For some, hand care may not seem so important, but your hands may actually be a big clue that can tell your age, and for hand models, proper hand care is essential to maintain their livelihood. Whether you’re a hand model, aspire to be one, or simply pride yourself on having beautiful, healthy hands and nails, there are some lifestyle changes you can make to ensure your hands stay soft, youthful, and are always looking their best. Follow these top skin care tips to keep those hands in top-top shape.
Make Moisturizing a Habit
If you’re washing your hands a lot, or these days, hand sanitizer seems to have become a regular part of your daily arsenal, you may have noticed your hands are extra dry. That’s why it’s super important to keep your hands hydrated by regularly moisturizing your hands and cuticles with a good hand cream and cuticle oil. Stay away from creams and lotions that have alcohol as one of the first ingredients as these can be drying. Some people may prefer to opt for more natural moisturizers such as coconut oil, olive oil, or shea butter. For optimal hydration, apply a hand moisturizer after every time you wash your hands and every night before bed. It’s also helpful to keep a travel size tube of hand cream in your bag for hydration on the go — and for an ultra hydrating skin treatment, slather cream or vaseline on your hands before bed and cover them with cotton gloves or socks and you’ll wake up to silky smooth skin in the morning.
Diet
What we choose to put into our body can often be directly reflected on our skin and nails. Vitamin deficiencies can show up on the nails, making unsightly changes to the strength, texture, and appearance, and they can also make the skin on your hands dry and cracked. For optimal nail and skin health, its vital to eat a well-balanced, whole food diet, full of the necessary vitamins and minerals — and don’t forget to drink a lot of water. Foods like fatty fish, sweet potato, leafy greens, eggs, as well as nuts and seeds are all top foods that promote healthy skin and nails. You may also want to consider taking a biotin and collagen supplement which are crucial for strong, hydrated, and elastic, healthy hair, skin, and nails.
Don’t Cut Your Cuticles
While it may be tempting to cut your cuticles and your nail tech may even insist, you may want to ditch the cuticle cutters and opt for just pushing them down instead. Cutting your cuticles can damage your nail beds, make you more prone to infections or hang nails, and when your cuticles grow back, they can become jagged and hard. Instead, apply a cuticle remover solution and gently push them back — and don’t forget to apply cuticle oil!
Always Use a Base Coat
If you regularly paint your nails, it’s vital you always apply a base coat to protect your nails from any potential staining. You also want to make sure the products you use are non-toxic and won’t damage your nails. Using high-quality products like SNS’s bases and sealers which are actually formulated with nutrient-rich ingredients like Vitamin A, E, B5, D3, as well as calcium. Nutrients in high end nail products are known to nourish the nail bed and promote healthy growth of your nails actually making your nails healthier with every application.
Wear Sunscreen
They often say the hands are a tell-tale sign of a person’s age, and it may be a part of the body that’s often overlooked when it comes to protecting it from harmful UV rays which can dramatically age the skin. To prevent sun damage and age spots and keep your hands looking fresh and youthful, it’s crucial to apply sunscreen daily. You may not think you need it if you’re not soaking up rays at the beach, but even when you’re driving in the car, your hands are exposed to the sun. For the best protection, use at least SPF 30 and don’t forget to reapply regularly, especially after washing your hands or applying moisturizer.
Wear Gloves
For the ultimate protection, wear gloves regularly — when you’re doing the dishes, cooking, touching foods that can stain your hands and nails, or when you’re out in the sun. Having your hands soaking in hot water constantly while doing the dishes can dry out your skin and make your nails weak and brittle, causing them to break. Cooking or cutting foods such as beets or turmeric can make you prone to burns and stains, and while sunscreen is great for protecting your hands, you can ensure your hands definitely stay out of the sun by wearing gloves when you go outside or while driving.
