3 simple secrets for hydrating dry skin

Wintertime is tough on your skin, especially if you use soap a lot. The result? Dry skin that's rough, drawn and lack-luster. Left untreated, it can flake, crack and potentially split open like a cut. Here are three simple secrets to help keep your skin soft, supple and moisturized.

[Photo Credit: iStock.com/Davizro]

According to the Dieticians of Canada (DC), it's a myth that you must drink eight glasses of water per day to stay hydrated. Why? Because beverages including milk, juice, broth, soups, coffee and tea are a source of fluids – although water is still considered among the best choices.

How does staying hydrated help your skin?
According to DC, mild dehydration can cause your skin to flush and your mouth and lips to feel parched.

• In more severe cases your skin may become blotchy, your lips turn blue, and your extremities feel cold.

To prevent dehydration, always ensure you get enough fluids as recommended by the Canada Food Guide.

Be gentle when you wash your face
Along with ingesting enough fluids, using lukewarm water to wash your face can also help prevent the flaking and itchiness associated with dry skin.

• Gently wash and lather your face. Then, rinse thoroughly and pat the skin dry to avoid irritation. This should stimulate sebum secretion and circulation, giving you a healthy, pink glow.
• Make sure you're using the right product for your skin on your face. If you have allergies, consider buying hypoallergenic skin care products.

Honey has always been considered a natural treatment for dry skin. In fact, many people believe it has healing properties beyond soothing dry skin and think its unique texture is enough to explain the many benefits.

• With its high sugar content and because it concentrates the humidity from the air, honey acts like a natural moisturizer. What's more, honey's thick texture helps it adhere to the skin and forms a natural barrier to "lock in" moisture.
• In addition, honey is known to possess antioxidant properties and may potentially slow down the aging process. How? By combatting the free radicals produced by the sun and atmospheric pollution.
• Finally, thanks to its low pH, honey has antibacterial properties.

We've all been taught that bran is excellent for promoting digestive health, right? But did you know it can also improve the appearance of your skin?

• Finely ground oats and rice bran are gentle exfoliants suitable for dry skin.

The magic in using bran (apart from on your cereal) is it moisturizes your skin while destroying dead cells. To make a rejuvenating bran scrub:

Ingredients needed

• 15 g (1 tbsp.) green tea
• 15 g (1 tbsp.) dried marigold
• 15 g (1 tbsp.) dried rose petals
• 35 g (2 1/2 tbsp.) oats, coarsely ground
• 35 g (2 1/2 tbsp.) powdered rice bran
• 25 g (5 tsp.) almond flour
• Almond oil or cream

To make the scrub 

1. Grind the green tea, marigold and rose petals together until they form a fine powder.
2. Mix the powder with the oats, rice bran and almond flour.
3. Store it in an airtight jar.

To use the scrub

1. Simply mix 15 to 30 grams (1 to 2 tablespoons) of the powder with the almond cream or oil to form a paste.
2. Allow the mixture to thicken for about 1 to 2 minutes.
3. Lightly massage the paste on your wet face, giving the mixture time to penetrate into your pores.
4. Rinse your skin thoroughly with lukewarm water.
5. Using a clean towel, pat your skin dry.

If you're wondering why green tea is included in the bran scrub "recipe," it's because green tea has been shown to possess antioxidant properties, in addition to tightening the pores and gently protecting the skin.

Just because winter is nearly here doesn't mean dry skin has to automatically follow. If you're dreading the itchiness of dry flaky skin you may want to consider giving up harsh, detergent-based products and trying something more gentle that nourishes the skin instead.