Honestly, up until now, there has been no skincare routine to my hands because I really didn’t pay that much attention to them.
Even today, I have always been so concerned with facial creams, the most recent skin serums, and the best lotion for my face but neglected my hands.
But then, one day, I caught a glimpse of my hands in bright daylight and thought, “Whoa, when did they start looking so. .. tired?”
That’s when it hit me: Our hands are really useful and they have to be as well treated as any other part of our body.
Well in this article, I am excited to take some time and explain why your hands should be pampered occasionally and how you can actually develop a routine to make them look and feel beautiful.
Why Our Hands Need Extra Attention
Let’s face it—our hands do a lot.
They hang around all the time and get involved in everything from washing dishes, typing on keyboards and phones to scrolling through phones.
While our face is pampered with cleansing in the morning and at night, our hands are subjected to all sorts of conditions that rob them of moisture and youth.
Think about it: sun exposure, hand washing, harsh soaps, cleaning products and the rest of it, all end up wearing down our hands.
When it comes to the beauty of our body, while we are extremely careful and diligent when applying creams on our face and searching for ways to slow down the aging process (but sunscreen and anti-aging creams, for instance) we often pay little to no attention to the skin on our hands.
Signs of Aging Hands
I can recall one time when I was keen on the fact that my hands begin to have features that are associated with aging.
In my case it wasn’t something that happened all of a sudden but it was something that I slowly came to accept.
Small lines creeping up on me and ignoring my hands, in no time at all, they suddenly resembled the skin of elderly ladies.
For the most part the signs of aging are even more pronounced on our hands as compared to the face because our hands are very much a part of whatever we do and are therefore always exposed to the harsh rays of the sun.
Some of the common signs of aging on hands include:
- Dryness: This is mostly the first aspect that we tend to focus on in most concepts that we come across. But then several things happen and our hands can begin to feel rough, develop scales, and just feel uneasy.
- Wrinkles and Fine Lines: These begin to appear when our skin on hands loses collagen and elasticity.
- Dark Spots: Fortunately, these tiny spots are usually a result of too much sun, and if you’re not very careful when applying your sunscreen, your hands are bound to get the worse of it.
- Loss of Volume: In the course of the aging process the skin on our hands becomes less pigmented and thinner, and veins and bones become more prominent. As completely natural as this is, it has the major disadvantage of making our hands appear older than they really are.
These are all signs that can be quite infuriating, but the good thing is that with proper hand care routine, you can go a long way to minimize the effects of aging on hands.
The Basics of a Good Hand Care Routine
But, what does a good hand care really entail?
To be quite frank, it doesn’t really have to be either of these things, but it does have to be regular.
Like with facial skin, the routine must be followed quite regularly to have proper care of hands.
Here’s a breakdown of the essentials:
1. Keep Your Hands Clean, But Not Stripped
We know that trend well—washing hands more frequently than ever over the last several years.
As much as one would feel compelled to wash their hands constantly (which isn’t bad actually), it is also imperative to do it with a product that doesn’t leave your skin dry and stripped of its natural oils.
Use a gentle non-ionic hand wash that contains moisturizing ingredients that will not dry out the skin.
Oh yes, do not forget to rinse with water that is warm, but not boiling hot.
Even if warm water feels rather nice on the hands it only aggravates the skin’s condition by drying it out even more.
2. Moisturize Like It’s Your Job
It doesn’t matter what type of skin problem you are dealing with, but if there is one thing that is going to change your hands’ situation altogether, it is moisturizing.
To top it up, it is recommended that after every hand washing, you should apply a good handcreme.
The idea here lies in the selection of a hand cream containing such ingredients as glycerin, hyaluronic acid, or shea butter.
In my house, hand cream is not situated in one place only, I have it by the sink, in my car and on my dressing table.
Just try it for a few weeks and then you’ll see how your hands change their look and feel after you start the regimen of hand moisturizing.
3. Protect Your Hands from the Sun
This one took me way too long to figure out, but once I did, it was a total game-changer.
We do not only sunbathe our faces: it is high time to use sunscreen on hands as well.
The backs of our hands are rather sensitive, and since we keep them uncovered, often they are in contact with the sun, for instance when driving, it is necessary to apply sunscreen or an SPF product.
Find a sunscreen that has protection against both UVA and UVB rays and has a Sun Protection Factor of 30 and above and apply the same on the palms of your hands when you’re planning on going out during the day.
Of course, it is also important to reapply throughout the day and use a shower or a hand wash as an excellent opportunity to remember about it.
4. Exfoliate Regularly
Just like your face, your hands also require exfoliation to be done in order to remove skin which has peeled off to reveal a fresh skin underneath.
To get rid of dirt on your hands it is advisable to use a gentle hand scrub once or twice a week.
It will additionally help control this, maintaining your skin texture smooth and tender and also enabling your hand cream penetrative ability.
5. Treat Your Cuticles with Care
Your cuticles are another area of your hands that can be ignored most of the time but are very important especially for your nails.
Cuticles should be smooth and elastic so it is recommended to use cuticle oil or some kind of balm from time to time.
Extra Tips for Healthy Hands
As you already know, having a simple hand care regimen is easy but if you want to go the extra mile here are some tips.
Wear Gloves for Protection
If you are in the process of washing the dishes, cleaning or gardening around the house, make sure that you wear gloves to shield your hands from a burn from chemicals and hot water.
At first, you might find it incomprehensible as to why you’re doing all of this to your hands, but believe me when I say, your hands will appreciate it later on.
Use a Hand Mask
You know that your face reciprocates the effects of a hydrating mask, the same case applies to your hands.
A good hand mask is always important to moisturize your skin well especially if your hands feel dry and rough.
Wear a hand mask once a week and allow the included substances to do their job while you just lie down and listen to your favorite music.
Overnight Moisture Treatments
Here is one of the best home remedies for dry hands – an overnight moisture treatment.
Apply some heavy hand cream or any ointment to the hands before sleep and wear cotton gloves in a bid to seal the moisture.
When you wake up, your hands will feel soft and rejuvenated.
Why a Hand Care Routine is Worth It
Caring for your hands isn’t just cosmetic; it is also a function of ensuring you are as comfortable as you can be, and that you have practiced self-care.
That is why we need to take the best care of our hands since they are very essential to our day to day lives.
With proper caring it will be easy to maintain smooth and young looking hands for a longer time.
Also, it emotionally feels good to set a few minutes of each day towards giving attention to your hands to self-nurture, which is very satisfying.
So, if you’ve been neglecting your hands (like in my case), then it is high time that your hands were pampered a little!
Just try it and once you start preventing your hands and adding a few steps into your routine, you will wonder how you ever went without it!
Final Thoughts
It is rather unmentioned until one day they become dry, wrinkled or develop some dark spots but if utilized appropriately we can keep our hands looking great.
All in all, the ideas are simple: you must stick to the routine, guard your hands from the weather, and never, never forget about moisturizing.
You won’t regret it!
