11 Effective Ways To Moisturize Your Skin Naturally

Dry skin can lead to a dull and aged appearance, making it essential to maintain hydration for a youthful glow. Therefore, it is critical to keep your skin hydrated and healthy. Fortunately, there are many ways to moisturize your skin.

People with dry skin are not the only ones who experience dryness. People with normal, combination, and oily skin also need to moisturize. A moisturizer is necessary for beautiful skin in any season. Using a moisturizer on a daily basis can give your skin a healthy shine and offer deep moisture. After all, seasonal variations in weather and the UV rays from the sun can harm the skin and make it exceedingly dry. This dryness can cause dry patches, itching, and various other skin issues.

Dr. Ingrid Leo, MD, Resident Doctor at Kliniken Valens, says, “Dry skin can occur due to many factors, including environmental conditions, such as cold temperatures and low humidity, not drinking enough fluids, using harsh soaps and cleansers, overexposure to the sun, certain medical conditions like eczema or psoriasis, and age.” Hence, you must moisturize your skin on a daily basis if you want to keep it free of these issues.

Although there are numerous creams available in stores and online, you can make one at home as well. These DIY moisturizers are packed with nutrients and can deliver incredible benefits. Scroll down to check them out!

How To Moisturize Skin Naturally At Home

1. Oils
2. Honey
3. Aloe Vera Gel
4. Milk Or Buttermilk
5. Avocado
6. Cocoa Butter
7. Shea Butter
8. Mango Butter
9. Cucumber Juice
10. Beeswax
11. Coconut Milk

Get Soft Skin With These Natural Remedies

1. Moisturize Skin With Oils

You Will Need

Coconut oil or baby oil or olive oil or castor oil or jojoba oil or Mineral oil or sesame oil, or argan oil. You can pick whatever is available at home.

What You Have To Do

1. Apply the oil all over your body and massage for a minute or two. By massaging, the oil will get quickly absorbed into the skin and not stain your clothes.
2. You can leave it overnight and take a shower early the next morning for fresh skin, or use it after taking a shower.
3. You can also make a face mask by mixing one of these oils, honey and green tea or chamomile tea to hydrate the skin.

How Often You Should Do This

Do this 2-3 times a week.

Why This Works

Dry and itchy skin requires deep hydration and what better than natural oils to do the trick? The many oils mentioned above offer excellent soothing effects for all skin types. They are very rich in vitamin E, vitamin A, and fatty acids. They lock in moisture and also supply the skin with essential nutrients for optimum skin health (1). With regular application, you’ll soon notice a smoother and softer skin.

2. Moisturize Skin With Honey

You Will Need

Organic honey

What You Have To Do

1. Apply a layer of honey on the affected area, for example, your face or your arms.
2. Leave the honey on for 15-20 minutes.
3. Rinse with lukewarm water and pat dry.

How Often You Should Do This

Repeat this twice a week or more often if you have very dry skin.

Why This Works

Honey is one of the best natural moisturizers for skin. It is natural emollientⁱ  A moisturizing ingredient that helps smooth dry, rough, or flakey skin due to different skin conditions, such as eczema and psoriasis. and humectantⁱ  A substance that is used to retain moisture in various products, including food, medicine and cosmetics. . It penetrates into the deeper layers of the skin to moisturize it. It also helps in cleaning up your skin pores and restoring the dull skin to its natural glow with its antioxidants (2, 3). You can also mix honey with oatmeal and glycerine to make a moisturizing scrub for dry skin.

Fun Fact

Egyptian women used milk and honey to moisturize their skin. Honey was a popular skin moisturizer during the 1800s.

3. Aloe Vera Gel

You Will Need

An aloe vera leaf

What You Have To Do

1. Peel off the outer part of the leaf and remove the inside stem that secretes the gel.
2. Extract this gel and make sure you mash it nicely and apply it soon as possible.
3. Allow it to dry for 10-12 minutes and then wash off with warm water.

You can store the remainder of the aloe vera gel in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for a few days. You can make a face mask by mixing the leftover aloe vera gel with rose water, honey and fruits, such as cantaloupe, honeydew melon or watermelon to treat dry skin.

How Often You Should Do This

You can repeat this once every 2-3 days.

Why This Works

Keep an aloe vera plant on your balcony. It grows very quickly and within no time, you’ll have a homemade moisturizer for dry skin at your disposal! Aloe vera gel has plenty of nutrients like vitamin E and vitamin A that are great for the skin. It also contains plant steroids that have anti-inflammatory property (4). This will help to relieve the itching sensation seen with dry skin.

4. Milk Or Buttermilk

You Will Need

Cold milk or buttermilk

What You Have To Do

1. Apply it generously on the affected area.
2. Keep it on for 10-15 minutes and then rinse with lukewarm water.

How Often You Should Do This

Do this twice a week before taking a shower.

Why This Works

Dry and dull skin can really make you look haggard. But the solution is in your fridge! Both milk and buttermilk are effective ways to hydrate all skin types. They are quickly absorbed into the skin pores. Additionally, they can help in keeping away wrinkles as well (5, 6).

Caution

If you are allergic to milk and other dairy products, do not use this remedy. Plant-based milk can be used instead.

Fun Fact

People used animal fat and donkey’s milk to moisturize their skin during the Elizabethan era.

5. Avocado As Moisturizer

You Will Need

An avocado

What You Have To Do

1. Cut open the avocado and remove the pulp present inside.
2. Gently mash this so that no lumps remain.
3. Apply this on the affected area and let it sit for about 10 minutes.
4. Rinse with warm water.

How Often You Should Do This

Repeat this twice a week.

Why This Works

All your dry and flaky patches will soon be gone with this home remedy. Avocado contains plenty of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals such as fatty acids, carotenoidsⁱ  Antioxidants produced by plants that protect the living cells of our skin from premature aging due to exposure to UV light. , vitamin C, and vitamin E. These will nourish your skin and also protect it from free radical damage. Vitamin C aids in collagen and elastin synthesis leaving your skin firm and young-looking (7). You can also use fruit masks with orange, lemon, kiwi, papaya, apple, grapefruit, pomegranate, peach, plum, apricot, watermelon, pear, or a variety of berries, such as cranberry, blueberry, raspberry, strawberry, blackberry. These can nourish the skin and give it a natural glow.

6. Cocoa Butter

You Will Need

Cocoa butter

What You Have To Do

1. Shave the cocoa butter and rub into the skin gently. The butter will melt with the friction and spread over your skin.
2. Leave it on.

If you have difficulty melting the butter, place a few pieces in a double-boiler for a couple of minutes and then apply on the skin.

How Often You Should Do This

Use this to moisturize your skin twice a week.

Why This Works

This natural butter extracted from cocoa seeds increases the skin’s elasticity and moisturizes it. It can also act as a humectant.

This is due to the saturated fats present in it (8). The polyphenols in cocoa possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. They help in reversing the damage caused by UV exposure and have anti-aging effects (9).

7. Shea Butter

You Will Need

Organic shea butter

What You Have To Do

1. Take a small dollop of shea butter and rub it in between your hands to melt it.
2. Apply this all over the affected area.
3. Massage for a few minutes so that it is absorbed into the skin.

How Often You Should Do This

Use this every night, before going to bed.

Why This Works

Shea butter is an excellent moisturizer for the skin as it is rich in saturated fatty acids.

It also has healing and anti-aging properties (10).

8. Mango Butter

You Will Need

Mango butter

What You Have To Do

1. Apply the butter all over the skin and massage it in.
2. Leave it on.

How Often You Should Do This

Use this daily or every alternate day.

Why This Works

Rich in antioxidants and compounds that moisturize the skin, mango butter is fast becoming the next big thing in the skin care industry (11). It is easily absorbed into the skin and does not leave a greasy residue.

9. Cucumber Juice

You Will Need

• 1 large cucumber
• 8 oz. paraffin wax
• 2 oz. carrier oil (almond oil works best)

What You Have To Do

1. Peel the cucumber and cut in half along the length.
2. Remove the seeds and blend the remaining cucumber pieces into a puree.
3. Heat the paraffin wax in the microwave for 90 seconds to melt it.
4. To this, add the carrier oil and cucumber puree. Mix thoroughly.
5. Use this to massage the skin and moisturize it.

Store the rest of the mixture in an air-tight container.

How Often You Should Do This

Use this every night.

Why This Works

Cucumber is majorly water, and when used in a skin moisturizer, it hydrates the skin. It is a soothing agent that replenishes and rejuvenates the skin (12).

Caution

Do not use this remedy if you have excessively oily or acne-prone skin as paraffin wax can cause acne breakouts.

10. Beeswax

You Will Need

• 1 cup olive oil
• 1/2 cup coconut oil
• 2 oz. Beeswax
• 5-6 capsules Vitamin E oil

What You Have To Do

1. In a glass container, put both the oils and the beeswax.
2. Now, heat all these ingredients in a double boiler over medium heat. Mix every few minutes to get an even mixture.
3. Once all the beeswax has melted and mixed well with the oil, take the container out and let it cool.
4. Before the mixture solidifies, add the vitamin E oil from the capsules and stir well.
5. Apply this beeswax lotion on the skin and massage well.
6. Leave it on overnight.

Close the glass container with a tight lid and store for future use.

How Often You Should Do This

Use this every alternate day.

Why This Works

Beeswax softens the skin and also improves its elasticity (13). Coconut oil and olive oil are excellent moisturizers as well. They also possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties (14, 15). This is one of the best home remedies for winter skincare as well.

Caution

Do not use this remedy if you have excessively oily or acne-prone skin as beeswax can cause acne breakouts.

11. Coconut Milk

Image: https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/fresh-coconut-milk-glass-bottle-vegan-1206886054
Image Alt Text: Coconut milk for moisturizing your skin

You Will Need

• 2 tablespoons of cold coconut milk

What You Have To Do

1. Apply the coconut milk directly to your skin.
2. Gently massage it onto your skin and leave it on for 15-20 minutes.
3. Rinse it off with warm water and pat your skin dry.

How Often You Should Do This

Use this twice a week before you shower.

Why This Works

Coconut milk is a great ingredient for moisturizing the skin. It is also vegan, making it an excellent alternative for people looking for plant-based ingredients. The fatty acid content in coconut milk may soften the skin and reduce hyperpigmentation. It may also help even out skin texture, making it appear smoother (16).

These cost effective, easy to make moisturizers can keep you looking beautiful and young. Why spend a fortune on chemical laden products when you can get the same benefits at a much lesser cost!

Here are some tips you should keep in mind when moisturizing your skin and taking care of it.

Tips For Moisturizing Your Skin

• Use a gentle moisturizer on a daily basis. You can use richer moisturizers during the winter months to counteract the dryness caused by the cold temperatures.

• While taking a shower or washing your face, ensure that the water is lukewarm and not hot. Hot water can sap moisture from the skin. Martha Sta Barbara-Villarama, a beauty blogger, shared how she keeps her skin moisturized for incredibly long. She writes, “I wash my face with cold water all the time. Because hot water can dry up the skin by stripping it of moisture and natural oils. Cold water helps tighten the pores too (i).” The blogger added that she uses hydrating products to achieve well-moisturized skin.

• Do not use harsh soaps or body washes as these can make your skin dry and dull.

• Use a moisturizer or serum that is universal for all skin types or is for your specific skin type.

• Every part of your body is important. You need to use facial and body moisturizers as well as a lip balm.

• Use a moisturizer with SPF in it or a sunblock on top of the moisturizer to protect your skin from UV damage.

• Knowing what suits your skin and what doesn’t is essential. Conduct a patch test if you are unsure about any ingredient in the home remedies.

Risks Of Moisturizers

It is important to know if the moisturizer you are planning to use contains ingredients that are safe to use. When purchasing a product from the market, read the label carefully to know exactly what it contains. When it comes to the home remedies, the ingredients listed above are all safe to use and suit most skin types. As mentioned above, a patch test will remove any doubts from your mind about experimenting with a new ingredient.

Infographic: 5 Natural Ways to Moisturize The Skin

Skin care is incomplete without moisturization. Dry skin is a condition that affects everyone, not just a select few. We are listing out some natural ways to assist you in your journey toward glowing and healthy skin.

Check out the infographic below for more details.

Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if you don’t moisturize dry skin?

Dr. Leo says, “If you don’t moisturize your dry skin, it can become even drier and more irritated. Over time, neglected skin can develop wrinkles, acne, and other problems that are hard to treat.”

What is your body lacking when you have dry skin?

Dr. Nadir Qazi, DO, a board certified physician, says, “Those with dry skin lack sebum, the waxy lipid our body produces as the skin’s natural moisturizer and protector. Increasing sebum production or using moisturizers with nourishing oils, fatty acids, fatty alcohols, and nutrients can help improve and moisturize dry skin.”

What ingredients should I look for in a moisturizer?

When choosing a moisturizer, look for ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin for hydration, ceramides to strengthen the skin barrier, and natural oils (like jojoba or almond oil) for nourishment.

What foods to avoid if you have dry skin?

Dr. Qazi says, “When you have dry skin, you want to avoid foods that will dehydrate the skin. Salt and sugar are two of the worst things to eat with dry skin. Both are dehydrating, but sugar will break down existing collagen and elastin in the face, causing the skin to sag and lose elasticity leading to wrinkles. When the skin is dry, fine lines and wrinkles become more apparent. Avoid drinking coffee and alcohol or at least imbibe in moderation. These beverages dehydrate the skin and decrease collagen production leading to dry, dull, sagging skin.” You may consult a doctor for recommendations on the diet for dry skin.

What drinks hydrate the skin?

Dr. Qazi advises, “Drink at least 64 oz. of water a day and more if still thirsty. Juices and smoothies may also be beneficial sources of vitamins that may improve the look and feel of the skin.”

What happens if you don’t moisturize dry skin?

According to Dr. Qazi, “Sebum, the waxy lipid our body produces, is the skin’s natural moisturizer and protector. When the skin is dry, it doesn’t have enough sebum to protect it. It can lead to an increase in dead skin cells, chafing, tighter reddened skin, cracking, and in some cases, infections. It is vital to moisturize the skin to prevent unnecessary pain and irritation and maintain vibrancy.”

Can the skin moisturize itself?

Yes, the skin is equipped to hydrate itself by drawing in moisture from the air and moisturize itself with the sebum it produces. However, excess or frequent use of external moisturizers may inhibit this activity.

Is Vaseline a moisturizer?

Yes, Vaseline is considered to be a very effective moisturizer as it prevents the skin from drying out.

Illustration: 11 Effective Ways To Moisturize Your Skin Naturally

Image: Dall·E/StyleCraze Design Team

Discover the wonders of a good moisturizer for your face. Enhance your skincare routine and achieve hydrated, glowing skin. Watch the video and pamper your face with the care it deserves.

Now that you know how to moisturize skin naturally at home, what are you waiting for? Have you used any of these home remedies for moisturizing your skin? Do let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.

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Reviewer Author Editor Fact Checker

Dr. Sameeksha ChandMBBS, MD DVL

   

Dr. Sameeksha Chand Malhotra is a board-certified dermatologist with 10 years of experience. She is well versed in general dermatology, procedural dermatology, and aesthetic dermatology and certified in permanent makeup and microblading.

Read full bio of Dr. Sameeksha Chand

Kushneet KukrejaHealth & Wellness Writer

 

Kushneet holds a postgraduate degree in biotechnology from Kingston University, London, and is an ISSA Certified Specialist in Fitness & Nutrition with 2 years of experience. Her scientific background, coupled with her passion for writing, propelled her towards content writing.

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Ramona SinhaEditor

Ramona is an editor at StyleCraze with 11 years of experience in writing and editing. She has authored over 200 articles on skin and hair care. She graduated from the University of Calcutta, West Bengal, and did her post-graduation from the University of Kalyani, West Bengal.

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Monomita ChakrabortyBeauty & Lifestyle Writer

Monomita has a graduate degree in mass communication and video production from St. Anthony's College, Shillong, and a master’s degree in journalism and mass communication from the Royal Global University, Guwahati. She is also a certified skincare coach with a keen interest in skin, hair, tattoos, nail art, and lifestyle trends.

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