Winter is coming (actually it’s already come) which means our hands may soon experience some more dryness than usual. We know it’s an unfair phenomenon that the most wonderful time of the year is often marred by the onset of cracked, scaly, irritated skin, especially on our hands. Sometimes, life is harsh, but thankfully, there are skin-saving remedies that can transform our rough claws into soft, smooth ones. Yup, we have unearthed a few hand care rituals that’ll leave your social circle sending frantic texts requesting the hand care routine.
If you’re looking to turn the clock back and keep your hands baby-soft and smooth through the upcoming cold months, here’s a hand-softening routine that will get the job done.
Here’s How To Develop A Handcare Routine
The best bit is that the principle of handcare follows that same drill as your skincare routine. So the next time you follow the big three aka cleansing, toning, and moisturising for your face, don’t forget to show your claws some TLC as well. Keep scrolling for a complete guide to keep your hands soft and supple all through winter.
Use A Hydrating Cleanser For Squeaky Clean Hands
Through the course of a usual day, our hands dusty surfaces, direct exposure to the sun as well as the assorted grime on the phone screen that you’ve been meaning to clean. When left neglected, the skin on the hands turns dry, starts to peel off and age faster than the rest of the body. It’s important to wash your hands with a gentle, hydrating anti-bacterial cleanser rather than harsh, drying soaps. In addition to that, keep in mind to wash your hands every time you touch unclean surfaces or dusty items to prevent any skin reactions or allergies.
Exfoliate To Slough Off Dead Skin Cells
Your soles and palm have the thickest skin in your body. That said, it’s crucial to exfoliate your hands to unlock fresher, softer, skin as well as enhance skin turnover. The increased skin turnover will help improve the rate at which dead skin cells are replaced by new ones. As a rule of thumb, it’s best to indulge in the process of hand exfoliation about twice a week. Also, it’s best to go for chemical exfoliants as granular scrubs can cause irritation and dryness.
SPF = BFF
While we always wear sunscreen on our face, neck, arms, ears, and legs, our hands are often neglected by the best of us. You may remember to apply sunscreen but might end up washing your hands after a couple of minutes, thereby rinsing off the SPF. The solution is to reapply your sunscreen when you’re washing your hands and, just like your face, avoid directly exposing your hands to the harsh sunlight.
Moisturisation Is Key
Ever since the pandemic has started, hand hygiene has become an essential ritual to curb the spread of Covid-19. We don’t know about you but the sanitiser-focused world is leaving our skin dry and parched AF. Hence, a hand moisturiser is your best friend. Ensure that you moisturise your hands every time you wash or sanitise to rebalance the moisture levels that can be reduced by alcohol-based sanitisers and harsh ingredients. Keep a travel-sized hand cream in your handbag and use it every time you sanitize your hands. When possible, try and use a hand wash with water rather than a sanitiser and when you are on the go, always use a hand cream after sanitising your hands.
Say goodbye to your dry paws!
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