Turn back the hands of time with our clever tips for a great hand and nail care routine.
Nothing gives away your age like your hands. Your face may get noticed first but your hands get maximum exposure to the sun and other harsh elements. Our busy lifestyles mean that our hands and nails tend to get neglected. But soft supple hands and perfectly manicured nails can speak volumes about your personality and personal grooming habits. Here are our tips to keep hand and nails looking their best.
Cover up
Whether you’re gardening, cleaning, washing up or painting, busy hands need protection and gloves are an ideal choice. These little saviours will keep hot water and chemicals off your skin. Hot water robs skin of moisture and when combined with harsh chemicals it can be torture on dry skin. If wearing gloves is impractical, try a barrier or silicone cream, which will create a shield on the skin and keep moisture in. Creams containing urea, lactic acid, or glycerin oil are especially great at binding water to the skin.
Moisturise and revitalise
Moisturise regularly throughout the day and before bed at night. Keep a moisturiser by the basin – every time you wash your hands, reapply. If your hands are particularly dry, try products that contain hyaluronic acid or cyclic hydroxy acid for that extra kick. It’s also a good idea to exfoliate your hands. A gentle scrub once or twice a week will help remove impurities and dead surface skin cells, leaving your hands feeling soft and revitalised.
Protect against the sun
The sun is the biggest cause of premature ageing – and your hands are exposed to harsh UV rays on a daily basis. Applying sunscreen twice a day will help prevent aged, wrinkly and pigmented hands. Many of the hand creams on the market today contain sunscreen, making it even easier to incorporate into your daily routine.
Diet and nutrition
A well-balanced diet and drinking lots of water are crucial to sustaining healthy nails – but you still may not be getting all the nutrients you need. Try introducing a nutritional supplement to your diet. Complexes that contain biotin help prevent nail brittleness and promote long healthy nails.
Hard as nails
If your nails are weak and brittle, apply a strengthening nail hardener. Polish is another great way to protect your nails from physical trauma. Be sure to apply a base coat first to stop your nails from discolouring.
Cuticle care
Keep cuticles replenished by using good hand creams. If your cuticles are particularly dry, try soaking them for 10 minutes in warm water. And don’t forget to moisturise afterwards. You can also keep your cuticles in great condition by applying a cuticle and nail oil. Massage in to help increase circulation and stimulate new nail growth. Always make sure your nails are warm and wet before you push your cuticles back.
