Did you know…
– The skin on the back of your hands is thinner than the rest of the body.
– There’s an old saying that goes a little something like this, ‘No matter how young your face looks, your hands will always give your age away’.
– Young female players tend to lead with Scissors in a battle of Paper, Scissors, Rock…
So, what does this mean for you and your hands? A lot. Not only will you be prepared to give the Rock to your little sister next time you are waging a PSR war (winner gets first use of the bathroom mirror) you’ll now also know how important hand health is for your beauty routine. To really brush up on some hand-helping facts, read on, and flip dry and aged hands the bird with these tips. We bet Beyonce does, judging by how smooth her hands where when bb staffer Vanessa high fived her recently. Swoon!
1. Keep ’em clean
Keeping hands clean should be a no brainer, but take a look at how often strangers only wash with water and dash out the door of public restrooms and you’d be fooled into thinking otherwise. Studies have even shown that a third of people don’t wash their hands at all after using the bathroom! Not so nice. Reminder: your hands are your greatest form of contact with the world, which means they can carry a number of bacteria, viruses, plus more on a daily basis, and touching or rubbing your mouth, nose or eyes is more than enough to spread them. This is why you should also always have clean hands before applying your makeup or skincare too – you don’t want bacteria all over your dermis now, do you?
When washing your hands, try to always use warm water, and use gentle soap that won’t strip your skin of its natural oils. Also, lather up for at least 15 seconds – this is the bare minimum length of lather time it takes to kill germs. Extra points for using an antibacterial hand wash, which have come a long way since the drying and hospital-smelling solutions. Try the lovely bx Earth Hand Care Wash which contains no harsh additives and is enriched with anti-oxidants and natural essential oils to feed and protect your skin. I like the Watermelon and Dragonfruit flavour.
2. Overcome your anxiety
“Don’t bite your nails!” If only you had a dollar for everytime you heard this, amiright nail biters? The thing is, you really shouldn’t do it. Though, you probably know this. What you may or may not know, is that nail biting is a sign of anxiety. So you’re more likely to chomp on cuticles when you are tired, stressed or nervous. One of the best ways to help kick the habit is by regularly giving yourself a fresh mani. Once those tips are painted perfectly, you won’t want to ruin them, even if you are having a hellish day at work and your stress levels are through the roof. Try a bright colour, sure to get you compliments and mentally help keep that mani in place! I like the Jacqueline Burchell Nail Lacquer in Deeply in Love for a spring-ready shade.
3. Avoid spots
Think age spots and your eyes will instantly move to hands – this is where age spots are most prevalent. There are a few ways you can avoid them though. Firstly, know this: SPF isn’t just for your face. Try to apply to the backs of hands frequently, as hands are almost always in the sun. Just think about your hands atop your steering wheel in the bright sunlight each day. That’s a lot of sun exposure! To remember, keep a bottle in your car and apply each time you hop in the car each morning.
If you already have a few faint spots on your hands, you can help to fade them by using a hand mask – like the Lonvitalite C10 Crystal Moisturising & Whitening Hand Mask. As the name implies, it helps your hands become smooth, and evenly toned. The inclusion of aloe vera provides anti-aging, moisture, anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properites too.
Just remember, without sunscreen, they’ll only come back again, so be vigilent with your application – especially this summer!
4. Hydrate
It’s not really rocket sceince – we put hands to work every day, and as the skin on the back of our hands is thinner than on the rest of our bodies, it’s the most prone to ageing and damage. To prevent premature aging and dryness, and to keep your hands soft, rub a thick hand cream or body butter into your hands daily. Keep a bottle in your purse, at your work desk, and next to your bed at home to remind yourself to apply. Also, pick one with a scent you love, to further encourage you to condition your mitts. I love the fragrance of the Romy Hand & Nail Cream Cinnmon & Cocoa.
A final tip; try to wear rubber gloves when cleaning. Chances are you are scrubbing with harsh soaps and sprays, when can have a negative effect on the hydration of your skin. So, glove up to help keep yours soft and smooth.
