Simple Ways to Keep Your Hands Looking Healthy

     Although your face is probably the most important feature in determining your age, your hands come in a close second.  It is almost impossible for anyone to go through their day without using their hands.  From washing, driving, writing, gardening─ our hands are one of our most used body parts.  As with anything that is used on a frequent basis, the delicate skin on our hands tends to give off very visible signs of aging and distress.  Stop for a moment to take a good look at your hands?  Do they look or feel dry?  Is the skin thin, wrinkled, spotty or veiny? How can we at least attempt to offset the effects of stress and aging on our hands?  Fear not, as there are several simple ways to keep your hands looking radiant, youthful and healthy.

●Exfoliate and moisturize!─ As our hands build up layers of dead, flaky skin, the addition of an exfoliating cream in your daily skin care routine will gently slough off dead skin cells, and go a long way to keep the skin on your hands looking vibrant. There are several worthwhile products on the market that will go a long way to help keep the skin on your hands looking vibrant.  I have recently had the privilege of trying two very excellent products, each separately for a four week period to see how well they worked, and the results from both of these products were remarkable.

     Moroccanoil Hand Cream─ Filled with antioxidant rich argan oil, containing essential fatty acids and natural tocopherols (Vitamin E), Moroccanoil Hand Cream assists in hydrating and nourishing your hands.  As a librarian, my regular hand washing habit has wreaked havoc on my hands, leaving them red, chapped and raw.  I found that after using this product for a whole month, the cream quickly disappeared into my skin, without leaving a heavy oily feeling. Moroccanoil Hand Cream is available at Bluemercury and luxury spas nationwide.  For further information about the Moroccanoil line of products, please visit their website at: http://www.moroccanoil.com/usa/b_us_en/

     While it is marketed specifically for the hands, Gold Bond Ultimate Intensive Healing Hand Cream  works just as well on your face (at first, I was a bit hesitant, as I have long suffered from very sensitive skin on my face) and body.  Its size made it extremely portable, and fit easily in my purse where I used it throughout the day at school.  After four weeks of usage, this product always left my hands feeling soft and supple, without a greasy residue.  I also greatly appreciated the fact that it is not highly fragrant, and it has a good thickness but does not make your skin feel heavy in any way. Gold Bond Ultimate Intensive Healing Hand Cream is available at Target and Wal-Mart’s nationwide, and for further information about Gold Bond Ultimate’s line of skin care products, please visit their website at: http://www.goldbondultimate.com/home.html

●Plant an herb garden─ Herbs have long been valued not only for their benefits when taken internally, but also for their healing and beautifying properties when used externally. For example, Lavender’s natural healing properties assist in relieving red, dry and inflamed hands.

●Don’t forget your sunscreen! ─ Sun damage causes hands to develop those dreaded age spots.  So, it’s important to remember that after you’ve finished applying sun block to your face and other extremities, don’t forget to apply some to your hands if you plan to be outdoors for an extended period of time.