Soothe, Cleanse and Moisturize Your Dry, Sensitive Skin Back to Health

by Vanessa Roberts
(Toronto, ON, Canada)

I don’t know if I should blame Mother Nature or Global Warming, but the fact of the matter is, the constant change in weather temperature is weighing on my sensitive skin. From freezing temperatures to Spring-like weather, my skin is confused.

With all this change I’ve been noticing my cheeks and under-eyes becoming parched and itchy. As a gluten-free, vegetarian I tend to look for natural remedies to problems like this, rather than purchasing a product. Part of why I do this is hidden gluten in products. If you have sensitive skin (or Celiac disease), avoiding gluten is good for more than just your internal organs; it’s good for your skin.

Another reason I like a greener skincare routine is it’s healthier for your whole body. Did you know that women often put upwards of 500 toxins on their body just from beauty products alone? That’s a lot of chemicals for one body.

With that being said, I came up with a few DIY at-home remedies for fellow dry, sensitive skin-sufferers like myself.

Soothe

I know that ultimately I want to rehydrate my skin and moisturize it, but first I’ve got an itch to scratch.

Three great ways to soothe dry skin for the long term is invest in a humidifier, drink a lot of water and avoid showering or washing yourself with hot water. Though these might help you for the long haul, I’ve got a more instantly gratifying DIY that you might prefer.

What you need:
- ¼ cup raw, organic Honey
- ½ cup peeled Cucumber
- 1 heaping tablespoon Baking Soda

Step 1: In a clean bowl, mash down your cucumber until it is nice and pulpy.

Step 2: Add in your baking soda and honey, and then stir until the contents are mixed together nicely.

Step 3: On a clean, dry face gently massage your mixture onto your skin. Pay attention to areas that are particularly sensitive.

Step 4: Let your soothing mask sit for 10 minutes then rinse off with lukewarm water and pat your face dry with a clean towel.

This may sound like a strange combination but each ingredient plays a key role in soothing your skin. First of all, the cool, clean texture of a cucumber instantly soothes any redness and itch from your skin. Baking soda on the other hand, is a gentle exfoliant that will slough away your scaly skin, cleanse and tightens pores without drying out the skin further.

Finally, raw, organic honey is a natural antiseptic. Not only is it sensitive enough to not induce breakouts, but it also hydrates the skin without leaving nasty film behind.
The combination of these three ingredients is the ultimately soothing triple-threat for sensitive skin sufferers!

Cleanse

If you’re anything like me, when your skin is inflamed and dried out, cleansing your face can be a scary thing. You don’t want to dry it out any further and you certainly don’t want to instigate another bout of painful dry skin. To avoid this, try using my homemade facial cleanser that washes the dirt away and alleviates pain.

What you need:
- 1 cup of Organic Coconut Milk
- 1 tablespoon of Chamomile Powder
- 5-6 drops of Tea Tree Essential Oil

Step 1: Whip together all three ingredients in a clean bowl. Make sure there are no clumps of chamomile powder.

Step 2: Using clean hands, rub your facial cleanser into your face using upward, circular motions.

Step 3: Rinse off your face with lukewarm water and pat dry with a clean face towel.

This homemade cleanser packs the same triple threat punch as my soothing mask. Tea tree oil is a natural antibacterial, antifungal oil that will help cleanse your skin of impurities.

The coconut milk and chamomile are mild ingredients that won’t irritate dry, sensitive skin. Instead, these two ingredients will hydrate and nourish your skin and leave it feeling calm and clean.

Moisturize

We’ve soothed and cleansed and now it’s time to moisturize. To keep your sensitive skin hydrated and supple all year round, try this all natural DIY moisturizer.

What you need:
- 3 tablespoons Cocoa Butter
- 2 tablespoons Grape Seed Oil
- 1 tablespoon Coconut Oil
- 1/3 cup Rose Water
- 1 tablespoon Aloe Vera gel
- 1 teaspoon raw, organic Honey
- 5 drops Vitamin E oil
- 2 clean pots
- A blender

Step 1: In a clean pot, melt your cocoa butter, grape seed oil and coconut oils together over low heat. Stir frequently so there is no chance of burning.

Step 2: Once the oils have melted, pour into your blender to let cool.

Step 3: Using another clean pot, mix together your rose water, aloe vera gel and honey and simmer over low heat.

Step 4: Once mixed together evenly, remove from heat and let cool. Add your Vitamin E drops at this time.

Step 5: Transfer your cooled water mixture into a measuring cup with a spout. Remove the center piece from your blender lid and cover.

Step 6: Turn on your blender and with a steady stream, pour in your water mixture. Blend together until both the oils and waters have been mixed together to form a smooth lotion.

Step 7: Apply your moisturizer each morning and evening for best results.

There you have it; a simple way to soothe, cleanse and moisturize your dry, sensitive skin. No longer will you suffer through itchy, red skin when the weather changes course.

AUTHOR BIO:

Vanessa is the chief editor for BesSkincare.com where she blogs and vlogs about all things skincare including reviews on products such as the Microderm MD as well as handy DIY tips and tricks that help her readers look and feel their very best!