How to Manage Dryness and Sensitivity, Naturally

This winter has been especially brutal…on my skin. Temperatures hovered in the teens for many weeks in the northeast and many other parts of the country this season making it very difficult to keep my skin moisturized despite the continued use of multiple humidifiers in my house. I’m sure I’m not alone. If you have sensitive skin (like me) you are aware that this problem is a particular challenge to overcome because many moisturizers contain ingredients which can cause allergic reactions and exacerbate the already existing problem. If you have skin issues like rosacea and eczema (again, like me) you are also probably either dealing with or trying to avoid flare ups. Hopefully, the information in this post will help you find some relief until spring arrives and the temperatures warm up a bit.

Face and Body Skin Care

I have been dealing with rosacea since my teens and have tried everything to mitigate flare ups. Luckily, changes in my diet helped tremendously. As I get older however, dryness has become an issue as well. As a rosacea patient, everything I have read and heard suggests that using any kind of oil on my face is a no-no. Well, I’m here to refute that argument. I have found that especially during the cold, dry winter months both jojoba and grapeseed oil have worked wonders for my skin issues. I think it’s all in how and when you use them.

After I shower, I use jojoba oil (365 Whole Foods Market, organic) as my body oil. It is the closest thing to human sebum (“oil” is a misnomer – jojoba is technically a wax), doesn’t have much of a scent and absorbs quickly. It also moisturizes beautifully. Jojoba oil does not cure my eczema, but it soothes it and helps alleviate itchiness. In addition to using jojoba oil as a body oil, I was also using it as a make-up remover, but was never one hundred percent satisfied with it because it left traces of makeup behind. It’s a bit overly greasy on my face and kind of creates an oil slick on my skin where the last bits of eye makeup kind of get “moved around” rather than removed. This would lead to me rubbing my skin to get my makeup off – not good for my rosacea at all. That being said, jojoba oil is touted for its anti-inflammatory and healing properties making it a very good choice to ease the effects of eczema and rosacea when used simply as a moisturizer.

Recently, I tried grapeseed oil (365 Whole Foods Market) as an alternative. It feels lighter on my skin, but just as soothing as jojoba oil, and it certainly feels less greasy. Grapeseed oil is high in linoleic acid, a type of omega-6 fatty acid that can help to improve skin’s elasticity, softness, and moisture. It’s also known for its anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and anti-aging properties. In my humble opinion, it is also more effective than jojoba oil in removing makeup on the first swipe. Because it’s antimicrobial, it’s beneficial for those who suffer from rosacea, as some studies have shown that rosacea is caused by microbes. Here’s how to use it to cleanse your face:

Before Bed:

Step One: Gently rub grapeseed oil all over your face, including your eyelids and lashes.

Step Two: Using a cotton cloth or swab, very gently wipe all of your makeup off.

Step Three: Wash your face with a cleanser for sensitive skin.

Step Four: Pat your skin dry with a cotton towel. Do not rub!

Step Five: If needed, apply a light moisturizer. You can use a few drops of jojoba or grapeseed oil to moisturize as well.

In the Morning:

Step One: Gently rub grapeseed oil all over your face.

Step Two: Wash your face in the shower with a gentle cleanser or simply rinse your face well depending on how dry your skin is.

Step Three: Pat your skin dry with a cotton towel. Do not rub!

Step Four: Apply moisturizer or moisturizing makeup. I love this product by Bee-Och Organics. It’s a sunscreen (28 SPF), light foundation and moisturizer in one.

How to Handle Dry, Cracked Hands

The skin on my hands has been the hardest to treat. I suffer from eczema on my hands every winter to the point where the skin on my fingers and knuckles split pretty much all over. It is unsightly, quite painful, and difficult to manage, since I obviously need to wash my hands very frequently to avoid germs and sickness, especially during the winter. I have tried every moisturizer on the planet to no avail. What I have found is that moisturizing with natural, quality hand creams and sleeping in white cotton gloves helps a lot. I also wear fingerless gloves at work when my hands are particularly cracked. You can buy packs of them on Amazon so you always have a clean pair ready. It’s a bit of a pain to manage, but not as much as being in actual physical pain due to my skin cracking and bleeding. Lastly, I don’t do any household cleaning without gloves on. Here are the ones I like.

I hope the above tips help your skin survive the last few weeks of winter (which don’t seem to want to give way to spring this year!). Though I do love the cozy feel of the winter season, I am more than ready for the sun and the vitamin D that I am sure my body is craving. I also can’t wait to break out some lighter clothes and ditch the heavy coats and winter accoutrement. Until spring arrives, stay cozy and warm and hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. We’re almost there!