Get over the dryness

Herbs can be used to lessen the effects of aging, exposure to sunlight and other face-changers-taken properly, they can add a healthy glow, heal facial disorders, prevent premature wrinkling and generally give you a bit more control over the fate of your face.

Herbal remedies

Have you ever considered starting your day with a yogurt, honey and fruit smoothie-not for breakfast, but on your face? If you suffer from dry skin, you've probably considered trying just about anything. This emollient facial mask coaxes water to the surface and does a great job of moisturizing dry skin.

If you have a dry complexion, the skin on your face probably has a fine texture with no visible pores. This type of skin tends to be thin and sensitive, and it may often feel tight and dry, especially after you wash it. It can eventually become sallow and develop a coarse texture. If you have dry skin, chances are it is due to underactive oil glands, probably from a combination of heredity and low hormone production. Skin constantly loses water through sweat and evaporation, but tiny glands secrete an oil to coat skin and stop this loss.

Because women, especially those who are with a fair skin, tend to have drier skin than men do, they are more susceptible to premature wrinkling and flaking skin. Escaping damaging heat by jumping into a chlorinated swimming pool or by seeking the cool but dry air of air-conditioning generally increases skin dryness. Dry skin is also vulnerable to chilly wind and chapping cold, which further suppress the oil glands' production.

You can use herbs to help bring moisture to your dry skin. Cosmetics experts and aroma therapists suggest the essential oils of sandalwood to stimulate oil production in dry skin. The essential oil of carrot soothes extremely raw skin.

If you have a dry complexion, always use as little soap as possible-most soaps dry out your skin. Avoid foaming cleansers, which are far too drying.

When you do wash with soap, choose one designed for delicate skin. Otherwise, wash with a water-soluble cleansing cream for dry skin-these are designed not to remove the skin's natural oil-and always pat your face dry very gently. Remove makeup with a face cream instead of soap, and always use makeup that contains moisturizers. Avoid facial toners that contain alcohol, which will dry your skin. Instead, use a toner with a vinegar base-this will soften your skin, help it maintain its natural acidity and relieve the itchiness and flakiness that often accompanies dryness.

The mild astringency of hydrosols is ideal for dry skin because it increases the skin's water content. Hydrosols that contain aloe or glycerin also help skin to retain moisture. Facial creams that are half oil are suitable for dry skin. Heavy, rich creams with even more oil offer greater protection from water evaporation but tend to be greasy; they are usually reserved for the sensitive skin around the eyes where there are no oil glands.

A facial steam can help a dry complexion, but make sure it is not too hot and that it lasts five minutes at the most. Also, don't opt for a facial steam more than once a week because the heat in regular steaming will further dry your skin. Another option is a gentle facial massage with an herbal scrub. While many people think scrubs are too harsh for a dry complexion, they actually stimulate oil production and remove flaky, dry surface skin. A few minutes per treatment is enough.

Dry skin is sometimes accompanied by inflammations such as blemishes or puffiness around the eyes.

Mothernature.com