Dry skin is flaky, dull and rough. This happens when the top layer of your skin lacks the necessary amount of water it needs.

Natural home remedies are not expensive as these are made with readily available components in the kitchen. These include the following ingredients you can find right at your kitchen.

Natural Remedies for Dry Skin:

1. Honey

Honey is known as one of the best natural moisturizers that are filled with anti-microbial, antioxidant and humectant properties.

Honey helps to lock in moisture to make your skin extra smooth and soft. Also, honey has many essential minerals and vitamins that help improve your skin’s health.

1. Before taking a shower or bath, rub honey all over your body.
2. Leave it on for 5-10 minutes.
3. Repeat daily to have a well-moisturized skin.

2. Oatmeal

Oatmeal has been used to treat skin for a few thousand years; and even science says that it’s effective for its moisturizing, cleansing, antioxidative, and anti-inflammatory properties, while at the same time offering minimal incidence of irritation.

Oatmeal Bath:
1. Blend 1 cup of dry oatmeal in a blender or a food processor, until you have a fine powder. You can use quick oats, plain instant oats, or slow cooking oats.
2. Scatter the mixture into the tub with running water.
3. Swirl with your hand a few times for even distribution and to break up any lumps on the bottom of the tub.
4. Soak in the bath for 15-20 minutes.
5. Pat yourself dry after.

– You can use this at least twice daily, depending on how dry your skin is.

3. Olive Oil

Olive oil contains healthy fatty acids and antioxidants that are good for your skin. It can condition and soothe dry skin all over your body.

1. Under your regular moisturizer, dab a thin layer of extra virgin olive oil.
2. About a 30 minutes before taking a shower, rub some olive oil on your legs, hands and other areas with dry skin.
3. Massage lightly.
4. Take a shower.
5. Apply a light moisturizer.

4. Sea Salt

Sea salt can help hydrate even the driest skin when used in as salt scrub or during bath. In the book “1,801 Home Remedies: Trustworthy Treatments for Everyday Health Problems,”, it was suggested that adding just a cup of sea salt to a tub of warm water and soaking for at least 20 minutes, can nourish your extremely dry skin.

1. Combine 1 cup coarse sea salt and 1/4 cup vegetable glycerin. This is to make a nourishing salt scrub for dry skin.
2. Rub the mixture over your skin using a circular motion.
3. Rinse with warm water.
4. Apply an oil-based moisturizer for best results.

Do not use sea salt if you have open wounds. This is because you may experience painful burning.

5. Yogurt

Yogurt is a perfect skin-hydrating agent. It contains anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that help soothe dry and itchy skin.

Also, its lactic acid content helps remove any bacteria or germs that may cause dryness or itchiness.

1. Apply fresh yogurt on your face, hands and legs.
2. Gently massage it into your skin.
3. Leave on for at least 10 minutes.
4. Take a bath or shower.
5. Do this once daily.

The mild exfoliating action of yogurt will help to get rid of dry skin. It will also leave your skin refreshed.

How to Avoid Dry Skin:
There are other things you can do to protect your skin and keep it from drying out.

1. For starters, make moisturizing a part of your daily skin care routine, as soon as you get out of the shower. Slather your skin from head to toe using a rich, creamy product (remember the thicker it is, the richer it is).
2. Avoid hot showers as much as possible, and limit your bath to 10 minutes. Also choose a mild body wash rather than a drying bar soap.
3. Lastly, boosts your water intake to help you hydrate your body and moisturize your skin from the inside out.