how to use body oil for dry skin
If your skin feels tight after a shower, flakes along your shins, or looks dull and ashy by the afternoon, a body oil for dry skin can change how your skin feels from one day to the next. It works best when you use it generously and at the right moment. Here is how we use ours, how an oil differs from a lotion, and how to make it an easy part of your day, whatever the weather is doing outside.
why we reach for body oil for dry skin
Dry skin tends to tell you about itself in small ways. It feels tight after you wash. It itches under your clothes. Elbows, knees and heels turn rough, and the backs of your arms and legs can look a little dusty by the end of the day. What your skin is asking for is softness that lasts, and that is where an oil comes in.
An oil stays on your skin and keeps softening it for hours. Every oil we make starts with organic moringa seed oil, a light oil that spreads easily and sinks in at a steady pace, so you have time to massage it in. Moringa seed oil applied to skin has documented anti-inflammatory activity[1], and that is a big part of why we chose it as the base for all of our oils.
For skin that runs very dry, we made Nanichi, our cacao body oil. It is cacao steeped slowly in moringa seed oil, and its label lists two ingredients. It feels silky and cushioning on the skin, and it carries the warm aroma of cacao straight from the plant. If you would like to know why we chose cacao, we wrote all about it in cacao for your skin.
body oil vs lotion: what is the difference?
Lotions are made mostly of water, blended with oils and waxes so the two stay mixed together. That water feels cool and light as it goes on, and then it evaporates. A lotion can feel lovely in the moment, and it is a good fit for skin that only needs a little help.
An oil has no water in it, so everything you put on stays with your skin. It absorbs gradually, softens as it goes, and leaves your skin feeling smooth and comfortable well into the day. For skin that stays dry through every lotion you have tried, an oil is where we suggest starting.
An oil can also keep the ingredient list short. A lotion needs a extra ingredients to hold the water and oil together and to keep the water fresh. Our oils are simply moringa seed oil and the plants steeped in it.
If your skin still feels dry with lotion alone, replacing with an oil to your evening is an easy place to begin.
when to apply body oil
Our favorite moment is right after a shower or a bath, while your skin is still damp. That is how we use our own oils every day, and it is what we recommend to anyone who asks. The oil spreads easily over damp skin, glides under your hands, and leaves you feeling soft long after you get dressed.
Evenings are the other lovely time. A few minutes of slow massage before bed, with the lights low, gives your skin the whole night with the oil. If your hands and feet dry out easily, give them a second pass at night too.
how to use it, step by step
- Shower or bathe as usual, then pat yourself with a towel so your skin is still a little damp.
- Pump a good amount of oil into your palm and warm it between your hands for a moment. Breathe in the aroma while you do.
- Start where you feel driest: shins, knees, elbows, the backs of your arms. Massage with slow, firm strokes, moving up toward your heart.
- Go back for more anywhere that still feels tight. Be generous and use as much as you like.
- Give the oil a minute or two to settle in before you get dressed.
When you are done, your skin should feel soft and comfortable all over. If a spot still feels tight, add more. Dry skin takes in a good amount of oil, and using plenty is what lets it do its work.
Once a day, after your shower, is a wonderful place to start. If your skin is very dry, use your oil morning and night. It helps to keep the bottle right where you will see it, next to your towel or on your nightstand.
For your face, Caya is our face and body oil. It is lighter, made with guava leaf and lemongrass, and it absorbs quickly enough to wear in the morning. massage it into your face while your skin is still damp from washing.
caring for dry skin in winter
Many of the people who order from us live stateside, where the cold months mean chilly air outside and heated air inside. Skin feels that change quickly. Knuckles crack, legs itch under jeans, and hands never quite feel comfortable.
A warm shower feels wonderful on a cold morning. Keep the water comfortably warm, and reach for your oil while the bathroom is still full of steam and your skin is still damp. The warmth makes the oil glide even more easily.
In the colder months, we suggest using your oil twice a day and keeping a second bottle by the kitchen sink for your hands. A rich oil like Nanichi is made for this time of year. For many of our customers in the diaspora, the warm aroma of cacao also brings a little piece of Puerto Rico into a cold, gray morning.
If your skin is asking for more, start with Nanichi. If you are not sure which of our oils fits your skin and your days, take the quiz and we will help you choose.
references
- Expanding the anti-inflammatory potential of Moringa oleifera: topical effect of seed oil on skin inflammation and hyperproliferation. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 2020. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378874119339662
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