What do you do when you have extremely dry skin and the regular remedies and lotions just aren’t doing the trick? Give these seven hardcore remedies a try, of course!
When I say dry skin, I’m not talking about your run of the mill, slightly less supple than usual “dry skin.” I’m talking about those incredibly rough, red eczema-like patches that don’t just make you feel subconscious, but also cause burning and pulling, leaving you pretty much miserable all day long.
I’ve always had the first type of dry skin, but lately I’ve been feeling more like an iguana than a human! My epidermis is positively parched! Here’s what I’ve tried and what actually works for me.
Extremely Dry Skin Remedies that Really Work
*Affiliate links included below. If you make a purchase through these links, I earn a small commission at no extra charge to you. This is not medical advice. If your skin is so dry that it’s cracking or painful, talk to a dermatologist.
Let’s start with what really worked well, since I’m sure that’s what you are here for anyway, right? Stick around, though, for what kind of worked because it may hold the secret to YOUR issue.
1. Argan Oil
I received a sample of Actually Organic Argan Oil right before Christmas. Of all the things on this list, this little bottle of oil definitely worked the best. Just spray it directly onto the dry skin (including on your face) and rub it in.
I used it twice a day and noticed a difference within the first two days. After a week, the extremely dry skin improved by at least 75%, if not more. I really like the Actually Organic because, as the name implies, it is actually 100% pure argan oil. No fillers, no junk. No smell, either. If you need the best moisturizing for dry skin, this is my top recommendation.
2. Round-the-clock humidifier
Along with daily use of the argan oil, we also started running a humidifier in our room pretty much around the clock. I was using my son’s old Crane humidifier (which still works fabulously, even after like 6 years) up until recently. Now, I have the GuruNanda 2 in 1 Humidifier & Essential Oil Aromatherapy Diffuser going all day long. I’ll review that in more depth soon, but let me just say that I highly recommend it!
Run that baby the entire time you’re in the room. In fact, take it with you from room to room (or buy a couple of them). Dry air is the bane of dry skin (which makes sense, if you think about it). I was so surprised by how much just keeping a humidifier running helped my skin. The GuruNanda is wonderful because you can add some lavender essential oil to help you relax at night.
3. Skin-friendly Pillow Cases
When you have extremely dry skin, the right pillow case can mean the difference between comfort and discomfort while you sleep. I still swear by my PeachSkinSheets, but anything with a silkier texture will work. This is one time where you don’t want flannel or cheaper polyester materials. If you’re low on cash, just replace your top pillowcase,
4. Vacuum up dirt and dander regularly
The air isn’t the only thing that’s drying out your skin! Dirt and dander plays a role, too, especially if you have super sensitive skin on top of the dryness. I really like my RAYCOP purifier. It’s a bit pricey, but it works really well at cutting down on bacteria and pet dander hiding on your bed, linens and furniture. If your extremely dry skin is caused by allergies, I highly recommend this tool. If it’s not in your budget, try vacuuming your bed and furniture regularly with a strong vacuum, and wash your linens often. Cutting down on allergens also helps prevent those icky dry skin rashes, at least in my experience.
What Kind of Worked Well for Dry Skin
These are the things that kind of sort of worked. They either reduced the dryness temporarily or at least provided some relief from the discomfort.
5. Korean face masks
You know those face masks that are all the rage right now? They’re like a weird sheet of wetness that you slap over your face and end up looking like a creepy serial killer? Yeah, well while they’re utterly weird to look at, they do help a little.
You have to make sure you’re buying the ones that are designed to put moisture back into your skin. Basically, skip the clarifying or purifying masks. They feel great while they’re on, but don’t really combat extreme dryness. I do recommend getting them on Amazon because you can buy them in bulk and they end up costing just around a dollar each. I looked in stores and they were selling for around $2.50-4 each!
6. Natural face masks
Another thing we tried: lots of food-based face masks. These are the old-school masks, where you just kind of slather it on your face and let it sit there. Of all the things we tried, I think the avocado or the mango worked the best. They didn’t completely relieve the dry skin, but they did offer some cooling comfort and restored a bit of elasticity for the day. Just mush them up in a bowl with a bit of olive oil and slap on your face. You can also mix them with things like honey or yogurt.
7. Some lotions
Depending on the location of the extremely dry skin, you can get relief from some lotions. AmLactin, for example, works fantastic for rough spots on your elbows, knees and hands. It’s also pretty good for dryness on your limbs (like when your legs get really dry in the winter). I don’t recommend it for the face, though. I’ve written about AmLactin in the past and I really do swear by it for general overall dryness. The thicker creams (rather than the lotions) work the best for me. The key to choosing a lotion is to look for one that doesn’t have fragrance or a ton of weird artificial colorants and so on. As much as I LOVE Bath and Body Works throughout most of the year, their lotions can be a little irritating to those with extremely dry skin because of all the fragrance that makes them so popular. One thing that works great from them, though, is the Rose Salve lip stuff. If your lips are feeling totally unkissable, this is the stuff to use.
What just plain didn’t work?
So what just plain doesn’t work? Pretty much everything else we tried. Expensive face lotions (we’ve tried a bunch!) did nothing at all for extremely dry skin. While they worked well on mild dryness, don’t expect that $50 face cream to zap your eczema-like redness overnight. Home remedies like cornstarch, baking soda, and so on have never really worked for my dry skin. I tried that Listerine thing for my feet once (where you soak in Listerine and something else), nada. There are so many great uses for Listerine, but combating extremely dry skin just isn’t one of them. That doesn’t mean these things won’t work for you, everyone is different.
Hot baths, FYI, also don’t work. I knew better than to try that one, but I’m telling you anyway. An extremely hot bath will feel absolutely fantastic while you’re soaking in it. Once you get out, though, your skin will be dryer than ever. While you’re dealing with the issue, stick with lukewarm baths. Basically as cool as you can handle it considering we’re smack-dab in the middle of winter here.
I am always on the lookout for the best moisturizer for dry skin, but honestly, of all the remedies we tried, Argan Oil is the best.
Have you found the perfect remedy for your extremely dry skin? Tell me about it so I can give it a try!
Thanks for this amazing post on extremely dry skin remedies.
I get really dry skin this time of year. I’ll have to try a natural face mask and see if it makes a difference!
I’ve tried also inorganic
Compressed coconut oil.
Thanks for the tips looking good
I haven’t tried argan oil yet, I want to. I have been using organic, raw coconut oil for a while, using it a few times a day, that is pretty good, sometimes mixed with tangerine oil, it smells so nice.