Misery in hot conditions
Summer evokes different emotions in different people; some welcome it as a break from the grey winters and some resent the uncomfortably hot temperatures that are part of the package. I fall into the latter category; suffering from acute dry skin and prickly heat, summer equals misery for me.
I will be doing a two-part post for this topic; one on dry skin and the next on prickly heat.
Dry, Flaky, White Skin
The feeling of dry skin is absolutely miserable. Every time I wash my face, it feels like my face is too small for me. It tightens and shrinks to the point where it is unbearable. I have to douse my body in moisturizing lotions and creams, which incidentally costs me a fortune, every single day to stop the misery. And this applies to my entire body, even my hair, which becomes dull and lifeless.
Natural Moisturizers
My last post was about yoghurt, and at the risk of sounding like I’m sponsored by a dairy, it is one of the best natural moisturizers. Use as a face pack, mixed with honey for the ultimate skin softener. Both the ingredients have inherent anti-bacterial properties, and moisturize like a dream.
Oil Treatments
Cleopatra was on the right track with the baths in donkeys’ milk, but for those of us who are not Egyptian princesses, adding a few drops of oil to a bath will do wonders. This needs to be a soap-free bath, so if needs be, shower first and then run some warm water in the bath and put a few drops of oil in it. (Small tip: if the oil is drizzled under the faucet, in the jet of water, it will spread more evenly)
Or alternatively, scrub body oils all over the body after a hot shower, when the pores are open. A word of caution though, this has the effect of relaxing the body so much, that I, at least, drift off to sleep immediately.
Which Oils to Use
The oils that are best for the body are olive oil, coconut oil and almond oil. Don’t use the essential oils; the ones that come in the big glass bottles are fine. The essential oils will cost a fortune, and they aren’t meant to be used in large quantities anyway.
Other Options
Aloe Vera is another option for painfully dry skin; break off a leaf and slice it open length-wise to extract the gel. Apply directly onto the affected area for an instant cooling effect. Also try mixing rosewater and glycerin together to make a really refreshing moisturizer.
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[...] from my previous discussion on summertime skin problems, is this post on Prickly Heat. Excessive heat causes prickly heat, no surprises there. However, the [...]