HAND CARE ROUTINE FOR DRY HANDS

More common in the colder months, it’s no secret that the climate can contribute to (often temporarily) dry skin. Low-humidity weather saps moisture from our skin, most felt by those parts of us that are pretty much constantly exposed. Just like that – dry hands.

Plunging the levels of moisture in the air much lower than normal, harsh weather outside and central heating inside makes for a doubly drying combo. Conversely, in the summer, air conditioning can do much the same.

Dodging cold or flu? We get it. It’s important to try to keep bugs at bay, but excessive washing can deplete our hands’ natural oils, stripping moisture from the skin. Our mitts much prefer a lukewarm water temperature and a cream-based soap to help reduce dryness and replenish moisture.

See point 3 – if overused, soaps, detergents and shampoos formulated to remove oil can aggravate already dried-out hands.

Professions that call for immersing hands in warm water – think nursing or hairstyling – might require handling chemicals day-to-day, which can be irritants to skin. Similarly, gardeners and tradespeople working outdoors might suffer this occupational hot potato.

Bathing more than once a day and/or turning the water temperature to hot (rather than warm) can create dry skin on hands. Equally, while we love a good swim, frequent paddling in heavily chlorinated water doesn’t help.

A major culprit in the fight against parched skin. If you’re not drinking enough water or getting enough sleep your skin won’t be able to retain moisture like usual. Skin needs plenty of H2O – aim for at least 2 litres a day (more if you’re particularly active or also drinking reputed diuretics like alcohol and coffee).

Worsening skin’s hydration levels, this habit can lead to drier hands.

If you’ve got itchy, cracked, or red and inflamed skin, it might be down to one of these, which are often linked to genetics or allergies. Help keep skin’s moisture levels up by brushing up on the other factors in these list, and if you have eczema or psoriasis, see a doctor.

Everyone experiences this inevitability differently but some common side effects include our flight-or-fight response triggering sweat, which, if we don’t drink enough water, can cause skin to dry out. Nails can become brittle or peel. Plus, stress can exacerbate existing eczema and psoriasis.

The back of the hands in particular is often noted as a tell-tale sign of someone’s age. Typically, we’re more susceptible to dry skin on hands as we get older. This is only natural and caused by the skin thinning over time, so it’s important to use our best hand creams to top up on moisture.

A must to help stop the spread of bacteria, bugs and other nasty no-no’s, hand-washing is, of course, a part of everyone’s day-to-day. Step yours up to the next level in a bid to take care of dry hands by ensuring you’re using one of our gentle hand washes from the ranges we’ve made especially for this delicate skin. What difference does it make? With every trip to the loo, dry skin on hands feels soothed, helping them to stop drying out and stay soft and supple.

To help restore moisture after hand-washing and get a thumbs up on the hydration front, follow up with one of our best hand creams for dry skin. You’re up on your skin type, right? Bearing that in mind is the best way to pick your ultimate The Body Shop hand cream. And remember, what your skin needs might change with the seasons. Cold weather can often cause skin that’s dandy in the warmer months to dry out. Counteract this climate-induced dryness with a nourishing hand moisturiser or a more heavy-duty hand cream whenever the temperature drops.

Hands up, who already does this? High five to you. Just like tailoring your skincare routine, targeted hand care ensures you’re reading the terrain of your hands, taking care of each part in the best way. Consider – nails, cuticles and hands all need something slightly different. Ideally 1-2 times a week, or even more in the colder months, care for your hands with a targeted regime that includes protective products specifically designed for nails, cuticles and hands. Helping your hands to happier levels of hydration with a hand protector or hand butter, you’ll feel like you’re on top of the world.

Strong nails are such a key part of healthy hands, protecting the fingertips and capping off your targeted hand care routine. They’re made of a protective protein and, just like hands, when exposed to lots of icy winds, chlorinated or soapy water can be left a little worse for wear. To help keep nails in tip top shape, be sure to file them to your desired shape regularly and keep an emergency nail kit in your bag for on-the-go touch-ups. To help restore moisture and prevent damage to nails and cuticles alike, massage a gentle cuticle oil into the nail bed a few times a week. Consider making this a part of your before-bed regime to be consistent in your care of healthy-looking cuticles.

There’s nothing more pleasing than getting your nails in perfect order, all the same size and contoured to the same shape. First step in getting this right is trimming nails down to size. Use nail clippers to get your desired length.

Now your nails are trimmed, it’s time to create the perfect shape. Whether you like nails square, almond-shaped or rounded, using a file will help create this finish. Don’t forget to follow up with our Nail Polishing Block – a multi-tasker of a tool that helps to smooth ridges, file, buff and polish.

Consider this step in your DIY manicure the soothing snow-capped peak of hand care. Hands that are susceptible to dryness will soak up our naturally inspired Almond Hand and Nail Butter. It’s enriched with Community Fair Trade shea butter from Ghana and helps hands to reach new heights of hydration, with a beautiful, moreish scent.

Our handy Almond Nail and Cuticle Oil in a nifty pen form makes caring for cuticles almost effortless. Enriched with Community Fair Trade shea butter as well as sweet almond oil, this grab-and-go Cuticle Oil helps to nourish the nail bed, keeping cuticles looking healthy. Top tip – if you’re adding colour to your nails as part of your manicure, always apply cuticle oil post-manicure (not before). That’s because the nail varnish won’t be able to stay put on fingernails if they have an oily base.

We’ve harnessed the mighty almond, a nut with popularity stemming all the way back to biblical times, in our favourite protecting Almond Hand and Nail Cream. This formula cares for nails as much as the rest of your hands, and is enriched with Community Fair Trade almond oil. After using this multi-tasker, hands are left feeling fresh and smelling beautifully nutty.

Helping to replenish super smooth, soft vibes to hands, our Shea Butter Hand Cream is as cult a product now as it was when we first formulated it. In fact, it’s non-greasy feel and sumptuous smell has been a firm favourite at The Body Shop since our founder discovered shea butter in Ghana in the 90’s. We still use Community Fair Trade shea butter from Ghana in every tube. Throw in your bag, and you’re good to go.

In a rush? Want quick absorption from your hand cream when you’ve got things to do, places to be? Our British Rose Petal-Soft Hand Cream boasts a non-greasy formula that helps hands to feel instantly softer without any of the waiting around time for the product to sink in. It’s infused with the essence of hand-picked British roses, a treat for the nose as much as the hands.