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If you've ever had dry skin, then you know how much it can itch and feel irritated. Cold weather can make it worse, but even humid weather can be bothersome. If you want to alleviate your dry face and skin, you'll have to make sure that you are following a proper dry skin care routine.

Dry skin care is not just about moisturizing, however. Dry skin has a lot to do with adopting habits that can help maintain your skin hydrated. Here's what you should do to soothe your skin.

Choosing the Right Type of Product

There is a difference in the type of product you should use if you have regular dry skin or really dry skin. If you have the first type of skin, you can use a creamy moisturizer on a daily basis. However, if you're trying to treat extremely dry skin, then you should attempt using a mineral oil or even a non-comedogenic oil like olive oil.

Modifying your Daily Cleansing Routine

If you don't have the right dry skin care routine you'll begin to notice that your skin feels tight and itchy no matter how much moisturizer you use. As with any type of skin care, you should cleanse, tone, exfoliate, and moisturize on a regular basis. Before purchasing your skin care products, make sure that they are both alcohol and fragrance free.

Cleanse your skin with a cream or oil product; do not use a soapy cleanser. If you clean your skin using soap and water it will become irritated and dry. However, if you use a cream cleanser you can clean your skin without stripping away its natural oils.

Next, exfoliate your skin with a gentle product. Try making your own exfoliant by mixing oatmeal and honey or grapefruit juice. The oatmeal will soothe your skin while the honey or juice will help slough off dead skin cells.

Finally, apply the appropriate moisturizer for your degree of dry skin. If your skin feels tight or itchy during the day, you can freely reapply your moisturizer as needed.

Daily Skin Care Habits

If you feel like you've done everything and your skin still needs a more intense moisturizer, then maybe there are some daily habits you should think about modify. Let's take a look at one of the things that may be aggravating your dry skin.

Long showers are a great way to relieve stress, but detrimental for dry skin. This occurs because hot water can strip your skin of natural oils, which means, you should take shorter showers with warm water.

Moisturize your skin (entire body) as soon as you get out of the shower to lock moisture to your skin. If this is not possible, dry off as much as possible because when water evaporates from your skin it will take your body's natural moisture with it.