Your Guide To Proper Hand Care
At home, at work, or at play, our hands are tools that we use on a daily basis. Considering that our hands are one of the first places to show signs of aging, it is alarmingly easy to neglect caring for them as you go through your day. Read on to learn ways to repair and restore damaged hands that not only feel softer, but look younger, too.
Washing up
Health ministries recommend washing your hands frequently, especially 1) after going to the restroom; 2) before eating; and 3) after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing. Using soap and water is recommended, and washing should take at least 20 seconds. Considering that water is naturally drying for the skin, all of this is a recipe for dry cracked hands.
Soaps with built-in nourishing ingredients get the job done while avoiding over-drying your skin.
Liquid Marseille Soap Shea Butter, COMPAGNIE DE PROVENCE
Enriched with nourishing shea butter and made with 96.99% natural ingredients gently clean the skin without drying it out.
Rhubarb & Peony Soap on a Rope, MILLER HARRIS
A fragrant natural soap delicately scented with a trail of fruits and beautiful florals. Made with coconut and rapeseed oil, organic shea butter, glycerine and vitamin E, it leaves the skin cleansed and moisturised. Bonus: all Miller Harris products are vegan, free from phthalates, artificial colorants, parabens and formaldehydes.
Liquid Soap Anise Patchouli, COMPAGNIE DE PROVENCE
An authentic liquid Marseille soap, made in the purest tradition of master soap-makers, that is enriched with organic olive oil for gently cleansing the skin, and may also be used under the shower.
Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize
Washing your hands removes dirt and contaminants but it can also strip away the skin’s natural oils. To prevent the breakdown of your skin’s moisture barrier, apply a moisturizer right after washing.
Generally, hand creams tend to have a richer formulation than body creams. This is because the skin on your palms are a lot thicker, so for moisture to penetrate it, a cream needs to be richer in moisture-binding ingredients. Pay attention to your own skin condition; depending on your needs, a lighter formula of a body cream may be enough.
Extra Pur Hand Cream, Aromatic Lavender, COMPAGNIE DE PROVENCE
Enriched with honey and vegetable oils from Provence, this ultra-smooth cream hydrates, soothes and helps to protect the skin from external aggressions to leave the hands wrapped in softness and comfort. The cream comes in a variety of scents, but this Lavender one is a consistent favourite.
Hand Cream White Tea, COMPAGNIE DE PROVENCE
A light and non-greasy formulation, containing shea butter, olive oil, and vitamin E. It is quickly absorbed, leaves skin soft, and is gently perfumed with citrus and white tea notes.
Rose Silence Body Cream, MILLER HARRIS
A non-greasy cream that offers moisturizing properties derived from Shea Butter, Coconut Oil, Organic Argan Oil, and enriched skin softening with Vitamin E & Vitamin B5, as well as antioxidants from White tea. This formulation helps support the skin's defense and regeneration, while keeping the skin soft and moisturized. Tip: pair it with the Rose Silence fragrance for a longer-lasting perfumed trail.
Need a more intensive treatment?
Let’s say you overdid it with the alcohol, washing frequency, or maybe your hand soap is a bit too drying. A good way to restore moisture and softness to your hands is this home-care method: slather on your moisturizer onto your hands and put on a pair of gloves. Sit back and wait around 15 minutes. This will help to lock moisture into the hands and prevent the product from being rubbed off, allowing it to sink in effectively. When you remove the gloves, you will instantly feel the difference in your skin.
