Dry hands can feel uncomfortable and don’t look great. Harsh weather and external irritants can wreak havoc on the skin, leaving them, dry and cracked… not good!
We use our hands every day, they are one of the most used parts of our body. This hard work puts a lot of pressure on the skin and although it’s undoubtably tougher than the skin on our face, constant exposure to external irritants like temperature, hand washing, pollution and dirt can weaken the skin’s natural barrier. This can lead to dry patches and even infections. The low number of sebaceous glands also means they’re prone to drying out- so we need to help them out so they don’t get dry and cracked!
So, do you want to know the secret to soft, comfortable feeling hands all year round? Here are some tips on how to keep your hands soft, hydrated and loved!
Switch up the hand soap
Frequent handwashing is important for good hygiene, but it can be quite stripping on the skin. So, if you find your skin is perhaps dryer than usual, the first thing you can try is switch up your hand soap. Look for a mild, moisturising soap for your hands and see if that helps. Avoid using hot water too, as this could be drying too.
Moisturise regularly
Keep a good hand cream or moisturiser on hand and reapply regularly: not just once a day, but whenever you remember. Keep a travel one in your bag and make sure to keep reapplying whenever you can: particularly after washing your hands. Keep one at your desk at work for easy access.
Look for a good quality moisturiser with ingredients that will heal and moisturise, such as glycerin, shea butter and hyaluronic acid.
Layer your moisturisers
Another good trick to really get the best out of your skin treats is layering your moisturisers.
Start with a humectant-based product such as glycerine and hyaluronic acid to draw in the moisture, then seal it all in with an occlusive product like petroleum jelly, shea butter and lanolin. If you find it quite heavy, keep this as part of your nighttime routine.
Try exfoliating
If you’ve got lots of dry skin, you might find that exfoliating your hands can really help to give you that smooth surface to work from. This will also help all of your other products work better in the future too. Your skin will feel fresh and soft: but don’t overdo it!
Lock it in at night
Look for a richer, thicker hand cream for use at night… perhaps even a healing ointment. the time you sleep will allow your skin to absorb the moisture that would otherwise be too much during the day.
Wear gloves
Protect those hands from the elements by wearing gloves to minimize exposure to the harsh elements. You should also wear rubber gloves when doing the dishes and cleaning: this will protect your skin and nails from harsh detergents and the hot water.
There’s also another type of gloves you can use: skincare gloves! You can even wear skincare sleeping masks on your hands… so you’ll wake up with super smooth, glowing skin!
Hydrate from the inside out
Hydration starts from the inside… properly hydrating is the key to healthy skin, so drink that water, beauties!
Avoid too much sun
The sun can dry out the skin and cause premature aging, so where you can, use protective clothing and apply SPF to your hands to keep them protected!
Consistency is key: It’s important to be consistent when it comes to treating dry hands, so keep it up and your skin will be feeling better in no time!
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