The skin on our hands is the first to take the brunt of our daily chores. Many factors contribute to dry skin, including the weather, water and overall lack of moisture. Because we use our hands for almost everything we do on a daily basis, our hands are more exposed – and therefore the most affected! We can cover up any other flaw with makeup, but you know what they say, the skin on your hands will always give your age away! But don’t worry, because we bring you 10 amazing tricks to keep your hands soft and smooth always!
1. Apply Olive Oil Or Coconut Oil
These oils are not just great for your hair, but for your hands too! Apply as often as you’d like and let it stay on. Try putting it on when your hands are relatively free and not required to do various other things.
2. Don’t Wash Your Hands With Hot Water
Hot water dries your skin out and leaves it craving extra moisture. We tend to wash our hands more often than we wash the rest of our body. So it becomes that much more important for us to avoid washing our hands with hot water. Use cold to lukewarm water to clean your hands.
3. Make Sure You Choose The Right Soap/ Handwash
Soaps, believe it or not, can be extremely damaging to our hands. Try choosing a soap made with natural ingredients or organic soaps, or a handwash labelled as “moisturizing” or for sensitive skin. POPxo Recommends: Jaypore Lemongrass Handmade Soap (Rs 225)
4. Switch To Sanitizer
There are times when we don’t really need to wash our hands per say, but end up doing so anyway. A sanitizer is what you need at such times to avoid washing your hands more than is required. Excessive washing dries your hands out and robs them of their natural moisture, whereas the purpose of sanitizer is to disinfect your hands without penetrating the surface of the skin. So keep a bottle in your bag! POPxo Recommends: Himalaya Herbals PureHands Hand Sanitizer (Rs 50)
5. Apply Moisturizer After Washing Your Hands
Try doing this every time you wash your hands! Yes, it may sound cumbersome, but it just takes 2 minutes and will leave your hands feeling soft and smooth all the time. Just put a hand cream next to the sink or in your bag if you keep moving all day long – and apply freely! POPxo Recommends: L’Occitane Arlésienne Hand Cream (Rs 660)
6. If You’re Washing Or Cleaning, Put On A Pair Of Rubber Gloves
Throw on a pair of rubber gloves when cleaning or submerging your hands in water to protect your hands from drying out. The harsh chemicals that come into contact with your hands while cleaning and washing can be extremely harmful for your skin. POPxo Recommends: Reusable Latex Hand Gloves By Surf Industrial (Rs 85)
7. Opt For Regular Manicures
There are certain things you can take care of just by following a few precautionary measures. There are also things such as cuticle care which cannot be taken care of without proper and regular manicures. Believe it or not, your cuticles not only play an important role in how your hands look, but also how they feel! So throw in a manicure every 3-4 weeks at least.
8. Stay Hydrated
Good hydration is a key element to having soft and smooth skin. This goes for your hands as well. Make sure you keep yourself well hydrated through the day. Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day, or as much as you need to avoid feeling thirsty at all.
9. Don’t Leave Out Your Hands While Exfoliating
A good scrub for you hands is just as important as for any other part of your body. Don’t neglect your hands during your exfoliating routine. You can even make a quick scrub at home using only olive and sugar. Just mix one tablespoon of olive oil and one tablespoon of sugar and gently massage your hands with it. This will leave your hands smooth and soft in no time! POPxo Recommends: Bath & Body Works True Blue Spa Shea Cashmere Hand Scrub (Rs 1,408)
10. Slather On A Thick Cream Before Sleeping
Apply a thick coat of cream or Vaseline before going to bed. To keep that moisture intact and to wake up with amazingly soft hands, cover your hands with gloves or even just a pair of socks all night. This should definitely do the trick! POPxo Recommends: The Body Shop Butter Cocoa Butter (Rs 1,056) Images: Shutterstock MUST-READ: #RealGirlBeauty: 6 Home Remedies to Get Naturally Pretty Feet! MUST-READ: For Happy Nails Always: How To Perfect A Salon-Manicure At Home