Photo courtesy of realsimple.com
Ladies, your hands are the first thing to show your age. You know that, right? The days of spending hundreds of dollars attending to your face and completely ignoring your hands are over, right? It's time to start paying attention to those paws! Your hands, like the rest of your body, require exfoliation, cleansing, nourishment and protection to remain in good health. Fortunately, there are 5 easy things you can do now to maintain the health and beauty of your hands...and here they are!
1. Don't forget the sunscreen. ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS apply sunscreen before going outside, especially to your hands. This step is crucial to keeping hands looking their beautiful best and preventing age spots. For long-lasting, waterproof protection, try Murad Waterproof Sunblock SPF 30. This is a great product for both face and body!
2. Start using a scrub on your hands. You cannot beat the exfoliating power of a good scrub! Exfoliating removes dead skin cells to uncover softer, fresher skin. This important step also aids in absorption of other skin care products like lotions and creams. You will want to apply approximately 1 teaspoon of a good body scrub to wet hands and massage thoroughly for about 1 minute before rinsing. Garden Botanika Heart Sugar Scrub is a great one to try as it uses gentle sugar to exfoliate while primrose oil hydrates and restores radiance.
3. Moisturize hands frequently, particularly after washing. An effective hand cream or lotion should be applied several times a day to avoid dryness and keep hands looking healthy. It is of the utmost importance that you ALWAYS moisturize your hands IMMEDIATELY after washing them (while they are still damp.) This helps offset the drying effects of your soap while locking in essential moisture. I like Jean-Michelle Creme Protecteur Pour Les Mains - Hand Creme. It works wonders and smells like a dream!
4. Give your hands a nighttime treatment. For extra pampering and rejuvenation, use a hand treatment cream at night and then slip on a pair of gloves. This trick gives the cream time to penetrate for maximum benefit. Try Garden Botanika High Intensity Hand Treatment with clean, cotton gloves.
5. Protect your hands. Always wear gloves when cleaning, gardening, doing the dishes or coloring your hair. This quick and easy step protects hands from a host of damaging elements and irritants. When possible, apply moisturizer prior to putting on gloves.
Follow these 5 easy steps and enjoy beautiful, well-preserved hands for years to come. It only takes a few minutes a day, and your hands will love you forever!
