There are many lotions and moisturizers on the market to combat dry skin, but most of them come with a big price tag. Natural home remedies for skin hydration are not only cheap, but also quite effective in nourishing and bringing dry skin back to a healthy state.
Dry skin can be a symptom that indicates a more serious diagnosis. But in most cases, dry skin is caused by environmental factors that remove moisture from the skin. The list of culprits that can cause dry skin can be anything from daily bathing habits such as hot showers and rubbing yourself dry with a towel, arid climates, and harsh soaps – all of which deplete the natural oils in your skin, especially as you age.
Given the countless skin products that are available, a natural remedy may be worth trying, says Christine Lopez, MD, a dermatologist and vice-chair of the Department of Dermatology at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio.
“Natural oils and remedies tend to be pure”, Dr. Lopez says, which makes them a better choice for many people. “Other over-the-counter products can have a ton of ingredients in them – they not only contain the active moisturizing products, but they also have preservatives.” That’s often the case water-based products. These, along with products that contain alcohol and fragrances can cause irritation or an allergic reaction, or dry out your skin.
Try These Natural Home Remedies for Skin Hydration
Whatever you do, don’t make the mistake of applying unnatural moisturizers that likely contain chemical ingredients that will further irritate your skin. The following list provides some excellent health focused alternatives that can provide moisture without chemical additives.
1. Olive Oil Cleanser
Olive oil contains many antioxidants and healthy fatty acids that are good for your skin. It can soothe and condition dry skin all over your body.
Dab a thin layer of extra virgin olive oil under your regular moisturizer.
About a half an hour before taking a shower, rub some olive oil on your hands, legs and other areas with dry skin and massage lightly. Take a shower and then apply a light moisturizer.
Mix two tablespoons of olive oil, four tablespoons of fine brown sugar, and one tablespoon of honey. Rub this homemade scrub on your dry skin using light, circular motions for a few minutes. Take a shower and then apply a light moisturizer.
2. Oatmeal Honey Mask
Oatmeal also makes a great exfoliator or mask. You can also use oatmeal to moisturize and relieve dry skin. The high protein content in oatmeal leaves a protective barrier on the skin, which prevents water loss and helps maintain moisture. Plus, it has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that are good for the overall health of your skin.
Mix together 2 tablespoons of oats with a tablespoon of honey in a small amount of water. Warm up the mixture and rub it into your skin. You can use it just to exfoliate and wash it off right away, or leave it on for 15 to 20 minutes as a soothing, hydrating mask.
As an alternative to this, but just as effective – you can make a face mask by mixing one mashed ripe banana with one cup of ground oatmeal and then adding a little bit of lukewarm milk. Apply this smooth mixture on your dry skin and leave it on for 10 to 15 minutes. Rinse it off with cold water. Do this once a week.
For those who prefer a delightful full body experience, pour one cup of plain oatmeal into your bathtub filled with warm water. Add a few drops of lavender oil. Soak in the bath water for 15 to 30 minutes. Enjoy this soothing bath once a week.
3. Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is naturally antibacterial, antifungal, moisturizing and, according to research, great for dermatitis. As a nighttime home remedy for skin hydration, many women swear by it. A recent animal study found that when applied topically, virgin organic coconut oil for skin can speed up wound healing, and a human study found it to be effective in increasing hydration and reducing water loss in seriously dry skin.
It smells great too!
Try the double-cleansing method: Simply rub the oil in circular motions all over your face and neck, giving yourself a gentle massage as you go. When you’re finished, wash off the residue with your preferred cleanser. If you’re prone to adult-acne or rosacea, only use this technique if you know that your skin tolerates coconut oil. Also, be careful leaving too much of it above your eyes. If you don’t wipe it off, it will melt with your body heat and descending into your eyes, may cause them to water.
This very simple method can yield effective results for hydrated, glowing skin.
4. Yoghurt 
Plain yogurt is a multi-vitamin super-food used in many home remedies for skin hydration. What makes yogurt so special? Yogurt is loaded with vitamins and minerals that nourish and revitalize dehydrated skin. Also, its lactic acid content helps get rid of any germs or bacteria that may cause dryness or itchiness.
If you have acne-prone skin, use yogurt face masks to banish those pesky pimples. Yogurt is a great ingredient for getting rid acne naturally, as it contains anti-bacterial and anti-microbial properties, as well as alpha hydroxyl acids, which kill acne-causing bacteria.
Try this moisturizing face mask recipe. 
What you’ll need:
- 1 tablespoon of natural yoghurt
- 1 tablespoon of mashed potatoes
- 1 teaspoon of glycerin
Wash and peel on small potato, boil and mash it into a puree. Try to avoid using a blender as that could make it sticky. All you need here, is pre-mashed potatoes, (no butter or milk added) ready to be combined with the yoghurt.
Combine the potatoes with the yoghurt and add the glycerin diluted 1:1 ratio with water. The reason for diluting the glycerin is, that it has moisture absorbing properties and you don’t want that for your skin.
Once the 3 ingredients are combined, apply the warm mask to your face and leave for about 15-20 minutes, then rinse off with cool water.
After doing this twice a week for about 2 months your skin will become adorably soft.
5. Milk
Milk has anti-inflammatory and soothing properties that greatly help get rid of dry and itchy skin. Not only so, but the lactic acid in milk exfoliates dead skin cells and increases the skin’s ability to retain moisture. You will also find that it helps lighten your complexion.
Soak a washcloth in cold milk and put the cloth on your dry skin for five to seven minutes. Gently wash off the milk with another cloth soaked in lukewarm water. This way this natural moisturizer will remain on your skin. Do this every other day.
Add a few drops of rose water to four tablespoons of milk. Rub this solution all over your body. Leave it on for 10 minutes and wash your body with cold water. Follow this remedy twice daily.
6. Avocado
The natural oils in an avocado can penetrate deep into the skin, helping to soften and hydrate dry and flaky patches. The high vitamin A content also helps in skin maintenance and repair to restore smooth and silky skin. Avocados have abundant amounts of vitamins and nutrients including beta-carotene, lutein, vitamin B6, C, E and K, potassium, zinc, selenium and folate. Avocado oil has long been used in many beauty products, such as cleansing creams, hair conditioners, facial masks, massage lotions and bath oils.
You can make your own moisturizer at home. It works great in softening and hydrating dry skin. Just mash 1 or 2 ripe avocados depending upon your requirement and mix with your favorite essential oil or honey. Apply this paste onto your skin and leave it on for 20-30 minutes. Rinse with lukewarm water.
7. Almond Oil
Almond oil had been used extensively for its health benefits and as a beauty aid much before science caught up with the goodness of this seed oil. The almond kernels and the nutty oil extracted from them are credited with promoting heart and skin health. 
Almond oil is rich in Vitamin E, monounsaturated fatty acids, proteins, potassium and zinc, besides a number of other minerals and vitamins, which explains why it is so good for our heart, skin and hair.
Almond oil comes in two variants; bitter and sweet. The sweet almond oil that comes exclusively from edible almonds (Prunus amygdalus var. dulcis) selectively cultivated for their sweet taste. It is the oil popularly used for skin and hair care.
Gently warm up some pure almond oil. Massage your body lightly with the warm oil a half an hour before taking a shower. After your shower when your skin is still damp, apply some light moisturizer. Do this once daily.
Drink a glass of warm milk mixed with one teaspoon of almond oil before going to bed. Repeat every night to enjoy healthier skin as well as sound sleep.
