Organic skin care for dry skin

Most people will suffer from dry skin at some point during their lives. Some will naturally have dry skin most of the time, whilst others will find that they experience it during hormonal changes or in response to environmental factors. Dry skin can cause flaking, itching or tightness and in some cases may be linked with certain skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis.

The good news is that for most people, dry skin can usually be helped – if not resolved completely – by using certain skin care products devised to keep the skin hydrated.

At Green People, we find that switching to an organic skin care routine can be a great help in clearing up dry skin. This is because many of the ordinary toiletries out there can be drying on the skin, whilst our organic products do not contain the chemicals which have this effect.

Ethyl alcohol is one of the most common culprits when it comes to dry skin. It is put into many types of skin care products – even moisturisers – because it is a powerful preservative. Unfortunately, it can cause dryness and irritation, undermining some of the positive effects the product was supposed to have. It also increases the permeability of the skin, possibly opening the door to unwanted chemicals being absorbed into the body.

Dry skin on face: An organic skin care routine

The first step to helping dry skin on your face is to create a twice-a-day facial routine using gentle, natural products without harsh, drying ingredients.

1) Cleansing: It is important to cleanse in order to remove pollutants, dead skin cells and dirt from the face. This will help to keep the pores clear and the skin feeling fresh.

From our range, we recommend the Green People Gentle Cleanse for dry skin. This creamy organic cleanser and make-up remover is ideal for those with normal to dry skin types. It does not contain drying ethyl alcohol and is rich in essential fatty acids which nourish the skin.

2) Toning: Toning helps to tighten the pores on the face and refresh the skin. Whilst people with dry skin sometimes do not use toners because of their tightening reputation, some mild toners do actually hydrate the skin. It is the harsher toners with ethyl alcohol content which do have a drying effect on oily skin.

We would suggest using the Green People Gentle Tone if you have dry skin. It is alcohol free and is kind to the skin, lightly hydrating and toning it. It also has anti-ageing properties; ideal for those who are also looking for anti-wrinkle products. It is fine for use by people of all ages, however.

3) Moisturising: A gentle moisturiser should be applied after toning in order to increase the water content of the outer layers of skin. This will keep skin soft and help to combat the tight feeling of dry skin.

We have a range of natural moisturisers for dry skin within our organic skin care range. The most popular is the Vita Min Fix, which can be used day and night, and which is filled with vitamins and minerals to nourish and revitalise skin. It is a highly effective moisturiser which leaves skin feeling soft and supple.

If you find that you tend to get flaky skin, in addition to cleansing, toning and moisturising, you may also like to exfoliate a couple of times a week. This will have a deeper cleansing effect on skin, removing dead skin cells to leave skin softer and more radiant. It also helps moisturisers to penetrate more effectively.

Green People Fruit Scrub is a great natural facial exfoliator and should be used after cleansing but before toning.

Dry skin on body: An organic skin care routine

Many people get dry skin on their arms or legs, as well as on elbows, hands, and feet. This can generally be improved by giving your body a little TLC!

1) Exfoliating: It is very common for dry skin to build up on feet and elbows and exfoliating is an excellent solution. It will remove the tough, dead skin cells to expose the soft, smooth skin beneath.

Green People Sensuous Sugar Scrub is a brilliant exfoliator which can be used all over the body. It also contains Shea Butter and a blend of essential oils which work together to leave skin silky smooth and moisturised after exfoliation.

2) Moisturising: Moisturising any areas of dry skin on the body is always advisable. Body lotions will help to rehydrate and soften your skin, relieving itchiness and dryness and protecting against irritation.

We have a range of body lotions which are all effective at helping dry skin but can also be used to add extra softness for all skin types. You can choose between our fruity Body Comfort, our rose-scented Body Bliss or our calming Aloe Vera Hand & Body Lotion.

3) Intensive moisturising: Some areas of dry skin need more intensive moisturising than that which is offered by body lotions – although these still help. Balms and thicker creams are of more assistance in these areas as they deliver a more concentrated hydrating and protective action to the skin.

Green People Sensuous Body Butter is a wonderful balm for areas of dry skin as it creates a protective barrier to help it skin heal itself, as well as soothing the affected area and leaving it very smooth. For dry hands, we have Green People Help at Hand, a thicker cream which protects against moisture loss and acts as a light barrier cream.

For very dry or irritated skin, we would recommend the use of a rich ‘rescue’ salve such as our Baby Salve. These help to protect the skin and keep it hydrated.

Other tips for helping dry skin

As well as using mild organic skin care products, there are other things you can do to help dry skin. Here are a few ideas:

• Drink plenty of water
• Eat a balanced diet rich in Omega-3&6
• Wash in warm water rather than hot
• Try to avoid air conditioned or overly-heated rooms

For some more hints and tips on how to look after dry skin, we recommend reading Naturally Gorgeous, a book written by the founder of Green People. It has a chapter dedicated to precisely this topic, along with a host of other natural beauty tips centring on skin, hair and diet.