Whether it’s to apply makeup, pay for something, text, type, clean or cook dinner, we are constantly using our hands on a minute-to-minute basis every single day. So why don’t they get any love?
Our hands are often neglected as recipients of much-needed TLC. Chapped fingertips and cracked knuckles can cause hands to suffer the most in the cooler months, so take a moment to massage a heavy-duty hand cream or cuticle cream into dry crevices around the wrists and fingers.
It’s time to put the power of soft skin back into your palm! Check out our tips to keep your hands nourished, youthful, smooth and healthy this winter. Hands need love, too!
Wash & wear
While washing your hands is essential to ward off viruses and germs, it can cause the skin to become dry and cracked in winter. Hot water is known to dry out skin, so make it lukewarm for winter and follow hand washing with a squirt of moisturiser to keep your hands hydrated. Place a pump-bottle of moisturising lotion next to the soap in the bathroom to make this part of your routine. If an extra step in your hand washing is too much for you to handle, select a soap that contains moisturiser to help keep your digits smooth and soft.
Scrubs
Your hands slough off dry skin as a process of renewal. Use a hand scrub to get rid of the rough outer layers of skin to aid this process and allow room for the soft layer of new skin to surface. Rough layers of skin on the hands can be caused by labour such as gardening – a regular scrub-session is a good way to treat your hands to some TLC after a hard day. Just make sure you don’t get too scrub-happy on raw areas of skin.
Hand masks
These are particularly handy for those with extremely dry skin or conditions such as eczema. Soak your hands in a hand mask for 5-10 minutes once a week, for four weeks, and after as needed. Taking the time to pause and let your skin soak up the cream means it won’t rub off as you start to use your hands afterwards. There are specifically formulated hand masks for dry skin, or you can layer a heavy moisturiser onto your hands for a similar effect. If your hands are ultra dry, use an extra layer of hand balm and wear cotton gloves for a few hours to let the moisture soak in properly.
Winter nail care
During the colder months, take a little extra care for strong, healthy nails. Treat yourself to a professional manicure every so often because you can never beat a professional’s touch. A warm-oil mani is a sure-fire rescue remedy for cold, chapped winter hands and nails. An added bonus is that it’s a relaxing and toasty hand treat for winter.
Feet
And let’s not neglect the feet. After all, it’s your feet that carry you through life so it’s important to keep them happy and looking good. Dry skin is a common problem which may cause other symptoms such as itching, redness and cracked heels. Some people tend to have naturally dry skin that predisposes them to cracks, and thickened dry skin around the heel (that is more likely to crack) is often due to increased pressure.
The best way to prevent and treat dry skin is to keep your feet hydrated with refreshing lotions and moisturisers. Feet get a rougher deal than the skin on your body or hands so it’s worth investing in a specialised product to take care of them. Some regular exfoliation and buffing will stop the build-up of hard, dry skin. A range of foot scrubs is available from the luxurious to the down-to-earth, along with buffing stones and other products.
There’s no better way to treat your feet after a long day than a soothing foot soak. Throw in some Epsom salt or your favourite aromatherapy oils and soak for 10 to 15 minutes.
