Exfoliate
When it comes to a bad bout of dry skin, sometimes it seems no matter what we do it gets worse or stays the raging same. One popular thing to do is exfoliate. But wait, should I exfoliate dry skin? Does it work? Is there such a thing as over exfoliation?
To exfoliate is to use a mildly abrasive material to brush away dead skin cells clinging to the surface of your skin and expose those beautiful lively cells underneath. When one does exfoliate dry skin, this is helpful in removing those flakes and if using natural remedies, can also give the new cells an extra boost of nourishment and burst forth ready to tackle the world!
When you do exfoliate your dry skin, be sure to use ingredients that aren’t going to strip what little oil you have left. So basically I’m trying to say don’t use any store bought exfoliates! These are a no-no, bad chemicals that are known for stripping oils are contained within and well that would just be counter productive, you see. Here is an excellent recipe I use myself:
Coconut Honey Exfoliate Recipe
½ cup honey
1 cup sugar
2 Tablespoons virgin coconut oil
Mix all of the above ingredients right before you’re ready to shower. Apply GENTLY in circular motions after washing body, this should feel good not like you’re being rubbed down with sandpaper! Rinse. I found coconut oil in the baking section of my store around the other oils. I had to really look though, and I’ve never seen coconut oil before I needed it! If 2 tablespoons seems like too much, you can leave it at one, but this oil is creamy and a bit solid, unlike say Olive Oil. This left my skin feeling really smooth and soft. The coconut oil was very moisturizing!
Give it a try…you won’t know until you do…and yes, that is honey in the ingredients. No it’s not that sticky, especially if you rinse it off and it is a natural moisture-drawing wonder! Your dry skin will love it.
Here is another recipe I enjoy from time to time. This one doesn’t have oil in it, depending on your skin type, oil can be a bit much although I do implore you to try the above at least once!
Sugary Aloe Exfoliate Recipe
½ cup brown sugar
¼ cup white sugar
1 heaping tsp. aloe vera gel
1 tsp. of your favorite lotion
1 ½ tsp. water
Mix sugars together. Add aloe and lotion. Add water and mix until creamy.
Place in a bowl and use after washing body. Scrub gently then rinse.
This left my skin feeling smooth! I used Milk & Honey lotion from Burt’s Bees, and it gave a nice smell to the scrub. You could probably substitute another tsp of aloe vera if you don’t have lotion, or don’t want to use lotion. This is a great non-oil scrub that’s easy to put together!
Yes, you can definitely over exfoliate so limit it to 1-2 times per week! Any more than that and you run the risk of damaging your skin, so be gentle please. Add to the beauty list: Exfoliate dry skin once a week.