Our hands are exposed to an awful lot- the elements, central heating and AC, chemicals, water, and manual work- all of these things take their toll on the skin and can result in dryness, irritation, soreness, cracked skin, and premature signs of ageing. In order to effectively combat these external effects, there are a number of things you can do, from using eco friendly, natural skincare products to ditching toxic nail polish and watching what you eat.
Protect the skin
When it comes to doing household chores and anything that involves prolonged exposure to chemicals or immersion in water, it is advisable to use gloves to protect your skin. Additionally, you should use a natural hand cream that is made with organic, vegan and 100% natural ingredients known for creating a protective layer over the skin to keep it safe from any irritation or damage. Cooking, washing-up, cleaning, DIY, handling heavy or rough objects, and even driving are all activities you should consider as a bit tough on your hands. Wearing natural rubber gloves and keeping your mitts moisturised goes a long way to keeping your skin protected.
Moisturise with a natural hand cream
Despite the fact that we use our hands for almost everything, they remain as one of the most neglected parts of our bodies. We take great care over our faces and feet, but our poor old hands get forgotten about. Hands are one of the first parts of the body to show signs of ageing as well so if that is something you want to fight, taking good care of them is key. The best way to keep your hands in good health is to use an eco-friendly, vegan, natural moisturiser and natural hand cream on a regular basis. This way your hands stay nourished and hydrated, meaning they are less likely to go dry or capped. Look for natural hand lotions, natural hand butters and natural hand creams that include shea butter and natural oils as these are the best and keep you smooth, hydrated and supple. You can also consider lathering your hands in organic, vegan, natural hand cream, popping on some cotton gloves and wearing them overnight to give them an intensive treatment for up to 10 hours at a time.
Look after your nails
To have healthy hands you have to have healthy nails and this can be obtained by eating food rich in calcium, vitamins and minerals, as well as drinking lots of water. You also need to take care of your cuticles, cutting them regularly as well as keeping them moisturised. It is important to keep your nails clean and dirt free, an effective way of keeping your nails clean is by using a biodegradable nail brush that is made using eco-friendly beech wood, bamboo, and vegan sisal bristles. Kind to your nails and our planet, biodegradable nail brushes are 100% plastic-free! If you want to paint them, you should seek out nail polishes that use ingredients like bamboo rhizome macerate and organic silica and are free from some of the chemical nasties found in conventional products. Acetone free nail polish remover is also a good option as it won’t strip all of the natural oils out of your nails.
