Quick question: Why is it that when we depend on our hands for almost everything, right from taking the trash out to writing that risky text, we don’t pamper them as much as they deserve? And don’t freak out just yet but the fact is that our hands are one of the first places that reflect the early signs of ageing. The daily wear and tear don’t make things any better. So, what we’re saying is that it’s time you show your palms, cuticles and knuckles some love.
It’s essential to treat existing dryness with intense hydration and exfoliate dead skin cells with equally intense cleansing. Let’s have a look at easy home remedies that demand no more than a trip to your kitchen.
1. Oatmeal
Why: This hearty breakfast choice is fortified with saponins which serve as intense cleansing agents and proteins that keep your skin hydrated.
How:
Step 1: Add a tablespoon of powdered Oatmeal in a bowl.
Step 2: Now add ½ tablespoon of Coconut Oil into the bowl. Mix it well and spread the paste all over your hands.
Step 3: After leaving it on for 10 minutes, wash off with warm water.
2. Petroleum Jelly
Why: The key super power of this gooey jelly is its ability to seal your skin with a water-protective barrier. This means the moisture stays locked in to satisfy dry, dehydrated skin.
How:
Step 1: Before you sleep, apply a thin layer of Petroleum Jelly all over your hands.
Step 2: Immediately slip in a pair of cotton gloves to keep your hands covered for the night.
Step 3: In the morning rinse off with water.
Cheat Way: Vaseline Aloe Fresh Petroleum Jelly
3. Aloe Vera Gel
Why: Think of it as almost 99% water. That should pretty much explain why it’s a great agent to de-stress and hydrate cracked or parched skin.
How:
Step 1: Using a spoon, extract some gel from an Aloe Vera leaf and then blend it till it takes on a frothy consistency.
Step 2: After freezing this gel for 15 minutes, apply it on your hands.
Step 3: Leave it on for 30 minutes and then wipe it off.
Cheat Way: Lakme 9 To 5 Naturale Aloe Aqua Gel
4. Olive Oil
Why: The antioxidant properties of Olive Oil prevent premature ageing of skin and protects it from signs of damage. It’s also a great moisturizer for the hypoallergenic.
How:
Step 1: Using a dropper, trickle some Olive Oil onto your hands.
Step 2: Spread and massage the oil throughout your hands.
Step 3: After 15 minutes, rinse off with water.
Cheat Way: Juicy Chemistry 100% Organic Extra Virgin Olive Cold Pressed Carrier Oil
5. Almond Oil
Why: This Vitamin E rich oil helps maintain skin elasticity, while preventing wrinkles and ensuring smooth hands. It’s also loaded with fatty acids that offer heavy-duty moisture treatment.
How:
Step 1: Add a tablespoon of Almond Oil in a bowl.
Step 2: Add two small cubes of Butter into the bowl and whisk it vigorously.
Step 3: Gently massage the mixture onto your hands and rinse off after 10 minutes.
Cheat Way: Green & Brown Sweet Almond Oil Cold Pressed and Pure
Still looking for quick fixes? Read on to know the creams that have made it to our list of the best hand creams. Some of these dreamy babies are known to tug at your heartstrings.
1. Concern: Wrinkles and fine lines
To the Rescue: Dirty Works Super Rich Hand Cream
What’s rich and creamy but not too heavy, perfect enough to satiate dry skin yet light enough for oily skin? Okay, that wasn’t a riddle — it’s just this cream. The Dirty Works Super Rich Hand Cream, is an anti-aging hand cream packed with Shea Butter and Seaweed extracts that boost collagen to bless you with wrinkle-free hands. Where do we sign up?
2. Concern: Damaged cuticles
To the Rescue: Sukin Hand & Nail Cream Tube
How about some TLC for the ones that most bear the brunt of your anxiety-ridden nail-biting episodes? Your cuticles could do with a soothing and nourishing blend of Soy Protein, Aloe Vera, Vitamin E and Borage Oil to feel hydrated and protected. Well, the Sukin Hand & Nail Cream Tube does just that. Plus, it smells incredible and is friendly to sensitive skin. Happier cuticles, why not?
3. Concern: Pigmentation and dark spots
To the Rescue: St.Botanica Vitamin C Brightening Hand And Nail Cream
If your hands appear dull thanks to stubborn dark spots and pigmentation, it clearly needs a deep treatment cream. The fix? St.Botanica Vitamin C Brightening Hand And Nail Cream. Vitamin C weds Licorice to melt into your hands and fade pigmentation while the blend of natural oils and Cocoa Butter intensely moisturizes skin. On the plus side, it also strengthens nails and softens cuticles. Brb, adding to cart.
4. Concern: Dryness
To the Rescue: NIVEA Hand Cream Refreshing Glycerine & Aloe Vera
If you’re looking for a fragrance-less hand cream for dry skin that provides serious hydration , look no further than the NIVEA Hand Cream Refreshing Glycerine & Aloe Vera. It eases out the daily battles of your hands with frequent hand-washes, harsh weather and rough surfaces that dry and damage skin. The potent blend of Aloe Vera and Glycerine locks in moisture to show your hands some love.
5. Concern: Dull skin
To the Rescue: Khadi Natural Milk and Saffron Hand Cream
Be prepared for hands that smell like a snack. The Khadi Natural Milk and Saffron Hand Cream infused with Milk and Saffron works to brighten your skin and improve texture while making it supple. The best part? The dreamy blend in this cream provides intense hydration that your skin will absorb in minutes. Let the ingredients work on your skin overnight while you clock in those z’s.
6. Concern: Brittle nails
To the Rescue: Vaseline Intensive Care Healthy Hand Stronger Nails Hand Cream
Make way for the no frills hand cream – Vaseline Intensive Care Healthy Hand Stronger Nails Hand Cream. Its only ingredients include Keratin and the cult-favorite Vaseline Jelly. The two nourishing ingredients work together to give you nails that see lesser breaks than your dating life. Wait, this means lesser anxiety about nails chipping off after a fancy manicure? We’re sold.
7. Concern: Intense Dehydrated skin
To the Rescue: Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream
The Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream works as a rich hydrating treat for your moisture-craving hands. It's clinically proven, highly concentrated formula, enriched with glycerin, rapidly heals dry hands. Visibly soft hands after a single application and hydration that lasts all day long.
Tips On How To Make Hands Soft
- Washing your hands with very cold water will dry out skin, which will keep them from looking smooth. Always prefer lukewarm water instead.
- We’ve all been guilty of doing it just for the fun of it. But avoid subjecting your hands to air dryers whenever possible.
- Scrub, scrub, scrub. Just once a week though. Exfoliate your hands with a good scrub to buff away dead skin cells.
- Since your hands are always busy during the day, night time is the best time to pamper them with leave-in creams and oils.
- When indulging in tasks, such as dish-washing that may expose your hands to chemicals, always wear rubber gloves for protection
