Your hands need a little love right now

A hand-care routine that includes an ultra-nourishing moisturizer is the key to restoring your winter hands to glory. Give your skin some well-deserved TLC and turn endless hand-washing into an act of self-care with these simple hand-care tips.

You’re washing your hands more than ever. Combine that with frigid winter weather and you’ve got hands that are dry and cracked.

A hand-care routine that includes an ultra-nourishing moisturizer is the key to restoring your winter hands to glory.

Give your skin some well-deserved TLC and turn endless handwashing into an act of self-care with these simple hand-care tips.

Wash them well:

Handwashing is probably low on your list of “pampering” activities. We’re here to wash that idea down the drain.

Consider this permission to start using your time at the sink to treat yourself.

Germ-killing may be priority #1, but that doesn’t mean your twenty soapy seconds can’t be time-well-spent in the self-care category.

Here’s how to finally enjoy washing your hands:

Use a nourishing handwash.

The first step to a luxurious experience during and after your time under the faucet is finding a handsoap that soothes & moisturizes your skin.

Look for products that contain hydrating ingredients like:

• Glycerin
• Aloe vera
• Vitamin E
• Coconut or almond oil (or other nourishing plant oils)

All of these ingredients help draw moisture to the skin and keep it there after you’ve dried off.

Fragrance-free products are most suitable for extremely sensitive skin. For a spa-like experience, look for handwashes that are scented with safe, natural plant-based oils and extracts. Look for soaps that are free of harsh chemicals and synthetic perfumes, which can be drying.

Check your temp

Contrary to popular belief, washing your hands with warm water doesn’t kill more germs than washing with cold water. It’s more about technique than temperature when sending germs down the drain.

Make sure you’re (gently!) scrubbing your palms, under your fingernails, and between your fingers for the most effective clean.

Water temperature makes a difference when it comes to caring for your hands.

Avoid extreme temperatures when washing your hands, as exposure to both scalding water and freezing water can have drying effects on your skin.

Moisturizer: Lay it on thick

After washing your hands for the millionth time, your hands are going to be crying out for extra moisture no matter how hydrating your soap is.

For times like these, you’re going to need a serious skin-quencher in your collection.

The best moisturizer for your hands:

When searching for the ultimate partner to fight tight, stinging dry skin on your hands, look for moisturizers with skin-loving ingredients that hydrate and lock in moisture, like:

• Hyaluronic acid, honey, aloe, and propylene glycol
  • These attract moisture to the skin.
• Nourishing oils (coconut, jojoba) and beeswax
  • These create a protective barrier on your skin to prevent moisture from escaping.

The skin on your hands is tougher than your face. Your hands are exposed to the elements daily (not to mention everything you ever touch), so they’ve got to be able to handle the heat.

However, like the rest of your skin, it can become fragile and prone to aging. (The nonstop washing isn’t helping matters, is it?)

The good news?

eb5’s Skin Firming Lotion was made for this.

Inspired by our flagship best-selling moisturizer, the Skin Firming Lotion is perfect for your chest, neck, and, you guessed it, hands!

People love how the Skin Firming Moisturizer absorbs quickly and immediately makes their skin feel more supple and smooth There’s no sticky residue and the instant-firming effects only improve over time.

With ingredients like honey, oat kernel, fruit extracts, and smoothing peptides, it plumps skin from the inside while providing long-lasting hydration.

Apply like a pro

It’s time to put things in action.

After you’ve thoroughly cleansed your hands, pat your skin dry with a clean towel. While your hands are still a bit moist from the water, dispense a dime-sized amount of the lotion onto your skin.

Gently spread the product over your hands, allowing time for the product to soak into your skin. Be especially gentle on extremely dry, crepey, or brittle skin.

Take your time, adding more moisturizer as needed until your skin feels soft and hydrated, but not greasy.

We’re not going to pretend like you have time to give yourself a manicurist-level hand massage every time you wash your hands, but it’s a good idea to keep hand cream on deck for those unavoidable (and painful) dry skin moments.

Hand-care as self-care

When is the last time you pampered your hands?

They’re the busiest part of the body, and the most ignored, too.

They can’t take a day off, but you can show them a little love with a simple at-home exfoliation.

Gentle exfoliation helps remove dry, dead skin cells, leaving skin soft and moisturized.

You’re only minutes away from an at-home spa experience that will leave you and your skin feeling the love.

Here’s a quick and easy recipe for a gently exfoliating hand scrub using ingredients you already have on hand:

Easy 3- Ingredient Homemade Hand Scrub

• 1 cup granulated sugar
  Any grocery store variety of white sugar
• ½ cup oil of your choice
  We love coconut, jojoba, and sweet almond oils, but you can use your favorite!
• 5-6 drops essential oil
  For fragrance. Always make sure your essential oil is safe for topical use.
• 4 drops Vitamin E oil
  Optional

Instructions:

1. Stir sugar and your choice of oil in a medium bowl to combine.
2. Add the essential oil and Vitamin E oil (if you choose to use it).
3. Mix well to evenly distribute oils.

Transfer the mixture into a wide-mouthed airtight container. Store in a cool, dry place until you’re ready to use it.

How to use it:

Scoop out a quarter-sized amount of the scrub into freshly-washed hands.

Gently massage the scrub onto the front and back of each hand for about a minute, adding water if it feels rough.

Once most of the sugar has dissolved, rinse your hands well and pat dry.

Follow the scrub with a thick, creamy moisturizer to lock in hydration.

Hands take a beating: touching everything, being constantly exposed, and, yes, being washed 20 times a day.

Take an opportunity to care for yourself by nourishing, hydrating, and soothing your hardworking hands.

How are you taking care of yourself right now?