Chapped lips, dry flakes, loss of elasticity and itchiness - brides with dry skin are very well familiar with all these symptoms. The feeling of your skin turning into a drought struck Sahara Desert is nothing new for someone born with dry skin type. In fact, dry skin isn’t something that only happens on your face. Since it is the disruption of the skin’s barrier, it can appear on any part of the body, be it your knees or your elbows. Strangest of it all is that dry skin can be caused by almost anything, from the change in weather to an alteration in your products. Ultimately, it's not you, it's the environment that surrounds you. 

If your everyday bridal skin care regimen isn't making the cut, then you need something extra for that boost of suppleness. So brides with dry skin woes, check out our top DIY and product-based solutions to battle the factors affecting your skin! 

Solutions for Dry Skin 

One of the first recognised skin ailments by mankind was dryness. And ever since the dawn of time, we’ve been looking and trying out home remedies and products to ‘fix’ the symptoms of dry skin. It all comes down to staying hydrated both internally as well as externally. And hydration doesn’t just mean drinking water. 

From topical solutions to DIY remedies, here are some of our top picks for brides dealing with dry skin. 

DIY Remedies For Dry Skin

When talking about home remedies for bride having dry skin type, there are many solutions. However, some work better than others. And we know you all too well. As the bride, you've been so busy dealing with the wedding prep that you've completely neglected your skin and now you've got only a few weeks before the festivities begin. So, check out these DIY solutions that will help you treat your dry skin within a few days (when used regularly, of course!).

1. Olive Oil Cleanser

One of the best natural oils to use for dry skin is olive oil. And it's the easiest to use. Just apply a small amount of olive oil on your skin and emulsify it with some hot water. The oil will not only work as a cleanser but also moisturise your skin. An added benefit of an olive oil cleanser is that it will take your makeup off without any hassle. You not only get to spare your skin from the harsh rubbing with makeup removing wipes but also spare the environment from non-degradable waste. It's a win-win situation!

2. Olive Oil and Sugar Scrub

Exfoliating your skin, even if it’s dry, is important. However, sometimes it’s best to whip up something minimal from your own pantry. We suggest you mix together olive oil and granulated sugar to make your own scrub. Here's how you make an olive oil and sugar scrub:

• 3 tablespoons (45 ml) extra virgin olive oil.

• 2 tablespoons (43 g) organic honey (For extra moisturisation).

• ½ cup (115 g) organic sugar.

Mix the ingredients together and use it as a scrub gently on your damp skin. 

Pro Tip: Ensure you do not over-exfoliate, otherwise you may cause micro-tears on your skin!

3. Oatmeal and Honey Mask

Oatmeal is an ingredient that works as a great exfoliator as well as a soother. Honey, on the other hand, is a great humectant for your skin. Follow these steps to make an oatmeal and honey mask:

1. Take 2 tbsp of rolled oats and 1 tbsp of honey.

2. Add a few drops of warm water and mix the ingredients into a thick paste.

Apply the mask on your face and leave it on for 15-20 minutes. This multi-tasking mask will give you a good soak of hydration. When you're washing it off, you can use the oats to scrub your skin lightly. 

4. Raw Aloe Vera Sleeping Mask

Remember walking to your mom and complaining about itchy and dry skin? And then she would pull out the leaf of her 'magical' potted plant before splitting it open to apply the gooey flesh of the plant on your skin? That’s aloe vera fo you. No one’s a stranger to its moisturising and hydrating qualities. All you need to do is take some raw aloe vera flesh and run it in a mixer until it turns into a serum-like consistency. Before going to bed, wash your face and tone your skin then follow that with a thin layer of this emulsion. You will wake up with hydrated and baby soft skin. Maybe, it is a 'magical plant' after all!

Pro Tip: You can use this same aloe vera emulsion on your hair before washing it off for smooth strands.

5. Moisturising Avocado Mask

Avocado face mask? Yes, please!  It is a superfood that is loaded with good fats, omega fatty acids, vitamins, and a bunch of other nutrients, making it perfect for people with dry skin. Here are the steps to make the perfect avocado mask to moisturise your skin.

1. 1/2 ripe Avocado

2.  1 tbsp of Yogurt.

3. Mix the two into a smooth paste and apply it over your face for 15-20 minutes.

4. Wash it off with cold water and pat dry. 

Whether it is seeking relief from redness, inflammation, acne, or flaky dry skin, or using it as a regular conditioning element, avocado should be your bae!

6. Primrose Oil and Vitamin E Eye Serum

Eye serums are amazingly good for those people who experience dryness under their eyes. All you need is 6 capsules of Evening Primrose oil and 4 Vitamin E capsules. Mix them together and apply a few drops under your eyes. Results are known to show up within a week of use, as this serum not only helps moisturise but also helps lighten dark circles. 

7. DIY Face Serum- Jojoba Oil, Argan oil and Lavender oil

Honestly, with dry skin, you can never say no to some extra form of hydration. Using a face serum is just another way of putting back all the moisture that you lost after cleansing. Mix 1tbsp of Jojoba oil, ½ tbsp of Argan oil and 2-4 drops of Lavender essential oil. This oil-based serum works amazingly for dry skin and chapped lips. 

(Psst brides! If you're looking for DIY masks to try before your wedding for glowing skin, then click here!)

The Best Products For Dry Skin

There are many products for brides with dry skin in the market. However, while some are overpriced and unhelpful, some may just end up making your skin greasy. We believe that the products you use should moisturise your skin, give it glow but not make it uncomfortably greasy. Keep an eye out for products that are rich in hydrating agents like Hyaluronic acid, Glycolic Acid, Shea Butter, Lactic Acid and Cocoa Butter. Here's our shortlisted range of products that work wonders for dry skin. 

Pro Tip: Don't be alarmed by the names of acid in your skincare. They are skin-friendly chemicals used in all sorts of skincare to treat your skin problems. And always remember that even natural ingredients have chemical names. Just because it's in your kitchen, doesn't mean it's skin-friendly!

Nivea Milk Delights Moisturising Honey Face Wash

BUY NOW| MRP: Rs 165

MCaffeine Naked & Raw Coffee Face Scrub

BUY NOW| MRP: Rs 349

The Face Shop Calendula Essential Moisture Toner

BUY NOW| MRP: Rs 1220

Innisfree Green Tea Seed Serum

BUY NOW| MRP: Rs 1950

The Face Shop Chia Seed Hydro Cream

BUY NOW| MRP: Rs 2410

Clinique Moisture Surge 72-Hour Auto-Replenishing Hydrator

BUY NOW| MRP: Rs 890- Rs 3500 (Prices vary based on size)

Bio Oil

BUY NOW| MRP: Rs 950

Dot & Key Head-To-Toe Dryness Repair Salve

BUY NOW| MRP: Rs 455

 

Tips To Keep Your Skin Hydrated & Moisturised

Drink Water & Other Fluids

Yes ladies, drink water like it’s your full-time job. Water is the key to hydrated and healthy skin. Make it a habit to drink at least 10 glasses of water daily. This will not only keep your skin hydrated but will also treat ten thousand other bodily concerns, making your life all the easier. You can also prepare a jar of detox water and keep sipping on it throughout the day. When it comes to beauty, water one of the key ingredients for plump and hydrated skin.

Invest Religiously In Your Skincare

The headline speaks for itself. Once you find the skincare products that suit your skin, we suggest you stick to them. Ensure that your skincare products are not heavy in ingredients that may strip the natural oils of your skin. You need products that bring back and retain the moisture, not take it away. It is understood that some may be of a higher price point than others, but if these investments are paying off, then why not!

Pro Tip: Skincare products with hyaluronic acid are the best for hydration. 

Increase Your Regular Intake Of Fruits and Vegetables

A daily dose of fruit and vegetables is essential for your diet. Why? Because there is a proportional amount of water in these foods that can be absorbed by the body upon consumption. Water-rich fruits and veggies like watermelon and avocado Aside from fruits, you can also boost skin hydration from other types of fluid-filled foods like soup and yoghurt.

Stop Over Exfoliating

We cannot emphasize this enough! While exfoliation is good for every skin type, people with dry skin tend to over-exfoliate, treating their dry skin like dead skin, hopping the flakes to go away. However, over-exfoliation causes microtears in your skin, which may further aggravate your skin's condition and even cause inflammation. It's best to gently massage your skin with your scrub for about 2-3 minutes. So, keep the scrub but keep away from excessive scrubbing.

Avoid Using Excessive Hot Water Directly On Your Skin

Yes, we all love that steaming hot shower at the end of a hectic day in winters. However, extremely hot water can cause your skin to dry up faster. Plus when you use soap over your skin with hot water, your skin loses its oils and moisture faster. So, it's best to take a bath in lukewarm water. And don't forget to lather up that moisturiser afterwards. 

Start Using Natural Oils

Essential oils are known for their beauty and wellness benefits. And that's mainly due to their hydrating and healing properties. Some of the most popular essential oils for dry skin are Jojoba Oil, Rosehip Seed Oil and Shea Butter.

Use A Humidifier 

Weather changes impact our skin in different ways. While you may associate humidifiers with cool weather, it is actually useful for all seasons as it helps relieve weather dryness brought by dry climate and conditions when humidity is low. Plus, humidifiers may seem like a pricey investment, but they are an investment worth the money. They're also helpful in restoring the skin's moisture level, especially in air-conditioned environments. 

Start Moisturising Properly

The only way to treat dry and dehydrated skin is by giving it back the moisture it has lost. Make it a habit to moisturize your skin twice daily, without fail.

Pro tip: Apply moisturiser within 2 mins. after taking a bath. Remember, your skin is most porous at this stage thus better absorption can be expected.

Have tried anything different to battle dry skin? Tell us in the comments!

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