Restoring Moisture to Dry Winter Skin

Every winter, my skin gets incredibly dry and subsequently chaps as the dry, cold air zaps the moisture out of it. Sometimes my dry winter skin itches so badly that I can spend a good 20 minutes itching it in hopes of getting some relief, but relief never comes. So, what can you do if you find yourself battling dry, itchy, chapped winter skin? There are several items that you probably already have in your kitchen that can offer some fast relief for your dry, itchy, chapped winter skin by restoring moisture to your skin.

Home Remedy for Dry Winter Skin: Shower less in cooler water.
I know this might sound gross to some, but how much are you really sweating in the cold winter weather? You probably aren't sweating a whole lot unless you are wearing excessive layers all the time. So, you will probably be able to get away with only washing your hair every other day, sparing your skin from moisture zapping showers every other day. On those days that you do shower, try to do it in the coolest water you can. Lukewarm water is recommended, but any reduction in heat will help to keep your skin from getting dried out.

Home Remedy for Dry Winter Skin: Apply lotion after every shower/bath.
Usually after you shower or bath, all the moisture that your skin has absorbed quickly evaporates right back out. If you apply lotion right after a bath or shower you lock in some of that moisture that your body absorbed, helping to keep your skin hydrated.

Home Remedy for Dry Winter Skin: Don't completely dry off.
This one only makes sense when you know that you should apply moisturizer right out of the shower before your skin completely dries out. When towel drying after a shower don't dry to the point of dry, dry to the point of damp, then apply your moisturizer, this will help your skin to maintain more of its shower moisture.

Home Remedy for Dry Winter Skin: Use any kind of oil to restore moisture to your skin.
You don't need to shell out the big bucks for those name brand moisturizers, you can use pretty much any oil that you may have in your kitchen to help restore moisture to your skin. Vegetable, peanut, sunflower oil, even Crisco will do the trick. Many people don't like how these items will leave you feeling greasy, but if the alternative is itching yourself to insanity, being a greased pig for an hour might not be that bad. However, you might want to pick an old pair of PJs that you will wear after applying the oil so that you don't ruin a bunch of clothing. Also, make sure that you are covered from your toes to your neck to keep from ruining your sheets. If you apply the oil at night then you don't have to worry about it during the day.

Home Remedy for Dry Winter Skin: Oatmeal
Remember those oatmeal baths you took as a kid when you had chicken pox, they work in this case too! If you don't have the special Aveeno oatmeal that most bath in, then you will want to make sure that the oatmeal you use if finely ground up before you dump it into your lukewarm bath. You can also use oatmeal as a soap alternative to help heal your skin.

Home Remedy for Dry Winter Skin: Switch to a fatty soap.
Instead of buying Dial try buying a fatty soap like Dove. Soaps like Dial have harsh ingredients in them that are great for cleaning, but that are irritating to dry skin. Soaps like Dove have ingredients like cold cream and cocoa butter that help to add moisture to your skin.

Home Remedy for Dry Winter Skin: Throw a big pot of water on the stove.
If you boil a big pot of water on the stove then you will add moisture to the air that will help to keep your skin from drying out by adding moisture to it.

Home Remedy for Dry Winter Skin: Baking Soda and Cornstarch can help relieve the itch.
You can try a sponge bath with baking soda or a handful of cornstarch in a lukewarm bath to help relieve that dry skin itch.

Hopefully the next time you find yourself itching mad, you will try some of these easy home remedies to restore moisture to you dry winter skin.