Put your squeaky clean hands up if the effects of sanitiser, page-turning and keyboard tapping has got them wishing for better day? Its easy to forget how much stress we put our hands through literally every minute of every day. They are constantly exposed to the elements, or else are suffocating beneath irritating gloves. They're doing dishes in moisture-stripping soapy waters, handling harsh chemicals as we clean, working in the drying air-conditioned workplace or in the heated dry air of our homes. Exfoliating, rubbing, carrying heavy items in skin-catching plastic bags... the list goes on. It's time to show your hands some kindness and give them a post-scrub, post-sanitised treat to ease their ailments and see them through another day. Below are some essential tips for caring for your hands, as well as some need-to-know products and a recipe for a heavenly bathe too.
1. When shopping for moisturisers, the thicker is usually the better. As simple as that sounds, a lot of products use water as a bulking agent and end up leaving little room for the healing benefits and amount of the cream you want to use (This runs true for many beauty products, not just hand creams). Look for hand cream rather than lotion as they tend to be more oil-based, thus more beneficial, harder-working, and less 'wet' after using.
2. Do your best to use SPF as much as possible. We forget that our hands along with our faces are exposed to the light at all times, making them key targets for harmful rays which damage our skin cells and cause premature ageing in the process.
3. Hand friendly soaps. Sometimes the creamier isn't always the better, and they are often not as anti-bacterial as we would hope. Look for soaps with ingredients like almond or orange oil, aloe vera, active charcoal, and ones that are boosted with vitamin E. Buy products without parabens as these are bad for the hormones in our cells and disrupt our natural balance. Good soaps are worth paying a little extra for.
4. You can use raw oils to help heal your hands too, from both the pantry and your essential oil collection. Mixed with a little lotion, coconut oil, olive oil, almond, avocado, aloe, chamomile, frankincense or sandalwood are all good for calming your skin, nourishing your cells, helping to balance your bodies natural oil production and for encouraging cell regeneration.
5. Speaking of oils, the use of a diffuser is also beneficial for your hands as it helps to re-balance the humidity levels in your home or work environment, thus re-moisturising your hands without needing to touch or apply anything to your skin.
6. If your hands are particularly irritated, a non-toxic, incredibly basic remedy is Aqueous Cream BP, usually prescribed to treat eczema. It isn't very glamorous, but it does help, and its very easy on the wallet too.
Key Ingredients to look for
Zinc-based suncreams: provides the best protection against the biggest range of UV rays and has been proven to be toxic to a number of fungi, viruses and bacteria. *Please note, it has not been proven to kill Covid-19.
Retinoids: purpose is to improve texture and boost collagen production as well as Vitamin A levels. It is worth going to a dermatologist or doctor to get a prescription one tailored to your particular skin-type as soon as normality allows us to.
AHA's (lactic, glycolic, tartaric and citric acids) and BHAs (15% salicylic acid). Again, good to go to your dermatologist who may be able to provide you with an all-encompassing product. Otherwise, get your reading glasses on and find these ingredients listed so that you can benefit from products that are easy-to-use and will see removal of dry, sun damaged skin in no time.
Glycerin: perfect in hand creams as it is a humectant, meaning it draws water into the skin.
Homemade Oat Bath
Why would I bathe in oat milk, I hear you asking? Compounds found in oats help to reduce itching, inflammation, relieve symptoms from conditions like eczema and psoriasis and naturally restore your skin to a normal pH. They contain starches and beta-gluten which hold water to the oats, and contain water-binding polysaccharides (sugar) which help form protective barrier to lock moisture in. They naturally exfoliate and cleanse the skin. It’s also super soothing for your soul, and feels luxurious and spa-worthy from your very own sink. Of course you don't have to limit yourself to hands only, as bathing your whole body in oat milk is safe and highly recommended.
To make an oat bath, use 40g finely ground oats – not flavoured, obviously! – or grind your own rough oats into a finer powder. Draw a bath of warm water. Soak in a couple of table spoons of the powder and stir softly. Add gradually and stir softly until water is creamy. Bathe hands/body for 10-15 minutes.
Whats in my box? Two products I swear by, and one that I am sure I will when I get my hands on it:
Origins Ginger Hand Cleanser £18 for 200ml.
I am a sucker for Origins and have quite a few of their products in my beauty repertoire as well as the Ginger Body Scrub on my beauty-tries list. I love this hand lotion because it is super refreshing in scent but really soft and nourishing in touch. It also contains glycerin which draws water into the skin, so you are moisturising and cleaning at the same time. I love the bottle, too.
Burt's Bees 99.9% Natural Moisturising Almond and Milk Hand Cream £12 for 57g on Amazon.
I use this a few times a week before I go to sleep. Beeswax is great because it seals the skin and acts as a natural barrier from things getting in as well as moisture getting out, without completely masking the skin (i.e. you can still use your hands after a minute of soaking it in). I love the combination of cream and oil as I think it makes a smaller amount go further and prevents wetness or oiliness through the night – great for me as I usually read or fall asleep with a hand under my face and hair. And it smells absolutely gorgeous.
AESOP Resurrection Rinse-Free Hand Wash is top of my list when its back in stock! Pocket size. Alcohol based, purifying and hydrating. Rosemary enhances memory and concentration so this will be great for when I'm working.
Products for your shopping list: I have searched high and low for these so you don't have to!
Rated number 4 in Amazons Hand Cream Category, and rated high across many beauty buyers fancies too. this is directed at people whos hands really feel the brunt of their labour, such as builders or gardeners and a specific mention of nurses too. In quarantine fashion, a few of us may be increasing our time tending to our plants, attempting some home DIY or chafing their skin on hand weights and bicycle handlebars so this product is a catch-all saviour.
Another beeswax product. Good for sunburns (or cooking burns), itching and rashes. Contains a tonne of different essential oils and has anti-bacterial and anti-microbial elements so skin can heal with less risk of infections, so a great way to further tackle the spread of covid 19. Can be used pretty much anywhere, too.
I use some of Rituals Ayurvedic Balancing products for their skin-healing as well as soul-soothing qualities. The smells are so relaxing and after using I feel lifted and nourished from the outside to the inside. I haven’t used this particular product before but I am more than confident in its abilities to help your hands. Rituals only use natural, organic and sustainable ingredients for their products and the packaging that they come in, and all products are dermatologically tested too. This hand cream is super handy as it comes with a pump, saving you from twisting screw caps and squeezing bottles. It’s a good addition to a home/work space and looks the part, too.
This contains oat oil and almond oil which enhance the skins lipid barriers as well as providing a good amount of omega 9 fatty acids for your cells. A massive 94% of people agreed that it gave instant relief in just 1 overnight treatment and the same high ratings for qualities such as moisturisation, softness and healthier-looking hands after 7 days. It also contains concentrated barley extract – another oaty-type skin healer.
Gloves that won't irritate, cause clamminess or act as a warm spot for germs to thrive as you wear them!
Contains retinol complex, hyaluronic acid and a UV filter. to encourage cell turnover on the backs of the hands, gradually refining texture and fading dark spots as you use it. It boosts the natural production of collagen. This is one targeted to older hands but I wouldn’t hesitate at using it – prevention is better than cure isn’t it!.
This is an all-body moisturiser hailed as “Italian cashmere-blanket of skin care”. It’s a gel-cream and quite heavy so will work great for older hands with tired skin. It takes a little longer to sink in but is a longer-term benefit cream that's great to use after years of working and washing the dishes.
An oldie but a goodie. This is unscented so is perfect for men, as well as those women who don't enjoy the frills of a floral or medicinal scent. This formula also contains a whopping 40% Glycerin (key ingredient) and a little goes a long way.
Dermatoglogist approved on the top of many essential beauty buy lists. This product is ultra-hardworking but without irritating or harsh chemicals and is actually targeted at those with sensitive skin and super chapped hands. A huge benefit is that it is resistant to water, meaning that you don't have to re-apply every time you wash your hands.A good one for day-to-day use as it absorbs quickly and doesn't leave you with sticky residue. It's also French, so sophistication naturally occurs when used.
What products are you currently swearing by to get you through? Have I missed any of your own hand essentials? Let me know by emailing or commenting on the post.
Happy healing!
AE.
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