The suface of the skin will appear dry if the glands just beneath the surface do not produce enough of the natural lubricant, sebum, which protexts the skin from extremes cold, heat, wind and other environmential factors. 

Commercial skin creams concentrate on adding lubricating oils on the external area of the skin, where as aromatherapy concentrates on combining oils such as Sweet almond, Avocado, Jojoba, Rosehip etc with essential oils that gently stimulate the sebaceous glands to function more effeciently.

Dry skin is often sensitive so gentle flower oils suce as Roman Chamomile, Jasmine, Neroli and Rose are most suitable.  Essential oils which have a balancing effecton the sebum production such as Geranium, Lavender and Sandalwood are also useful. You may see these essential oils also being used to treat oily and greasy skin and this is because they have a normalising effect and will therefore increase or decrease the amount of sebum secreted by the glands beneath the skin.

Regular massaging will increasse the circulation in the tiny blood vessels called capillaries that feed the growing layer of the skin and this will in turn improve the whole health of the skin.

Dry skin can also be a cause of deficiancy of fats in the diet. As little as a teaspoon a day of good quality olive oil added to the diet can be enough to make a difference.

Other alternatives are skin care creams such as Frankincense and Rose, Neroli & Aloe which can be used on the face daily.