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 Wintry
weather can leave your hands dry, irritated, and downright scaly. The
cold temperatures aren’t the only culprit: indoor heating also pulls
moisture straight out of the air. The skin on your hands is delicate,
thin, exposed, and highly susceptible to damage and aging. Fight back
with these easy steps that put moisture back into your hands – and keep
it there – all winter long.
Cleaning
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Avoid washing your hands unnecessarily. Use gloves for all household
chores that subject your hands to chemicals or water, such as washing
dishes or cleaning.
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Switch to a milder cleanser whenever you do wash your hands.
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Use a gentle exfoliant (you can make one easily from pantry
ingredients) once a week to get rid of dead skin cells that may be
limiting absorption of moisturizers.
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Always put on lotion after you wash your hands. Moisturizers absorb
best when your skin is slightly damp.
Moisturizing
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Set a plate of water by your heater or invest in a small humidifier to
keep moisture indoors..
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Choose a natural hand cream with plant-based moisturizers such as
coconut oil, olive oil, shea butter, cocoa butter, or jojoba oil. Avoid
mineral oil (petroleum) based products, which sit on your skin without
absorbing into it.
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Once or twice a week, use a moisturizing hand masque (such as avocado
and olive oil, or yogurt and honey) and leave it on for at least half an
hour. There are plenty of recipes online for easy, effective masques you
can make at home.
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Alternately, massage a plant-based oil with a drop of your favorite
essential oil into your skin before you go to bed. Don’t wash it off
right away; instead, slip on a pair of cotton gloves and wake up with
amazingly soft, supple hands.
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Drink plenty of water.
Protecting
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Use UV protection on your hands in the winter as well as the rest of
the year. Your hands are just as vulnerable to UV radiation as your
face..
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Try to wear gloves or mittens whenever you go outside, even for brief
periods.
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