Soap
First, make sure the soap you’re using isn’t causing more
dryness. I only use African Black Soap for my face and body. You can get it in
bar form (it’s cheaper), but it’s also, well, black, and has ashes in it,
so some people think it’s too gross to use that way. Luckily, you can purchase
it in liquid
form (you’ll still need to get over the color), or you can make your own by
heating up some black soap bars in a bit of water and straining the liquefied soap
into a bottle. A word of caution: authentic African Black Soap is grainy and
looks like the soap in the link above; it’s more brown than black. A smooth jet
black bar is probably dyed and is more of a marketing ploy than anything else.
Don’t waste your money, this kind will probably stain your shower and won’t
provide you with many benefits anyway. African Black Soap is the only kind that
has helped my skin retain moisture while really cleaning and helping a lot with my skin irritation/allergy issues, and I’ve
tried many things.
Lotion
I’ve found that one of the most important things about lotion
is when you put it on. I put it on directly after I get out of the shower. A
lot of articles recommend putting it on within 3 minutes of getting out of the
shower so that your skin absorbs the maximum amount of moisture from it. This
works very well for me. I prefer to make my own lotions for both my face and
body by using a blend of pure
aloe vera (not the stuff you can get at Walmart; whatever you buy should be edible and needs to be refrigerated after opening), coconut oil, grapeseed
oil, Vitamin E, and essential oils. However, I also realize that many people
don’t want to go through the hassle of making their own, and I like to have a
bottle of lotion on hand in case I run out of the homemade stuff and don’t have
time to make my own. With the combination of using a great soap and applying
lotion right after showering, I can’t say that I’ve noticed a significant difference
between the different brands I’ve used. I typically just make sure they’re all
natural and tend to buy whatever is on sale at Whole Foods. Right now, I’m
using Nature’s
Gate Herbal Lotion, and while it seems to get the job done, my skin feels
kind of sticky and taut for the first 15-20 minutes after putting it on. My
favorite store-bought lotion is probably Kiss
My Face Peaceful Patchouli. It absorbs very quickly, is all natural, and
makes my skin feel silky after I put it on. If you’re not a fan of patchouli,
they have a bunch of different scents you can choose from. The other nice thing
about this brand is that it’s available at Walgreens and Stop and Shop, so if
you don’t have a Whole Foods nearby, you probably won’t have to go all the way
there to get it.
Exfoliating
Exfoliating your skin can help circulation and cell
regeneration, but it can also contribute to dry skin issues if it’s done too
often. I only exfoliate once month, and when I do, I just use coconut oil mixed
with sugar and sea salt (with essential oils added). You can also exfoliate
with a washcloth, brush, or glove, but if you do, use it right before you
shower while your skin is still dry.
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