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When
you hear about wrinkles and skin aging, your first thoughts are
about face and neck. But the earliest signs of aging will show on
your hands.
Often
neglected, hands need to be regularly taken care of. Frequent
contacts with water and chemicals, sun, cold weather, gardening -
all put your skin under a big stress. While hands do not have many
oil glands, they will give away your age earlier than your pampered
face.
In
the meantime, it has been noticed that after making eye contact, the
next thing people pay attention to is your hands.
What
can you do to keep your hands beautiful?
-
Moisturize! Several times a day. Dry skin is easily injured and
looks wrinkled.
-
Protect your hands - wear gloves when gardening, washing dishes, or
dealing with chemicals
- Use
sun protection
-
Keep your hands dry. Any water left on your hands will evaporate and
dry out the skin.
-
Give your hands a special treatment - herbal or oil bath - once in a
while.
Here
are a few suggestions for your next hand spa:
*
Herbal hand bath
Bring
1 qt of water to boil and pour over 1 tbsp of herbs (you can use all
of these or just one: chamomile, nettle, sage, coltsfoot,
calendula). Let the infusion cool to 100-110F and soak your hands in
it for about 15-20 minutes. Dry your hands thoroughly and apply a
rich moisturizer.
* You
can make your own nourishing hand cream. Thoroughly mix 1 teaspoon
of honey and 3 tbsp of unsalted butter. Add 1 tbsp of strong herbal
infusion. This will make a very rich cream. It will take a while to
absorb, but leave your hands silky and smooth.
* For
dry skin use this hand treatment 1-2 times a week: 1 tbsp Glycerin,
1 Egg yolk, 2 tbsp vegetable oil (olive, almond, or another oil of
your choice), Lemon Juice of 1 lemon, 3 1/2 - 4 oz of an herbal
infusion (for example: chamomile, calendula, elderflower) or rose
water.
Other
tips:
-
Mashed potatoes (with milk) will make a great hand mask.
-
When cooking with eggs, don't throw the eggshells away. Scrape out
the remaining egg white and spread it over your hands.
-
Rubbing your skin with a piece of lemon will give the skin a more
even tone. - After washing dishes or dealing with other alkali
detergents, rinse your hands with sour milk or with vinegar-in-water
solution (1 tbsp. vinegar per 2qt of water). This will help to
restore pH balance of the skin.
-
Keep your hands warm. Not only for the sake of better skin, but for
your overall health. Flue and colds often start with cold hands. Tip
for gardeners:
-
before digging in the dirt, scratch a bar of soap with your nails.
When you are done working, cleaning your hands will be so much
easier!
Nails.
Just
like your skin and hair, your nails need moisture and conditioning
too. Here are few tips for better nails:
- If
you use nail polish, do not use acetone polish removers.
-
From time to time give your nails a break - let them be
"naked" for a few days.
- For
stronger nails, soak them in horsetail infusion.
-
Olive oil that you probably have in your pantry will make a perfect
strengthening nail bath (warm it first).
-
Cuticles. Removing them is not always a good idea because it makes
your nails more vulnerable to infections. Yet, if you decide to do
the procedure, prepare the nails first: apply a rich cream to the
cuticle area; soak your nails in warm soapy water for 5-6 minutes;
after drying your hands, push the cuticles back and then carefully
cut them off with small scissors.
As
always, topical measures are not always enough, especially if you
have brittle, split or dull nails. There are vitamins that will
help:
*
Organic Silica - to speed up the growth, avoid brittle and split
nails.
*
Essential Fatty Acids - Omega 3-6, Primrose Oil, Borage Oil, Fish
Oil - for healthy and strong nails.
*
Vitamin B (particularly B5) - for healthy nails and skin.
*
Chelated Iron - to avoid vertical ridges and spoon nails.
* MSM
(Methyl-Sulfonyl-Methane) - provides building material for healthy
cells.
For
better absorption of vitamins and minerals, take digestive enzymes
or bitters to stimulate digestion and help your body clean itself of
toxins.
Whichever
way you choose to care for your hands, even if it is just a hand
lotion from your local grocery store, use it regularly. After all,
doing so many things, your hands deserve care and attention.
About the Author
Natalie Katsman, Cody, WY 82414 USA
http://www.Natural-Aid.com
Natalie Katsman is a co-founder of http://www.natural-aid.com, where
you can find fine quality aloe vera products for beauty and
well-being and subscribe to HealthySkin Newsletter filled with
beauty tips, recipes and information on herbal healing, skin care
and cosmetic chemistry.
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