| Normal skin is kept supple by the skins natural | | | | These characteristics combined with a good |
| production of natural oils and water held within the | | | | moisturizer create an excellent combination for relief |
| cells. Oily skin is the result of your skins oil glands | | | | of dry skin. Soaking like this 3 times per week will |
| working overtime. So, what is dry skin? | | | | help keep your skin free of toxins and dead skin cell |
| Your skins natural oils create an effective barrier to | | | | build up. |
| keep moisture in the skin and toxins away. When this | | | | You should always use mild, non irritating cleansers. |
| barrier is broken, moisture cannot be held within the | | | | Harsh soaps will only further dry your skin. For |
| skin as efficiently. Age brings a natural breakdown to | | | | extremely dry skin, you may need to use emollient |
| this barrier because our oil glands do not produce as | | | | soap substitutes, which cleanse the skin without use |
| effectively as they once did, so aging skin tends to | | | | of detergents. Do not be surprised to find that your |
| be drier than more youthful skin. | | | | emollient substitute for soap does not lather. Because |
| Extremely youthful skin (like that of babies and | | | | of the lack of detergent in these, they will not lather |
| young children) is also prone to dry skin because the | | | | but they do cleanse the skin. |
| oil glands in this skin have not been fully developed. | | | | Bath oils are very useful in helping dry skin; bubble |
| Genetics also play a part in the moisture level of your | | | | baths are not. Bubble baths use detergent to create |
| skin as can environmental factors like: air conditioning, | | | | the bubbles and detergents have a drying effect on |
| central heating, chemicals, detergents, excessive | | | | the skin. Bath oils are an excellent way to trap |
| water contact, soaps, sun, and wind. Of course, | | | | moisture from your bath close to your skin, helping |
| there are many other environmental factors that | | | | to alleviate dryness. When you get out of a bath |
| affect your skins dry tendencies, but these are the | | | | with bath oil, smooth your damp skin all over, then |
| most common. | | | | pat dry so that you do not rub the oil off of the |
| Dry skin is best alleviated through routine use of | | | | skin. |
| good organic moisturizers or emollients. Lotions are | | | | Take care with fragranced oils, natural fragrance is |
| usually not very effective because they contain | | | | generally non irritating, but many man made |
| alcohols and actually result in drier skin. Because many | | | | fragrances are irritating do to man made chemicals in |
| man made chemicals have a tendency to irritate the | | | | them. One example of a natural fragrance which can |
| skin and often cause further dying, we recommend | | | | be used in bath oils is lavender essential oil, which is |
| that you use certified organic moisturizers or | | | | also very relaxing. However, essential oils are actually |
| moisturizers that you have made at home, using | | | | concentrated extracts of a plants natural juices, they |
| organically grown ingredients. | | | | are not necessarily oils, so the use of essential oils |
| Buying organic ingredients keeps toxic chemicals like | | | | should be for fragrance, not as a bath oil alone. |
| pesticides and man made fertilizers away from your | | | | When choosing products, remember that thicker is |
| skin. You may want to check out some of the | | | | generally better for dry skin. Thicker products are |
| recipes we have in our Organic Skin Care section. | | | | generally able to stay on the skin for longer periods |
| You should use moisturizers at least twice a day | | | | of time, allowing a slow absorption of conditioning |
| (sometimes more often) and always apply | | | | agents into your skin. Moisturizers and emollients |
| moisturizer after contact with water. This should be | | | | should always be in a cream or ointment form for |
| applied to damp skin in order to help trap moisture | | | | severe dry skin. |
| and alleviate dryness. | | | | By taking care in choosing skin care products, you |
| Another good way to help your skin is to soak for 15 | | | | can give your dry skin some relief, but you should |
| to 20 minutes in a warm bath that has 2 cups of | | | | also consider your diet in order to replenish fluids |
| magnesium sulfate in it and apply a good moisturizer. | | | | from the inside. Everything that we have given you |
| The magnesium sulfate does wonders for skins | | | | here is a form of relief to dry skin, but none of it is |
| rejuvenative abilities and dead skin cells are easily | | | | permanent. To experience long lasting relief, you will |
| removed after such a soak. Magnesium sulfide also | | | | need to do it from the inside through the foods you |
| draws toxins out of the skin, helping keep the skin | | | | eat and the amount of water you take into your |
| free of irritants. | | | | body. |