Rx for Cold-Weather Hands
During the winter months, wind and cold can inflict damage on
your delicate digits and make your hands look weather-beaten and
world-weary. To help you combat those ill effects, we assembled tips
from some of the best experts in the beauty business. Follow their
advice, and your hands will look their best all winter long — no matter
how harsh Mother Nature decides to be.
1. Wear gloves.
It might seem obvious, but it bears repeating: Gloves are key to protecting the fragile skin
of your hands. Even for quick errands outside, you should shield your
hands from the elements. Keep a pair in your purse, in case you forget
them on your way out the door.
2. Swap harsh soap for something milder.
“Trade in your bar soap and keep a bath and shower gel sink-side
for hand washing,” suggests Marion Fen wick, head nail trainer at Bliss
spas in New York City. “It’s a nice change for the colder months,
because while bar soaps can strip the skin of moisture, bath and shower
gels are richer and can actually add moisture to dry hands.”
3. Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize!
Also, it’s a good idea to keep a small bottle of lotion in your purse so you’ll have it available while you’re on the go.
4. Stay hydrated.
A refreshing glass of water may be the last thing on your winter
beverage list, but it’s actually one of the times you need water most:
Water will keep your body hydrated and counterbalance the drying effect
of indoor heating. By drinking water throughout the day, you’ll help
your skin stay supple and moist. You might also want to invest in a
humidifier to put moisture back into parched indoor air.
5. Supplement your way to softer hands.
In a recent study of 45 non-smoking, healthy women between the ages
of 18 and 65, researchers in Dusseldorf, Germany, found that flax seed
and forage oils helped to significantly decrease roughness and scaling
in the skin. If you don’t want to take supplements, you can always add a
sprinkling of flax seeds to oatmeal or a salad for some of the same
nutritional benefits.
6. Practice between-manicure maintenance.
Nothing beats a great at-home treatment for keeping hands looking their best between manicures. Fen wick recommends this four-step treatment plan to her clients:
- File or cut nails to the same length (this seems simple, she says, but is often overlooked).
- Clean your nail tips thoroughly to make them look really white: Soak them in freshly-squeezed lemon juice for a natural bleaching, or use the lemon itself and rub it directly on the nails.
- Moisturize, paying special attention to cuticles and knuckles.
- Finish by buffing with a smooth buffer to make your nails shine like glass.
By following these simple tips, you’ll have soft, supple hands all winter long!