Our hands are how we interact with things around us. Starting right in the morning from when we snooze our alarm, to setting the next day’s alarm, we use our hands a lot in between. So the real question becomes, how do we care for them? You’re probably wondering if hand cream truly is necessary. Let’s find out.
A regular workday consists mainly of a lot of typing and an equal amount of social media scrolling - that’s bound to tire our hands! Given that we use our hands for almost everything, every day - it’s not fair to neglect them.
Caring for your hands isn’t very complicated. There’s no 8-step skincare routine that you’ll need to follow. No expensive products, or trips to the salon. Hand care is actually quite simple. All you’ll need is a nourishing and hydrating hand cream.
Reasons you should invest in hand cream:
#1 Increased exposure
Our hands are constantly touching things (think phone screens or laptop keyboards) which expose them to a lot of germs and impurities. These germs are easily transferred to your face and can be a cause of breakouts or infections. This is why keeping your hands clean is important.
Especially now, in light of the ongoing Covid-19 outbreak, hand washing and sanitizing have become the unsaid norm. Doctors recommend washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. While it’s super important to frequently wash hands, that also leads to dry and rough hands. Frequent exposure to harsh soaps and water rids the hands of their natural oil. Hand creams are hands down (haha) the best way to prevent that from happening.
#2 Moisturization
Similar to any other part of our body our hands require the same amount of moisturization, if not more. The skin on the back of the palm is quite thin and has considerably fewer sebaceous glands i.e., oil-producing glands. Without having something to lock in the hydration (a humectant), the water slowly evaporates from our hands, leaving the skin dehydrated.
This is where a humectant, which is hand cream, helps. It’s an efficient way to ensure that hydration is locked in, and also adds an extra layer of moisturization and nourishment. Start building a habit to apply hand cream immediately after washing your hands, and as and when they feel dry.
You can check out this amazingly fragrant Coffee Hand Cream. With magic ingredients like shea butter, almond oil and white water lily, the cream works wonders to soften and relieve dry hands.
The best part, it’s non-greasy and lightweight - which means it won’t be an interruption in your day to day activities. It also comes in a conveniently sized tube, so you can carry it in your bag while you’re on the go (basically, keep your moisturization HAND-y)
#3 Therapeutic
There’s something very soothing about the ritualistic action of applying hand cream. Apart from massaging the muscles that have been at work the entire day, applying hand cream is an overall calming and mindful self-care activity.
You can add it to your bedtime ritual, and apply hand cream before going to sleep. The ultra-moisturizing formula will work its magic throughout the night, and you’ll wake up to supple and well-cared-for hands. For a quick reminder, you can keep a tube of hand cream in your bedside drawer.
#4 Delays ageing skin
Due to the constant exposure to a polluted environment, our hands begin to show early signs of ageing. If you’re worried about untimely wrinkles, pigmentation and dry skin, the solution is simple. Hand cream, preferably followed by sunscreen will add a protective barrier between your skin and any external irritants, keeping it protected.
Hope we made you realise why hand-care is important. We’ll also share a few simple tips on how you can take even better care of your hands.
Change your soap
Some soaps have a lot of chemicals and added fragrances which make them very harsh on the skin. If you feel your hands become rough and stripped of all moisture after washing them, consider switching to a milder soap or liquid handwash. Soaps made of natural ingredients tend to be gentler on the skin.
Wear gloves
If there’s one thing that the year 2020 has taught us, it’s that washing utensils and cleaning our homes can be harsh on the hands. Regular exposure to dishwashing soap, detergent, or cleaning supplies can be harmful to the delicate skin on our hands. Invest in a pair of rubber gloves to do all your household chores. They’ll protect the hands from any unwanted wear and tear, and are an easy way to keep your hands and nails clean.
DIY manicures
An at-home manicure serves as the perfect way to rest your hands after a hectic week. Here’s everything you will need, and how to go about it:
- Take a bowl with warm water and mix a few spoons of coconut oil and apple cider vinegar.
- Soak your hands in the bowl for 8-10 minutes. (we like to play a podcast or a fun playlist in the background while we do this step)
- Rinse off with water and dry your hands.
- Generously apply hand cream, your hands will feel super smooth once you’re finished.
We expect this article was a ‘helping hand’ and was able to provide some useful tips. Let us know how these work out for you!
