This Not That: DIY All-Natural Remedies for Dry Skin

Are you ready to try something new in your DIY beauty routine? This week, we tested out two ingredients not commonly used in beauty regimens: cucumbers and turmeric. Both ingredients supposedly smooth and refresh dry skin. I concentrated on my heels, and applied one remedy to one foot and one to the other foot to see which worked better.

The first skin smoother calls for turmeric powder and milk.

Directions:

1. Mix together 1 teaspoon turmeric and ½ teaspoon of milk to create a paste.
2. Apply to rough areas on your skin.
3. Let sit for twenty minutes and then rinse off.

Pros:

• Curcumin, a component of turmeric, may have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, but more scientific studies are necessary to confirm this conclusively.
• Turmeric may help with pain when applied topically, and may also help to heal wounds. Additionally, some use it for skin conditions such as eczema.
• Turmeric may help to prevent skin cancer, according to the American Cancer Society.

Cons:

• If you are pregnant, we strongly recommend using the cucumber skin smoother instead! Many sources say turmeric in food in safe for pregnant women, but on its own, it may be harmful.
• Some people develop an allergic reaction to turmeric when it is applied to their skin, so proceed with caution and test a small area of skin first.
• Turmeric may stain skin, so again, test a small part of your skin and be especially careful if you use turmeric on your face.

SEE ALSO Turmeric: A Spice With Many Benefits

The second skin smoother calls for cucumber, oats, and milk.

Directions:

1. Peel a cucumber, and cut off three slices. Chop up the slices into small pieces.
2. Add the cucumber pieces to 2 tablespoons oats and 1 tablespoon milk.
3. Mash the ingredients together with a fork or potato masher. If you have a food processor, you could also try blending them together.
4. Apply to affected area of skin.
5. Let sit for about twenty minutes and then rinse off.

Pros:

• Cucumbers hydrate skin due to their high water content, and help soothe irritated skin. Oats also work to soothe skin irritation.
• Cucumbers have the same pH as skin, so they help replenish the skin’s acid mantle, which protects the skin from bacteria and other harmful intruders.
• The mix left my skin feeling soft and smooth, and worked more effectively than turmeric.

Cons:

• The oats have a tendency to stick to skin, so you may have to scrub them off with a washcloth or loofah instead of simply rinsing them off.
• The cucumbers don’t mash up very well, so it’s difficult to completely incorporate the cucumbers into the mix if you don’t have a food processor.
• The mix was very messy to apply, so I would recommend rubbing it on either outside or in the bathroom.

SEE ALSO Fact or Fiction: Cucumbers on Your Eyes Reduce Puffiness

Verdict: Cucumbers win this test! Not only are they more gentle when applied to skin, they are also more effective at smoothing rough skin.

For more Pretty & Pamper, check out our articles here.

Have you ever tried using cucumbers or turmeric in a DIY beauty recipe? How did they work for you?