Face Moisturizer for Dry Skin: 10 Homemade Options

Bruna Ribeiro
Clinical review: Bruna Ribeiro Advanced Cosmetic Nurse COREN 298474
Created by: Jillian Kinton-Vieira Registered Nurse

Face moisturizers for dry skin can help increase hydration, support the skin barrier, and reduce signs of premature aging. They can also leave the skin feeling softer, smoother, and more hydrated.

These moisturizers can be used on different skin types and are made with ingredients rich in vitamins and minerals. They can help cleanse the pores and remove dead skin cells.

For best results, face moisturizers for dry skin should be used regularly. It is also important to care for the skin before and after application, such as exfoliating before moisturizing and using sunscreen every day.

woman lying down with eyes closed and moisturizer on her face

Homemade face moisturizers

Some homemade moisturizers that can help hydrate the face include:

1. Green clay and yogurt

A green clay and yogurt moisturizer is a good homemade option for oily skin. It contains lactic acid and antioxidants that help control excess oil while providing deep hydration.

Ingredients:

  • 1 teaspoon green clay

  • 1 teaspoon plain nonfat yogurt

  • 1 tablespoon cold water

How to use: Mix the clay, yogurt, and cold water in a container until a smooth paste forms.

Apply the moisturizer to the face right after preparing it, spreading it well over the skin. Leave it on for 15 minutes, then rinse with cold water. This mask can be used once a week or every 2 weeks, depending on your skin’s needs.

2. Yogurt and honey

A yogurt and honey moisturizer is a good option for dry skin because it helps hydrate the skin and reduce irritation. It may also help prevent wrinkles and expression lines and fight acne due to its antibacterial properties. This moisturizer should not be used by people who are allergic to pollen, honey, or propolis.

Ingredients:

  • ½ container plain yogurt

  • 1 tablespoon honey

How to use: Mix the ingredients in a container until smooth.

Apply the mixture to the entire face, leave it on for 15 minutes, then rinse with cold water. This moisturizer can be used once a week.

3. Avocado, honey, and rosehip oil

A homemade avocado, honey, and rosehip oil moisturizer is a great option for all skin types. It is rich in antioxidants that nourish and hydrate the skin, leaving it softer. It also contains fatty acids, such as linoleic acid, and vitamins A and C, which help maintain skin balance, firmness, and deep hydration while softening the appearance of wrinkles and expression lines.

This homemade face mask should not be used by people who are allergic to pollen, honey, or propolis.

Ingredients:

  • 1 ripe avocado

  • 1 tablespoon honey

  • 1 teaspoon rosehip oil

How to use: Mash the avocado and mix it with the honey and rosehip oil until smooth.

Apply the moisturizer to the face and leave it on for 30 minutes. Then wash the face with cold water. This moisturizer can be used once a week.

4. Aloe vera and rosehip oil

A homemade moisturizer made with aloe vera and rosehip oil has a regenerative effect and supports the production of collagen and elastin, which help strengthen and firm the skin.

In addition to deeply hydrating the skin, this moisturizer helps maintain skin integrity and soften wrinkles and expression lines because it contains fatty acids and vitamins A and C.

Aloe vera has nourishing, regenerative, and moisturizing properties. It may also help fight free radicals, helping reduce premature skin aging.

Ingredients:

  • 2 teaspoons aloe vera gel

  • 4 drops rosehip oil

How to use: Separate the gel extracted from the aloe vera leaf, add the oil, and mix for 1 minute in a clean, dry container.

Apply to the entire face until the gel is fully absorbed and leave it on for 20 minutes. Then wash the face with cold water. This moisturizer can be used once a week.

5. Green tea, carrot, and yogurt

A homemade green tea, carrot, and yogurt moisturizer is rich in vitamin A, beta-carotene, lactic acid, and antioxidants that help keep the skin hydrated and healthy-looking. It can also help protect the skin from the sun’s ultraviolet rays, helping prevent wrinkles and dark spots on the face.

Ingredients:

  • 3 tablespoons green tea infusion

  • 50 g grated carrot

  • 1 container plain yogurt

  • 1 tablespoon honey

How to use: Blend the ingredients in a blender or food processor until smooth.

Apply the moisturizer to the face and leave it on for 20 minutes. Then rinse with cold water. This moisturizer can be used 1 to 2 times per week.

6. Cocoa, honey, and olive oil

A cocoa, honey, and olive oil moisturizer is a good option for dry skin because it has emollient, humectant, and hydrating properties. It also contains antioxidants that help tone the skin and protect it from the effects of aging.

This moisturizer should not be used by people who are allergic to pollen, honey, or propolis.

Ingredients:

  • 1 tablespoon cocoa powder

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

  • 2 tablespoons honey

How to use: Mix all ingredients until a smooth paste forms.

Apply the moisturizer to a clean, dry face and leave it on for 20 minutes. Then rinse with cold water. This moisturizer can be used 1 to 2 times per week.

7. Coffee, banana, honey, and coconut oil

A homemade coffee, banana, honey, and coconut oil moisturizer helps hydrate and nourish the skin. It has antioxidant, emollient, and hydrating properties that help remove impurities and reduce excess oil, leaving the skin smoother and more radiant.

This moisturizer should not be used by people who are allergic to pollen, honey, or propolis.

Ingredients:

  • ½ ripe banana

  • 1 tablespoon honey

  • ¼ teaspoon ground coffee

  • 1 teaspoon coconut oil

How to use: Mash the banana with a fork. Then add the honey, coffee, and coconut oil, and mix until smooth.

Apply the moisturizer to the face and leave it on for 30 minutes. Then rinse with cold water. This moisturizer can be used once a week.

8. Pumpkin, apple, and cinnamon

A homemade pumpkin, apple, and cinnamon moisturizer is rich in retinoic acid, beta-carotene, antioxidants, and vitamins A, C, and E. It hydrates, refreshes, nourishes, and adds softness and radiance to the skin, making it ideal for people with normal to dry skin.

Cinnamon has antibacterial properties that help fight acne. It also stimulates blood circulation, improving oxygenation and helping keep facial skin healthy.

Ingredients:

  • ½ peeled apple

  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

  • ¼ cup pumpkin

How to use: Blend the ingredients in a blender until smooth. If the mixture is too thick, add 1 tablespoon honey and blend again. If honey is added, this moisturizer should not be used by people who are allergic to pollen, honey, or propolis.

Apply the moisturizer to a clean, dry face and leave it on for 15 minutes. Then rinse with cold water. This moisturizer can be used twice a week.

9. Aloe vera, honey, and lavender

A facial moisturizer made with aloe vera, honey, and lavender has nourishing, regenerative, and hydrating properties. It may help fight free radicals and reduce premature skin aging.

It also helps hydrate and support skin healing by promoting the growth of new skin cells, making it especially suitable for dry skin.

Ingredients:

How to use: Mix the ingredients in a clean, dry container.

Apply the moisturizer to the face and leave it on for 30 minutes. Then rinse with cold water. This moisturizer can be applied 1 to 2 times per week.

10. Cucumber and mint

A cucumber and mint moisturizer has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties due to nutrients found mainly in cucumber, such as vitamin C and folate. These nutrients help fight free radicals, which are linked to skin aging and the formation of wrinkles and expression lines.

In addition, this combination helps fight acne and reduce skin swelling and redness, while mint gives the skin a fresh, clean feeling.

Ingredients:

  • ½ cucumber with peel

  • 4 washed mint leaves

  • ½ cup water

How to use: Blend the ingredients in a blender or food processor until a paste forms.

Apply the moisturizer to a clean, dry face and leave it on for 15 minutes. Then wash the face with cold water.

Tips for better results

Some care steps can help homemade moisturizers work better. These include:

  • Washing the face with a gentle cleanser and cold water before applying the moisturizer
  • Exfoliating the skin once a week, depending on skin type, and drying the face with a soft towel
  • Applying sunscreen daily to protect the skin and help prevent premature aging

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, broad-spectrum sunscreen helps protect the skin from both UVA and UVB rays, and sunscreen should have an SPF of 30 or higher.

Before using any homemade moisturizer on the face, apply a small amount to the back of the hand as a patch test. If the skin becomes red or irritated, do not use the moisturizer and consult a dermatologist.

Update History
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