Rejuvenate dry, chapped hands that have experienced damage from the harsh winter weather. Get beautiful, spring-ready hands in no time by reading these simple and “handy” pointers:
Washing your hands with antibacterial soap that contains alcohol can dry them out. Even regular soap causes hands to lose about 25 percent of their natural moisture each time you wash. To renew the delicate skin on your hands, use a milky, sulfate-free soap instead. Moisture can also be retained and locked-in by using a petrolatum-rich lotion on hands on a daily basis.
Oil-based creams are a great solution for ragged hang-nails that are a direct result from dehydration. This dehydration can occur by changing nail polish, filing, and/or buffing. Try using an orangewood stick to gently push back and neaten your cuticles, making your whole hands look healthier. After, trim the remaining cuticles with a small nail clipper.
Many nail products contain harmful chemicals like toluene, formaldehyde, and dibutyl phthalate. Instead of having these chemicals constantly on your nails, take a week out of every month and skip out on the lacquer. “The no-chip formulas they use in salons look great, but suffocate nails,” says David J. Goldberg, M.D., a dermatologist in New York City. He recommends, “Give yourself a break from the polish to restore moisture and keep your nails healthy.” When nails are healthy, hands shine.
Years of chronic sun exposure can lead to irregularities in your hands' skin color and also cause age spots and wrinkles on your hands. Sunscreen is your best defense against this problem. A daily application of a lotion or sunscreen with Sun Protection Factor (SPF) 30 to hands should do the trick. Already seeing signs of damage? Apply a product with exfoliating glycolic acid to hands every other day for smooth, beautifully restored hands in no time.
