9 Natural Dry Skin Remedies We Wish We Knew Sooner

• Banana
• Cinnamon + Honey
• Cucumber
• Brown sugar
• Baking soda
• Egg
• Multani mitti
• Neem leaves
• Aloe vera

Banana

Step 1: Mash half ripe banana using the back of a fork

Step 2: Add one tablespoon coconut oil to the mashed banana to form a smooth paste

Step 3: Apply the pack on your face and leave it on for 20 minutes

Step 4: Wash your face with cold water

Benefits: Rich in potassium, a banana-infused face mask will help hydrate and moisturise dry skin, making it soft and supple. You’ll be surprised to know that banana also has anti-wrinkle properties which makes it a great dry skin remedy as this skin type is more prone to developing wrinkles and fine lines. Use this face mask once or twice a week to ensure that your skin remains well-hydrated at all times.

Cinnamon + Honey

Step 1: Combine two tablespoons honey and one teaspoon cinnamon powder together

Step 2: Apply the mixture all over your face

Step 3: Rinse off after 15 minutes using lukewarm water

Benefits: Factors such as changing weather conditions, harsh chemicals in soaps and less water consumption can cause your skin to dehydrate. But thankfully, the solution to treating dry skin lies in your kitchen shelf. With its humectants, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, honey can be your best bet to treat dry skin. Being a natural cleansing agent, honey helps moisturises leaving soft and glowing skin. Cinnamon, on the other hand, helps unclog pores and restore moisture. These two ingredients when mixed together can do wonders to your skin.

Cucumber

Step 1: Take ¼ cucumber and cut it into small pieces

Step 2: Blend the cucumber slices until you get a smooth paste

Step 3: Add either yoghurt or aloe vera gel to the paste and mix well

Step 4: Apply the paste on your face and let it sit for about 15 minutes

Step 5: Rinse off with lukewarm water

Benefits: Packed with Vitamins A and C, cucumber is a wonder ingredient for all those with dry skin. Infused with 90 percent water and Vitamin E, cucumbers help hydrate and soften skin. And that’s not all! The silica in cucumber is an essential component that retains the skin’s elasticity thereby keeping the skin firm. Using a cucumber-infused face mask twice a week is one of the best dry skin remedies.

Brown sugar

Step 1: Mix one tablespoon brown sugar and one teaspoon extra virgin olive oil together

Step 2: Using upward circular motions, gently scrub your face using this mixture for a few minutes

Step 3: Leave it on for another 2-3 minutes before washing off with cool water

Benefits: Scrubbing your face using this home-made face pack twice a week can help treat dry skin. Since brown sugar is softer than granulated sugar and gentler than salt, it makes for one of the best dry skin remedies. It not only exfoliates dead skin cells but also hydrates the skin and gives it a shiny glow.

Baking soda

Step 1: Mix one teaspoon baking soda and almond oil each

Step 2: Massage the mixture gently into your skin using circular motions

Step 3: Rinse off with cool water after scrubbing for about 3-4 minutes

Benefits: anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties help reduce acne breakouts. The grainy texture of baking soda is what makes it a brilliant exfoliator in removing dead and dry cells from the surface of the skin. We suggest you pamper your skin with a home-made baking soda scrub at least once or twice a week for effective results. This easily available ingredient can do wonders in improving the texture of your skin.

Egg

Step 1: Take an egg and separate the yolk

Step 2: Mix the egg yolk with one tablespoon of magical honey and one teaspoon olive oil, lime juice and rose water each

Step 3: Apply this mixture all over your face before you head for a shower

Step 4: Leave it on for 10-15 minutes before rinsing off with cold water

Benefits: Eggs being a rich source of proteins make for one of the best ingredients to treat dry and dehydrated skin. Egg yolk is made up of mostly water and fats—this water-binding agent locks moisture into your skin cells, leaving your face soft, smooth and supple. Egg yolk-infused face masks work well for people with dry or flaky skin. The nutrients present in egg yolks work to nourish, hydrate and moisturize dull skin. Introducing an egg face mask into your regular skin care regimen is the best dry skin remedy one could opt for.

Multani mitti

Step 1: Mix together two tablespoons multani mitti, one tablespoon cucumber juice and one teaspoon honey

Step 2: Make a thick paste and adjust the consistency with water as required

Step 3: Apply this pack all over your face and leave it on for 15 minutes

Step 4: Wash your face with cold water

Benefits: The good old multani mitti or Fuller’s Earth is one of the best home remedies for all skin types, including dry skin. While its antiseptic properties, on one hand, absorb dirt, bacteria and other impurities from the skin, its cooling properties on the other has detoxifying effects and improves blood circulation. Use a multi mitti-infused face pack once a week to keep dry, itchy and flaky skin at bay.

Neem leaves

Step 1: Combine two teaspoons neem powder with one teaspoon honey and a pinch of turmeric powder

Step 2: Add some water to form a smooth paste

Step 3: Apply the mixture all over your face and let it sit for 10-15 minutes

Step 4: Rinse off with cold water

Benefits: Neem leaves are a boon for both dry and oily skin. While it helps in sebum control for those with oily skin, it works as a great moisturiser for dry-skinned beauties. Apart from its moisturising abilities, neem leaves also help reduce skin irritation as well as itching sensation. Pampering your dry skin with the goodness of neem leaves every 4-5 days can prove to be extremely beneficial in treating dryness. We suggest you give this dry skin remedy a try!

Aloe vera

Step 1: Extract the gel out of a fresh aloe leaf

Step 2: Take some gel, work it between your palms and massage it into your skin

Step 3: Leave the gel on overnight and rinse off with cool water the next morning

Benefits: Aloe vera is believed to have soothing properties which in turn leaves your skin smooth and radiant. Using aloe gel every night before hitting the bed will help enhance collagen and elastin production in the skin thus restoring its suppleness and elasticity. Aloe vera’s healing and anti-inflammatory properties treat dry skin conditions like psoriasis or eczema too.