Products for Dry Skin
Touchy Skin Salve for Dry Skin, Eczema Effected Cream, Calendula Salve with Organic Herbs, Unscented
This salve works wonders for the dry and sensitive skin.
This salve is made with organic herbs slowly infused into the formula.
The herbs in this formula have been used throughout history for
relieving discomfort associated with eczema, bringing nutrients to and through the skin, and soothing inflammation
Made with organic ingredients, you will need only a tad of this salve to apply to the dry patches of your skin. When applied twice daily, it is found to be highly effective in soothing and healing affected areas as well as protecting the skin.
This is Cortisone free, Chemical Free, Fragrance free, paraben free, petrolatum free, synthetic free, gluten free and cruelty free formula.
Made with ultra healing Organic Shea Butter for your entire body. Use it on dry skin anywhere on the body.
Check out the amazing ingredients in this cream!
Shea Butter, (organic and Fair Trade), Italian Grapeseed Oil (Non-Gmo) Infused With Organic Calendula, Comfrey, Plantain, St. John’s Wort, Burdock and Thyme, Apricot Kernel Oil, Meadowfoam Oil, Rosehip Seed Oil, Castor Oil, Vitamin E,
Non-GMO and Essential Oils of Benzoin, Bergamot and Sweet Marjoram.
This formula is made with Organic calendula and comfrey. Look what it is scented with – with essential oils of rosemary, cedar leaf, and tea tree. All of these oils are antibacterial and anti-inflammatory.
You will need a small amount for a dry patch of your skin to sooth and heal it.
This is Cortisone free, Chemical Free, Fragrance free, paraben free, petrolatum free, synthetic free, gluten free and cruelty free formula.
Peppermint Body Butter Multi Purpose Cream, Moisturizer for Very Dry Skin, Hand Cream, Fair Trade Organic Shea Butter, 8 oz
This ultra healing body butter is a perfect solution for a very dry skin. You can use it on hands, legs and entire body, wherever the need for the dry skin is.
Infused with organic healing herbs that bring relief and protection from irritants.
This formula is very gently scented with peppermint essential oil.
Shea Butter Refined for Massage & Body Care. 100% Pure & Natural African Shea Butter, 7 oz
This skin formula contain no synthetic components, preservatives, or coloring pigments. Only 100 % pure and natural Shea butter.
Use it for dry skin on your face and all-over the body, and your hair as well.
If you like to use your own essential oils, use this shea butter as the base for your formulas. You can enjoy a freshly-prepared cream with essential oil for day and night.
This set includes amazing treats for your skin: 2 jars of salve and 3 botanical lip balms. It's a perfect gift to a child, man or woman.
True celebration of dry skin relief.
Seal in Hydration
When choosing a lotion for your body, look for such ingredients as plant oils like coconut or avocado. These will help form an invisible seal on skin, preventing moisture from escaping.
“Plant oils, in particular, contain fatty acids that are similar to the skin’s natural lipids,” says Dr. Verallo-Rowell. “So they also help replace the natural oils that are missing in dry skin.”
Apply Lotion After a Shower
When you apply moisturizer to your skin, you seal more water inside. The best time to apply cream or lotion is right after you shower or wash your face, when skin is slightly damp. Lightly blot skin dry, leaving some moisture behind. By doing so, the moisturizer also acts as a sealant, holding that extra water in skin.
Check out this informative post on Hyaluronic Acid Benefits for Women. You will be surprised and informed at the same time.
Hyaluronic Acid is a polysaccharide, i.e., a carbohydrate consisting of many sugar molecules bonded together. A truly magical feature of such molecule is to retain moisture in our skin. And where there’s moisture inside the skin, there’s a more vibrant, tighter skin.
TRUE FACT: One gram of Hyaluronic Acid holds approximately six liters of water!
Boost Ceramide Levels
For your face, look for the skin care products niacin or niacinamide, a form of vitamin B-3. The ingredient increases the skin’s moisture from the inside. It works by bolstering the skin’s ceramide levels.
Ceramides are lipids that coat individual cells, helping them maintain moisture.
A study published in the International Journal of Dermatology found that a cream containing niacinamide moisturized and prevented water loss better than did petrolatum, a form of petroleum jelly and well-known moisturizing agent.
Besides, any petroleum-based ingredient is an oxidant! It means that after an application of a lotion or any skin care product onto the skin, such ingredients will become a cause of production of free radicals. And free radicals damage the skin at a speedy rate.
This is why I switched to the skin care products free of any petroleum ingredients, PEGs, any GMO-sourced ingredients about 15 years ago.
Check out my post on Ceramides in Skin Care to learn more about these truly magical chemicals inside our body.
You will find my product recommendations that contain ceramides. All of my recommended products are going through a rigorous vetting process.
Frankly, I stay away from the petroleum-based skin care products. They give a smooth feeling first, followed by a more severe skin dehydration. In fact, they create free radicals in inside the skin, contributing to skin’s aging.
Humidify Indoor Air
Cold temperatures and dry heat means little or no humidity in the air. Result: The air will suck moisture from wherever it can get it, including your skin. Sleeping with a humidifier near your bed helps prevent the hydration drain, keeping you from waking up with flaky and tight-feeling skin, says Dr. Verallo-Rowell.
Limit Bath Time and Take Short Showers
A long steamy shower may feel great in the moment, but don’t be seduced by the heat: It’s setting you up for dry, flaky, itchy skin later. Lengthy – and hot – shower sessions break down and wash away the natural lipids on the skin’s surface.
Then, as the water evaporates off skin, it can draw out moisture from deeper within the skin, causing you to feel especially parched, says Neil Sadick, M.D., a dermatologist in New York City.
Wear Gloves During House Work
Whether you’re washing dishes, cleaning the bathroom or doing some other chore, always don rubber gloves to protect vulnerable hand skin from harsh cleaning agents. Household cleaners contain degreasing chemicals that, while useful for a shipshape home, can strip your skin and allow moisture to escape.
Also try applying a thick coat of hand cream before putting on the gloves. Occluding moisturizers with rubber or even cotton gloves help them penetrate better. Aside from making your handshake softer, this will also help hands look younger. Because hands are one of the first areas to show signs of aging, if they’re dry and flaky, wrinkles may look even more pronounced, says Dr. Sadick.
Say Sayonara to Soap
Most solid bars have a high pH (between 8 and 9). This may disrupt the natural proteins in skin, which have a low, more acidic pH of about 4, says Dr. Verallo-Rowell. This compromises the skin’s protective barrier, allowing moisture to escape and opening the door for irritation.
Instead, opt for creamy, non-soap cleansers for both face and body. They sport a lower pH and usually deposit moisturizing ingredients while breaking down dirt.
88 thoughts on “Dry Skin Fixes To Bring Your Entire Body Back To Life”
I am a huge fan of body butters and use them a lot during the winter months as my skin seems to get a lot drier
This is such a great guide on how to deal with all sorts of dry skin! Thank you for all the product recommendatiopns – I struggle so much with skincare.
Dry skin is the worst. We are heading into winter and the dry skin has begun!!
I just read your article on dry skin fixes and found it incredibly helpful! Your tips are practical and easy to follow, and I love how you emphasized the importance of hydration. Keep up the great work!
This winter really did a number on my skin and even though it’s spring now my skin is still so, so dry and taking forever to recover. It’s flaky and peeling and everything I’ve tried hasn’t been doing much long term. I’ll definitely be looking into these products you’ve suggested. Thank you!
I have been struggling with dry skin for quite a bit of time. I need to take this problem seriously because it really bothers me lately and this is going to help me so much!
Amazing tips!!! I have to admit I am not consistent when it comes to skin care and maintaining a routine, I know I should take this a lot more serious.
I need to take care of my skin. As we age, lotions and moisturizers are barely enough.
I need to update my skincare routine and add more exfoliator. Thanks for the tips.
I could really do with dry skin brushing, I tend to get dry skin on my upper arms and sometimes on my legs too. Thanks for the great tips!
Thanks for sharing these! I’ve been thinking I should be doing a bit more to take care of my face!
This is such an informative post with plenty of helpful tips. Thanks for sharing and will definitely keep those in mind.
Welcome, Lyanna,
If there’s only one thing you can use in your life, it’s great!
I struggle with dry skin in the winter. I think these are amazing ways to transform it!
Wren,
It is vital that each of us research the topic of our need when it comes to anything. The more we know, the better choices we’ll make.
This happens to me sometimes. Glad to know about this products and thanks for reminding about proper skin care.
Ryan,
The more you know, the better choices you’ll make when choosing the products and skin care routines your skin needs.
I really need to work on exfoliating my entire body! The only area I focus on is my face. But, my legs and feet need a good treatment too!
Amy,
You will be pleasantly surprised about your skin’s positive response to dry skin brushing.
These are some great tips. I’ll have to check on some of these products. I get dry skin especially in winter.
Kathy,
It is awesome you can find some use of these tips and suggestions. Go GRL!
I definitely needed this. I don’t take care of my skin, and it shows. I’m an itchy, awful mess from my head to my toes.
Ben,
Just one tiny step that can lead to another.
Begin with just one change and stick with it for a while. Don’t make all changes for the sake of good in one day. It doesn’t work this way.
Thanks for sharing these helpful tips, Day by day my skin is getting weird and don’t know which product can be used
Bindu,
What really can help your skin is to evaluate your life and what you do to pinpoint the causes for dry skin.
Check to see if you hydrate yourself during the day; if you use skin care products that have ingredients causing dry skin; if your diet calls for some reevaluation.
Just begin to look at what you do during the day and see if you can figure out the causes of the dry skin.
These are some great tips! I just started using Vitamin C serum and I LOVE it! I’m excited to see how it will help with the winter midwest dry skin.
Kait,
Vitamin C is one of the greatest antioxidants. Just make sure that your serum is free of the accompanied toxic ingredients that may get in the way of the benefits from Vitamin C.
These are some fabulous fixes! I have started using a face moisturiser with hyularonic acid as well as exfoliating my skin daily with an exfoliating brush or glove. My favorite thing for dry skin however is a product I bought about 6 months ago called Shiffa Healing Balm. It fixed a really horrid dry patch on my left hand that wasn’t responding to anything else I tried..
Hi Razena,
This is excellent that Shiffa balm helped you to get rid of the dry patch!
I am familiar with the product which has the base made with Jojoba and Shea butters. As additional ingredients they use very common, but oh so effective ingredients of Arnica, St. John Wort and Calendula.
It is a pricy version of a healing salve that can be compared to some other quality brands on the market.
But what matters is that you are free from that persistent dry patch!
They are good. Exfoliating, moisturizing is super good but I have super oily skin.
Monidipa,
It is a HUGE misconception that OILY skin should not be moisturized!
You still need to exfoliate with gentle, non-drying formulas.
In addition, you need to moisturize your skin and condition your skin to the level when the sebum production will be regulated more efficiently.
I see many women use the products that actually SUPER OVER-DRY their skin which produces an OVERLY active sebum glands.
Begin treating your skin with the right products sans harmful and disbalancing ingredients, and you will get your glowing skin back!
DO agree especially nowadays every single person is suffering from dry skin…well glad you shared this with us..great work though..
Thanks, but NO thanks, the majority of the skin care products have the ingredients such as chemical emollients that over-dry the skin and produce various skin conditions and overly productive sebum glands. Hence, many get super oily skin or incredibly dry skin.
I desperately need to look into some of these products!
Rachel,
May I suggest for you to begin with your quick evaluation of your skin care routine?
Check out what skin care products you currently using.
Check what Ingredients they have.
Many ingredients are super damaging to the skin. They super dry the skin and produce free radicals while delivering a short-lived smooth, “silky” feeling to the skin. That is why companies use them! But the result is DRY or SUPER OILY skin.
Check my post on the Activated Hydrogen Water skin care products.
These products are super gentle, using hydrogen water to get rid of free radicals and gently exfoliate the skin, opening a new layer of healthy skin cells to work on!
Here’s a link to the post explaining how this all works. I’ve done a huge research on it and brought in the skin care products to support it ==>
https://celebratewomantoday.com/activated-hydrogen-water-skin-cream-aqua-gel/
These suggestions were fantastic! I did not know that having a humidifier in the bedroom would help with hydration…nice to know! 🚢👓🍕
Awesome, Ceci!
That’s why it is powerful to support each other with helpful information like that.
Thanks for sharing these helpful tips with us, I get dry skin a lot so I’ll be sure to keep these in mind!
Skin gets dehydrated first. Then, skin conditions begin to crop in, if the dryness is not handled on time.
Moisturizing with the right, non-drying, not-causing free radicals skin care is a must.
Avoid such ingredients as Petroleum-based (petrolatum) or any PEGs (like PEG-20, PEG-40 and any other number after PEG), any Parfum (it is ALWAYS an artificial, immune-system-causing wreck ingredient) and many more.
But it’s a good list to begin to avoid such when you buy your skin care products.
very useful post for people with dry skin, I think. I have oily so I can not really relate. However the way you presented it made me want to use your fixes, it seams very easy to fix dry skin issues
Lyosha,
May I get my two bits on OILY skin?
Oily skin, if a skin disorder has been ruled out, is the result of over-reacted, overworked sebum glands.
What happens, if you have been using skin care products with certain drying ingredients, your sebum glands reacted to such use. Now, you ended up with an oily skin.
The back-to-normal skin could be using the products that have zero of free-radicals and sebum-gland irritating ingredients.
Exfoliation with Hydrogen Water product could be a beginning to a renewed health in your skin.
That is some really helpful information. Thanks for the detailed tips.
Akriti,
You’re welcome.
These products effectively rid of dead skin cells and lock it the moisture inside the skin.
Wow! This is so helpful Laura! I have certainly been doing a lot of things already that you have mentioned but I think sleeping with a humidifier is going to be a game-changer! Thee skin get easily hydrated while sleeping because we ain’t drinking enough water. This is really helpful. Thanks!
I have a few of humidifiers in each of my bedrooms, kids’ included.
I even put very tiny amount of essential oils to sooth the night time and then change the flavor of the essential oil during the day. We really enjoy these little luxuries.
Thanks for alll the tips. I will keep these in mind.
Rose Ann,
Better yet, do it!
Thanks for the tips and recommendations for gentle cleansers. I don’t like using anything harsh on my skin.
Anne Marie,
These two products are superb.
I strictly vet all skin care products I put on my skin or recommend.
My hands get so dry lately because of all the extra hand washing and sanitizer! These are helpful tips!
Steph,
Using these two products will be like washing your hands in silk.
Especially on my legs, has been really.So I do moisturize after I shower. I need to remember to take these steps to fight it, thanks for sharing!!
Applying skin care that can seal the moisture is the key!
Especially on my legs, has been really.So I do moisturize after I shower. I will have to see if my lotion has dimethicone or plant oils in it.
Excellent tips! Arizona is a very dry place and I should be doing more to make sure my skin stays hydrated.
Heather,
Oh, my, Arizona is super-duper dry. Don’t know how you survive through all the heat.
Yes, you gotta use some extra steps and products to seal all that precious moisture inside your skin.
I often have dry skin especially during days where it’s so cold. Those are some great tips to keep in mind and thanks for sharing this with us.
My house is so dry right now because the AC is running constantly. These are tips that I really need to use right now. Thank you!
Marie,
Happy you can use them asap!
Very nice and educative post. Treating your skin is very important. Thanks for sharing.
Exfoliating TOTALLY helps! I remember being a skeptic about it for awhile and then – I tried it one time and was like WHOA wait a second… WHAT the heck have I been missing out on all these years! GAME changer!
These are really awesome tips! I think it’s time to rethink about my skincare. Thank for sharing!
So helpful! My elbows have been mega dry lately, I need to figure that out!
My skin, especially on my legs, has been really dry as of late. I do moisturize after I shower. I will have to see if my lotion has dimethicone or plant oils in it.
Adding in a serum before I moisturize has been a game changer for me. They make the perfect team.
My skin gets very dry, especially in winter. I think you’ve got some wonderful tips here. I always thought applying lotion after a shower was a good idea too.
Kathy,
I made this post to help to summarize the easy ways that are effective, yet are forgotten so often.
Hot showers do make my skin dry up and get flaky. It’s stressful, more so during the winter season.
I tend to have dry skin. So these are good tips for me to try.
I take way too long of hot showers. I need to get a humidifier for sure, I am just not sure I could give up my soap I use a sulfur soap for my face. Great Article!
I definitely have my share of dry skin in the winter time. It is just so important to moisturize for me, these are some great tips and ideas!
I’m guilty of taking a really hot shower in the wintertime, and probably for longer than I should. This winter, I started applying a night cream and have been seeing a great change in my skin.
Awesome post!! Needed to read something like this!!! Cranking the heat during the winter makes my skin so yuck and dry -_-
indeed, so much things are to consider when dealing with our skin – thank you for these tips – very helpful!
That’s awesome review about the remedies of dry skin. I’m looking into this soon thanks for sharing.
I am trying to do better with my skincare regime. I just bought all new lotions and am ready to try them!
I have the most finicky skin in the world. It doesn’t matter what season, what weather, what product each day is different. If you don’t stay on top of it though it will get out of hand. I love your article and that you are encouraging women to take care of their baby.
My skin is so dry and nasty right now. I’m trying to keep it moist with lotions but it’s not working out. Gotta try something new.
Those are all great tips! I have ditched soap a long time ago, but these are all awesome tips. Thanks for sharing.
I suffer with dry skin, especially in the winter! I need to remember to take these steps to fight it, thanks for sharing!! 🙂
I have dry skin so learnt a long time ago its important to care for it not only moisturizing. Thanks for sharing this post needed to upgrade my knowledge
Thankfully I already do a lot of these things. Exfoliating is so great for the skin, I use a lovely sea salt scrub from LUSH which is one of my holy grail products.
I wear gloves when I’m washing dishes mainly because it’s so horrible on my hands and you are supposed to wash dishes at a hot temperature to kill germs and I don’t want to burn myself. Great tips.
Great tips! The winter weather is so hard on skin. I can really tell a difference in my skin and I’m glad to see these ways to keep it fresh.
England’s weather is not kind to my skin, and then after a hot shower it’s even worse! I know I should exfoliate, I just need time to do it!
This is all really good information. I think the best tip for me right now would be to exfoliate- that is something I know I should do, and I very rarely do!
Dry skin is a big issue for me, so appreciate the information about what to do
In the winter my skin gets SO dry. If I don’t moisturize constantly, my skin gets so dry & flaky! I have to stay on it.