A GUIDE TO YOUTHFUL HANDS
It's time to pay attention to the skin on our delicate hands. Learn how to properly care for you hands and reverse the clock from our expert guide. Read here.
At some point in our lives, nearly every one of us will experience having dry hands. Although it’s generally nothing to be concerned about, dry hands (and the uncomfortable tightness that accompanies them) can be quite frustrating to deal with.
The most obvious solution to dry skin may be to apply hand cream or hand lotion—but did you know there are a few other things you can do to help protect your hands? Below, we’ll cover why dryness occurs, the benefits of hand care products and a recommended daily routine to keep your skin soft, smooth and hydrated all year round.
Why are my hands so dry?
Dry hands can be caused by environmental or genetic factors, but regardless, they occur as a result of lack of moisture in the skin. Many factors can contribute to dehydrated skin, but the most common are weather-related, lifestyle-induced or medically related.
It’s quite common for people to suffer from dry skin during the winter, as cold air can suck moisture from the skin. In more severe cases, cold weather can cause extreme dryness and result in painful symptoms such as cracking, peeling or redness. Getting too much sun without using sunscreen or SPF coverage can also cause wrinkles, dryness and sun spots.
Lifestyle can also play a significant role in our hand health. People who handle chemicals or have a job where they constantly work with their hands may be more prone to dryness, due to the increased exposure to irritants. In addition, frequent handwashing with harsh soaps and hot water, paired with the lack of proper moisturising with hand cream, can draw out moisture from the skin and result in dry, cracked hands.
Lastly, several medical conditions can cause dryness, including psoriasis. If this may be the case, we recommend consulting with a healthcare professional.
Benefits of hand care products
When it comes to signs of ageing, our hands are typically the first place where it shows. Although our hands are the most used part of our body, they’re often the most neglected. This leaves our hands defenceless against signs of ageing, such as pigmentation, wrinkles and dehydration.
Using a good moisturiser for hands will reap a number of benefits including smoothing our skin and leaving our hands soft and supple. Consistent use of a hand cream will help combat signs of premature ageing, boost moisture levels and skin elasticity, and protect our hands against UV exposure—which is the leading cause of cracking and pigmentation. Hand lotion forms a protective layer on the skin, helping to avoid sun damage.
Hand cream benefits also include preventing and reducing fine lines and wrinkles. Natural ingredients like herbs and essential oils can hydrate and assist with managing the damage already caused on the skin. Plus, we use our hands every day to touch our loved ones and care for our own face and body. Soft, hydrated hands are a huge benefit.
Applying hand cream can also be incredibly relaxing and therapeutic. Massaging actions will not only feel good, but also help to strengthen the skin and cuticles, giving us healthier and stronger nails.
Recommended daily hand care routine
If it isn’t clear by now, our hands age before any other part of our body, yet they don’t receive the same level of care and attention as our face might. Thankfully, it’s never too late to start getting into a good hand care routine. Just as maintaining healthy lifestyle practices can help fight the overall appearance of ageing, there are plenty of ways for you to prevent and reverse the signs of ageing hands.
Let’s cover our best remedies for softening cracked hands and preventing skin dryness.
Lock in moisture
Using a lightweight lotion every day can help to keep your skin hydrated. After showering, apply a generous amount of lotion to your hands and body whilst your skin is still damp, allowing it to absorb.
For extra hydration, especially if you wash your hands often or live in a colder region, we recommend a thicker creamy hand lotion to lock in moisture. Aim to use it at least once per day to keep your skin soft and hydrated.
Choose your soap wisely
Washing your hands is one of the most common causes of dry skin, due to hot water and harsh soap dehydrating the skin and stripping it of its natural oils. Protect your hands by using lukewarm water and reaching for a mild hand soap with ingredients like aloe vera or Vitamin E, so you can cleanse comfortably.
Protect those palms
Whether winter is on its way or you’re working a hands-on job, you’ll want to use a hand lotion that restores lost moisture. Our best hand cream for dry skin is the Ultimate Strength Hand Salve, a heavy-duty moisturiser to keep hands looking healthy. The thick, rich formula contains a blend of softening botanical oils and squalane to smooth skin and form a glove-like protective barrier against moisture loss—without feeling greasy. You can use it as a daytime product or as an effective overnight routine for dry hands.
Exfoliate weekly
Using an exfoliating scrub to scrape off dead skin can help ensure your hydrating hand lotion and cream can effectively penetrate the skin. Exfoliate with your favourite face or body scrub once a week for best results. If your skin responds well, you can increase exfoliation to a few times a week—just make sure to follow up with your hand cream of choice.
Restore & Prevent
It’s a no-brainer: Prevention and protection are easier to accomplish than repair and correction. Take preventative measures like applying sunscreen whilst outside, wearing gloves whilst washing dishes and applying retinol to your hands. When correcting severe dryness, reach for a heavy-duty hand moisturiser with hydrating ingredients like shea butter, cocoa butter or avocado oil.
Now that we’ve covered off how to achieve youthful hands, explore our other skincare guides in our Expert Wing.