Disclaimer: Keep in mind that natural skincare doesn't have a one-size-fits-all solution; it's about discovering what's best for your skin. Consider these suggestions as a foundation and adjust them to meet your skin's needs.
Dry Skin: Vast Dry Prairie Landscape
Imagine your skin as a vast prairie, expansive and open. This terrain, while majestic, is naturally dry. The ground craves moisture, and when it rains, the parched ground quickly absorbs water, but it's never quite enough to sustain lushness. The prairie's flora, primarily grasses, are resilient yet show signs of stress under harsh conditions. This is akin to your dry skin's daily battle for hydration, highlighting the need for constant care and nourishment to protect against environmental challenges like wind erosion and extreme weather.
Elemental Imbalances
In the realm of natural healing, equilibrium among the five elemental forces—Earth, Air, Water, Fire, and Ether—is crucial for life and health, and likewise for your skin. Your dry skin, much like the prairie, suffers from a lack of the moisture - Water element (hydration) which affects the Earth element (skin structure). This imbalance leads to a landscape (or skin) that is susceptible to erosion (or signs of aging) and adverse reactions to environmental elements like the wind (Air) and sun (Fire).
Key Strategies for Rebalancing:
Nourish Water and Earth Elements:
Hydrate internally by drinking plenty of water and consuming foods rich in Essential Fatty Acids which support skin hydration (Water element) and elasticity (Earth element). Use gentle, nourishing skincare products that can reinforce the skin barrier by deeply nourishing the skin, sealing the moisture, and shielding the skin from the environmental harshness.
Shelter from Elemental Extremes:
The same way that extreme environments can cause soil erosion, your dry skin is also susceptible to these extremities whether it be with harsh chemicals or temperatures, both carrying strong fire and wind elements that can dry out your already dry skin.
Encourage a Balanced Ether Element through Movement and Rest:
Regular, gentle exercise enhances blood circulation, delivering essential nutrients to your skin and promoting a healthy glow. Meanwhile, an adequate sleep helps restore and regenerate your skin cells, allowing for improved blood flow to the skin, which delivers the oxygen and nutrients the skin needs.
Cleansing Routine for Dry Skin
Showering with Nature's Balance:
Think of how a soft rain gently washes away the dust without causing a flood or soil erosion – that's the approach to take when washing your dry skin. Opt for short showers with lukewarm or room-temperature water instead of long hot showers as it can strip away protective oils your dry skin needs. If you have extreme dryness, consider water-only showering without using any soap or body wash especially if the skin isn't overly dirty. You can also follow selective showers, only shower when your body is really dirty while washing your feet, groin, and underarm daily to prevent odor. To add another layer of protection to your skin, apply light body oil before and after showering to seal in moisture and protect against the drying effects of water.
Shielding from Air and Fire:
Stay away from products with synthetic chemicals, soap, essential oil, and irritants which infuse the strong fire and wind elements. They can exacerbate the imbalance, leaving your skin dry and sensitive. If you can’t avoid it, dilute with water to lessen their impact. Choose natural & gentle alternatives such as the No-Poo Head-to-Toe Wash that helps clean the skin without stripping the natural oil and causing dryness or pH imbalances. (See how to use it below.)
Mild Exfoliation:
Avoid any harsh exfoliation or scrubbing, as it can strip away natural body oils that your dry skin needs. From time to time, you may use a small amount of mild scrubbing such as the Mung Bean Powder that does not leave the skin dry after use. (See how to use tips below.)
Hydrating and Moisturizing
Hydration and Protection:
First, apply fast-absorbing oils like our Cold-pressed Black Sesame Oil or Jojoba oil for deep hydration and nourishment. Then, add another protective layer using a moisturizer with a thicker consistency such as beeswax or shea butter- based moisturizer, or beef tallow to seal in the moisture and shield your skin from the environment. This dual approach helps restore and protect your skin at the same time.
Nourishing Mask:
Apply a hydrating mask once or twice a week with moisturizing ingredients like milk, yogurt, or honey. This can deeply hydrate and nourish your skin, replenishing the moisture your skin craves. Mix with Jasmine Rice Face Mask Powder for an extra radiant skin.
Other Things to Consider
Cover up:
Wear gloves when washing dishes to prevent further drying. In cold, dry climates, covering up properly to prevent water loss from your skin.
Erosion:
Avoid over-exfoliating, as this can severely damage your skin's natural barrier, akin to how harsh winds erode the prairie's surface.
Humidity:
If you find your skin turns dry when turning on a heater or an air-conditioner, add moisture into the air with a humidifier. You can also use a water sprayer.
Chlorine Filter:
Depending on the dryness of your skin and the chlorine concentration in your water, you might consider installing a chlorine filter on your tap or shower head. Chlorine is extremely drying and can cause sensitivity to dry skin.
Pre and Post-Swim Routine:
Before swimming in chlorinated water, apply a protective oil layer. Afterwards, cleanse with a body cleanser that can neutralize chlorine without drying the skin such as the No-Poo Head-to-Toe Wash.
Product Recommendations and How to Use
No-Poo Head-to-Toe Wash
Made entirely from lime, orange, and leaf, this gentle body wash blends the cleansing power of citrus fruits (Fire element) with the hydration of leaf (Water element), making it a gentle yet effective cleanser, while preserving your dry skin’s natural oils and pH balance. Just mix one or two pumps with an equal amount of water, rub on your wet body in the shower and rinse off. Dilute with more water in case of irritation. (Tip: It's also great for shaving, as the lime softens hair for a smoother shave.) Check out How to Use the No-Poo Head-to-Toe Wash for more details.
Cold-Pressed Black Sesame Oil
Considered Liquid Morning Sunshine, this fast-absorbing oil offers deep hydration to your dry skin without leaving an oily feeling behind. Thanks to its black color, it is fully infused with direct sunshine energy and acts as a natural sunscreen with SPF15 that prevents your skin from burning. Apply it more frequently if you spend a prolonged period of time in the sun. For optimal use, warm a few drops between your palms to activate its sunshine energy before applying to your face or body. Enhance absorption by mixing with a little bit of water or applying on damp skin post-shower. This technique ensures the oil penetrates more effectively into the skin, leveraging moisture to reach deeper skin layers. (Tips: It’s full of magnesium and is also great as a massage oil!)
Visit How to Use the Black Sesame Oil for more details.
Jasmine Rice Face Mask
Known for its nourishing Earth element, this cooling mask is great for deeply nourishing the skin, perfect for calming your dry skin after workouts, sun exposure, skin inflammation, or dark spots. To use it, mix with moisturizing ingredients like yogurt, milk, or honey and apply directly on your skin. If you prefer a lighter version, you can mix it with just water. Adjust the consistency according to your skin’s needs. Leave it on for 5-10 mins or until dry and rinse off. For an enhanced effect, consider soaking the rice powder in water overnight before use. This helps activate the natural rice enzyme, known for its skin rejuvenation property. Learn How to Use Jasmine Rice Face Mask Powder in more details.
Mung Bean Powder Scrub:
Infused with the nurturing properties of Earth and the refreshing qualities of Air, Mung Bean Powder offers a mild exfoliation. To use it on your face, mix a small amount with 2x amount of water. Apply it gently and slowly then rinse off (use your ring finger or pinky if you are extremely sensitive). For body use, combine with water and/or a bit of No-Poo Head-to-Toe Wash, apply to wet skin, and rub on your body before washing away for a clean, refreshed feeling.We recommend to use it sparingly to avoid over-exfoliation that may leave your skin dry. Learn How to Use Mung Bean Powder Scrub in more details.
By embracing these natural healing principles and skincare practices, you can help your dry skin become more like a nourished prairie: resilient, protected, and thriving under any condition. Remember, there's no absolute right or wrong in natural skincare—it's all about finding what works for you. Use above tips as a starting point and tweak them to suit your skin's needs.