Baking in the sun can make you feel free, whether you’re by the pool, on a hiking path, or at the shore.
But let’s be honest: while it makes our day brighter, the sun can be harsh on our skin, our hands and nails.
Think about it – we’re always reaching out to touch different surfaces, and don’t forget those dips in the pool, which we know has chlorine.
By nightfall, our hands can end up dry, stiff, and a bit rough from all they go through each day.
But don’t worry, I’ve got you covered.
Here’s a guide on how to look after your hands and nails after spending time under the hot sun.
Why Your Hands and Nails Need Extra Care
First of all it is quite important to explain why our hands and nails really require certain love and attention especially after a day spent under the scorching sun?
The skin of our hands is thinner and has less oil glands than any other part of the body.
That makes them more vulnerable to dryness, damage when used under the sunlight for a long time, or under ultra violet radiation.
Everyone knows the dangers of UV rays, especially in increasing the signs of aging, causing fine lines as well as sunburn at the back of our hands.
If you feel like your hands look much older compared to the rest of your body, you probably know that hands absorb most of the sunlight and bad environmental factors.
Your nails can also stand a tough time especially if you work outside most parts of the day.
Exposure to water and sand can make them frail or even break оut.
Well, guess that’s why they need some tenderness, love and care as well, don’t they?
Now well let’s get down to details on how to take care of our hands and nails especially after the great sun time we have enjoyed.
Hydration!
And the first thing that is very important to know about post-sun care is simply about water.
After your hands have been outdoors all day, they are really screaming for attention in terms of hydration.
Here’s what I recommend:
Use a Rich Hand Cream
But if you happen to be in the sun the whole day, your skin will need as much moisture as it can get and this is best served with the richest of all hand creams.
Avoid products with unpleasant chemicals such as parabens and fragrances such as flowery scents.
Instead search for products that contain natural products such as shea butter, coconut oil or glycerin for they help to retain moisture.
But one trick I like is when you rub the hand cream while your hands are still, so you do it immediately after washing your hands.
This aids in locking in the moisture on skin and your skin will remain smooth for the entire period.
My favorite tip?
Put a bottle of hand cream somewhere, for instance by the side of the bed.
It is best applied before going to bed.
Simply apply a thick layer on your hands, and let your skin soak in the remedy while you sleep.
You will wake up with smooth and moisturized hands in the morning prepared to face the new day.
Drink Plenty of Water
It’s not only you apply on your hands – what you feed to your body is also important.
Starting from the inside, it is very important that you drink a lot of water during the day, especially after being outside in the sun.
Your skin will thank you!
Gentle Exfoliation is Key
The advantage of the scrub is that after spending an entire day or a weekend in the sun, your hands can become rather rough or develop some flakiness, and a little helping of scrub will help sort this out.
The one thing to remember here is that it must be gentle.
You don’t want to be too abrasive, particularly if your skin becomes sensitive after going out in the sun.
DIY Exfoliating Scrub
Another favorite pastime of mine is creating a simple scrub in less than five minutes with ingredients found in my pantry.
You can make a super simple scrub with just two ingredients: sugar and olive oil.
Take one tablespoon of sugar and one tablespoon of olive oil and then massage your hands with it, especially on the skin area that tends to be dry.
The sugar will work as an exfoliating agent by removing the layer of dead skin while the olive oil will moisturize.
Wash with warm water and you shall be left with smooth silky skin.
Invest in a Hand Scrub
But if you are not in the mood for a little do it yourself moment there are hand scrubs available in the market that are especially designed for gentle exfoliation.
Jojoba beads or ground walnut shells are some of the contents you should consider when choosing the scrubs.
These are usually finer and less harsh to the skin especially if one is experiencing fragile skin.
The general rule of thumb is to exfoliate once or twice a week at most — any more than that would scrape your skin of its natural oils.
Give Your Nails a Little Love
This is a very important aspect many of us ignore once we come from the sun, but our nails require as much care as our hands.
From sunscreen, saltwater and sand, your nails aren’t spared after a whole day outing.
Clean Under Your Nails
Before proceeding to the next step it is recommended to wash your nails in order to remove any dirt or residue that can be under them.
Soak a soft nail brush and brush the skin under your nails gently but make sure not to rub the skin harshly round your nails.
Nourish Your Cuticles
Sun can also affect your cuticles leaving them dry and cracked and therefore they deserve a little extra attention.
That is why sometimes I apply cuticle oil to the area as it can be very dry and needs some additional moisturizing.
Especially use those which contain vitamin E, jojoba oil or almond oil.
Massaging your nails with oil makes them softer and healthier and indeed after doing this, you will find that your cuticles look healthier.
In case you do not have cuticle oil, coconut or olive oil will suffice in this case, although they will not be as effective as the special oil.
Sunscreen, Always!
We use sunscreen for our face and all other parts of the body but how often do we consider using it on our hands?
If you are like me, probably not as frequent as we are expected to do it.
Hands are not spared from the effects of the sun and since the skin on the hands is thinner, the signs of aging show up here first.
Apply SPF Regularly
To keep your hands safe from the sun’s damaging rays, put sunscreen on the back of your hands whenever you plan to go outside.
Pick a broad-spectrum SPF of 30 or higher, and remember to put it on again every few hours after you swim or wash your hands.
I’m also a big fan of hand creams that come with SPF.
It’s a simple way to keep your hands soft and protected at the same time.
Pamper with a Hand Mask
In cases when your hands are looking particularly dry or burnt from the sun, then a hand mask is nothing short of a godsend.
A hand mask is much like a face mask in that its purpose is to deliver an intense, moisture-infused dose of nutrients to your skin.
DIY Hand Mask
At home you can prepare a hand mask by adding equal quantities of honey and yogurt.
Honey is a natural humectant that helps to keep water to the skin and yogurt contains lactic acid, which lightly peels and illuminates the skin.
Mix it and spread it on your hands and leave it on your hands for approximately 15 minutes and then wash with warm water.
They will completely be rejuvenated and soft to the feel.
Store-Bought Hand Masks
However, if you are not a fan of DIY skin care, then you’d be glad to know that there are many store-bought hand masks that you can buy in the stores.
Choose those containing water retaining ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, aloe or shea butter among other natural elements.
Put them on, lie down for 15-20 minutes and let it do all the work for you.
Don’t Forget About Your Nails
Last but not the least, it is also important that we maintain our nails are also strong and healthy.
Just like our skin, our nails also suffer due to exposure to the sun and so they require some care as well.
Strengthen with a Nail Treatment
If you have experienced some brittleness in your nails or they break easily then it is recommended that you use a nail strengthener.
Choose products with elements such as keratin, biotin, calcium as such components improve the nails’ strength and make them more resistant.
These treatments must be applied to the nails which can be used as a base coat for polish or can be used alone.
Keep Your Nails Hydrated
Just like your skin, your nails require some level of moisturizing as well.
To maintain your nails in good condition you should apply a good nail oil or cream as often as you can.
This will enable you to avoid having brittle nails that keep on breaking.
Conclusion
In essence, basically, taking care of the hands and nails after sun exposure simply means moisturizing them and feeding them as they have depleted nutrients and moisture.
Sun lovers should not despair, as with a little bit of love and attention you can have beautiful hands and neat nails.
So, next time that you go outdoors for the sheer purpose of activities under the sun, do not forget to give your hands and nails some pampering.
Just wait and see, they will be grateful to you for that!
