The “dry skin problem” that so many of you mention used to be my problem as well, especially near the end of winter. No matter how much cream I patted on in the evening, in the morning I would wake up with dry, stressed skin. Luckily, those days are now gone! Outside factors, like the heating in your apartment or the air-conditioning in your office, or too much sun in the summer can contribute to your skin being too dry. Nonetheless, it’s condition is very often the result of your diet and an insufficiency of certain ingredients. Below you’ll find what helped me. I hope it will help you as well.
If you’re sure the dryness of your skin is caused solely by outside factors, you can, apart from drinking more water, also consider: (i) regular face scrubs (at least once a week, or even twice if your skin is not too sensitive) and (ii) replacing your night cream with a face oil rich in moisturizing ingredients or using such an oil under your cream.
I know, I know… there are many opponents of using oils who claim that they clog up pores, etc. My experience is to the contrary. If your cleanse your skin properly in the morning and in the evening, and you regularly apply a scrub, you’ll not only have clean pores, but your skin will look healthier than ever. Ever since I replaced my night creams with face oils, I wake up with a fresh, nourished face. What’s more, I’ve noticed that with some face oils, even the lines on my face are less noticeable 🙂 . Regular scrubs may seem a small thing but they make an ENORMOUS difference. You’ll see it soon enough. Your skin will not only look better, but anything you apply to it will absorb a lot quicker!
There are many excellent face oils on the market. However, ever since I discovered Young Living essential oils, I often mix them up myself. The recipe I’ve found most effective and simplest to make (when it comes to moisturizing) is:
Ingredients: 10 drops of each of the following essential oils: geranium, sandalwood, frankincense, patchouli, and lavender; grapeseed oil as the carrier oil and 20 drops of sweet almond oil
Preparation: combine all the ingredients in a 15 ml bottle (preferably one with a dropper, which makes it easier to dispense and apply the oil to the face).
The recipe comes from the TheEObar app, which can be purchased in the Apple app store.
Moreover, if you’re experiencing dry skin not only on your face, but your hands, legs and other areas of your body, I especially recommend sesame oil. It has a softening effect and soothes dry and cracked skin. Apply to the affected area once a day until symptoms are fully gone.
The last time I found myself facing dry skin, I turned to Traditional Chinese Medicine (“TCM”) for guidance. According to its wisdom, dryness can be a result of an imbalanced diet, excessive activity, too much stress or unfavorable climate. According to TCM, in order to alleviate dryness, we need to consume moisturizing foods. These include: spinach, seaweeds, millet, barley, pears, apples, almonds, peanuts and pine nuts, sesame seeds, eggs, crab, mussels, herring, pork and honey. Most of these products (maybe except for crabs and mussels) are available even in the winter, so you should have no problem buying them. On the other hand, an excess of herbs and seasoning can dry the body, so, in this case, it’s best to limit their intake.
Aside from that, consider whether your diet is not lacking in essential fatty acids. They are responsible for, among other things, healthy hair and healthy skin, and an insufficient amount of them may lead to skin disease, as well as dry hair and hair loss.
The highest concentrations of essential fatty acids can be found in: linseed, almonds, nuts (pecans, hazelnuts, walnuts, and pine nuts), sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, and pumpkin seeds. I add them to my millet groats and oatmeal for breakfast, and to salads and desserts. They are best eaten fresh, right after they’ve been husked to keep them from going rancid, and in small doses, because they tend to be heavier on the stomach.
TCM especially recommends linseed and linseed oil. Every morning I add a spoonful of linseed oil to my warm breakfast, but you can add it to salads and even soups (after you’ve taken them off the burner and poured them into bowls). Try it – I’m sure you’ll notice the difference quick enough.
Finally, let me share a recipe for a drink that has a very positive effect on your skin, by nourishing and toning it. The recipe comes from a workshop on women’s health held by dr. Agnieszka Krzeminska, and organized by the Chinese Medicine Center in Warsaw.
Ingredients: (i) glass of hot water, (ii) 1 spoonful of finely ground apricot seeds, (iii) honey, (iv) lemon juice
Preparation: Pour water over apricot seeds, add honey and lemon juice to taste.
I’m keeping my fingers crossed for your beautiful, moisturized, and nourished skin! Let us know on Instagramie or Facebooku if any of the advice above has helped you and what the results were. If you know anyone, who’s not unfamiliar to skin problems, share this post with them!
If want to read up on the basics of TCM, I’d start from Traditional Chinese Medicine by Georg Weidinger
If you’re looking for natural cosmetics for dry skin, I’d recommend a hydrating base and a vitamin bomb oil, which you’ll find here : Vitamin bomb, Hydration base
If you’d like to schedule a visit with a TCM specialist, contact details can be found here: Mrs. Helena Gworek
If you want to buy natural essential oils, you will find them here: YoungLiving
Katarzyna
The information provided in the article is not written by a doctor and does not constitute medical advice. Any and all suggestions that are provided are informative by nature and should not be treated as substitutes for individual diagnosis and individually assigned treatment.
Copyright 2021 Heal Yourself | Terms of sale | Privacy policy | Contact
