If there’s something we’ve all had to up our game on over the last year, it’s handwashing.
I’ve always been one to look after my hands, but all this repeated washing has led to them becoming drier and more sensitive. Perhaps you can relate to this?
It’s made me focus even more on my hand care routine, dig a bit into the science behind it all, road test a fair amount of product, and ultimately establish a hand care routine which keeps my hands smooth and well-cared-for even with the increased washing and sanitising. Sounds good right?
So fingers at the ready, here’s a super-easy hand care routine for smooth, well-cared-for hands…
This article contains affiliate links. If you click on a link & make a purchase based on my recommendation, I will be paid a small commission. This is at no extra cost to you but does contribute towards the running costs of this site. Click here to find out more.
Wash your Hands
OK fairly self-explanatory I grant you (and a contributing factor to over-sensitised dry hands) but washing our hands is always going to be step one of a good hand care routine.
Wash using lukewarm water as hot water will strip your skin of essential moisture.
Use moisturising hand washes that include ingredients such as shea, aloe vera or olive oil to act as natural hydrators preventing dehydration.
I found this hydrating gem for only £1: Carex Advanced Care + Shea Butter handwash
Pat your hands dry
A really simple but effective tip is to pat dry your hands rather than rub them too vigorously. If possible avoid hand dryers all together. Whilst they are quicker (well the latest ones anyway) they can cause increased skin irritation.
Moisturise
Always moisturise straight after washing!
How do moisturisers work?
The atmosphere draws moisture from the skin’s surface leading to drier feeling hands. Moisturisers are designed to block the evaporation of water from the skin surface, whilst also replenishing its water supply. Which is why they often contain a significant amount of water (Aqua) in their ingredients list, as well as some sort of wax or oil to trap the water on your skin preventing it from evaporating immediately.
Why do we need to reapply multiple times per day?
Even the best moisturisers (I’ll name my favourites in a moment) can’t hold the water there forever, it eventually evaporates and your skin will feel drier again.
Additionally, frequently washing our hands effectively removes the lotion and some of the skins own natural oils, making reapplication necessary. On the plus side, your hands will always feel softer, moister and more supple for it!
Top tip: Make applying hand cream super easy for yourself. Place a hand cream as close to each sink in your home as possible. Make sure to carry one in your handbag or pocket, or place one in the glove box of your car – the more accessible, the more likely you are to use it.
My favourite daily moisturisers:
Neom Uplifting Hand Balm – this little hand balm is a delight. With the 100% natural fragrances of wild mint and mandarin, I’ve found this to be as much of a treat for my senses as it is for my hands! Highly recommended.
Marks & Spencers Apothecary Tranquil Hand Lotion – containing hemp seed oil for extra hydration, this has become a staple in my bathroom. One of the best pump hand lotions I’ve used – it smells good, rubs in easily and doesn’t evaporate after 5-minutes. I think it’s a bargain at £5 for 250 ml.
Need something more sensitive? Why not try Aveeno Unscented Daily Moisturising Hand Cream? My daughter has eczema-prone skin and uses Doublebase Diomed Dry Skin Emollient to great effect.
Top tip: Massage excess facial moisturisers or facial oils over your hands
Apply an intensive hand cream at bedtime
As with our nighttime facial moisturisers, this is the perfect time to bring out our skincare miracle workers to intensively replenish & treat our skin overnight. I’ve done this for years and found it so beneficial.
My number one favourite intensive hand cream is still NO7 Protect & Perfect Intense ADVANCED Nourishing Hand & Nail Treatment – it contains pro-retinol to help slow the ageing process. You can find out more about why I recommend this cream so much here.
Recently, I’ve also been trialling ARK Skincare Intensive Hand & Nail Cream and I have to say this is a good option too. Enriched with a nurturing host of ingredients such as Raspberry, Omega Fruit Lipid and Cocoa Butter the fast-drying formula works to replenish, revive and fortify.
Take the intensive treatment to the next level…
Wear cotton gloves overnight! According to dermatologists, sleeping with your moisturised hands inside cotton gloves traps the cream close to the skin which more thoroughly hydrates the cells on the skin’s surface, maximising the amount of product that soaks in. Just be sure to wash the gloves after use.
Why not try spa gloves? Think of them as a face mask for your hands. They have beneficial ingredients such as vitamins, aloe and speciality oils infused into the lining of the fabric. OPI Pro Spa Intensive Moisturising Gloves are a real treat!
Apply SPF
Other than your face, your hands are the next most exposed part of your body throughout the year. Therefore, wearing an SPF30-50 on your hands (when going out) should be a mandatory part of a good hand care routine.
You can learn more about protecting yourself in the sun in my guide, Staying Sun Savvy: A Complete Guide to SPF & Sunscreen
Exfoliate
I’ll be honest, this is something I’ve only just started to implement, I didn’t even know exfoliating your hands was a ‘thing’ but it is, and it works!
Once a week (or twice if you’re really good) gently massage in an exfoliator to help remove dry, dead skin cells. Without this step, the skins ability to absorb any moisturisers is impacted. Taking a minute each week to slough them off helps your hand cream do its job more effectively.
It doesn’t need to cost you anything extra either. I use my existing exfoliating products. Plus, if you don’t want to use a mechanical exfoliator (one with the little bits in it) a chemical one, such as Pixi Glow Tonic, is fine to use too. Just saturate a cotton pad and sweep over your hands.
Recommended: Why Should You Exfoliate (And How to Do it Right)
Let’s not forget our nails…
Strong, healthy nails are also a sign of well-cared-for hands. Your moisturiser can be massaged into your nails too. Be sure to have some polish-free days to let your nails breathe and why not use cuticle oil to help prevent splitting, drying and cracking. I personally love using cuticle oil pens for easy, targeted application.
And that’s my recommended hand-care routine!
Here’s the chart again for quick reference…
These simple steps will leave your hands feeling well-cared-for, nourished and hydrated in no time.
Recommended Relevant Reading: How to Get The Most Out Of Your Skincare Products
Sources:
https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/moisturizers-do-they-work
https://health.howstuffworks.com/skin-care/moisturizing/products/moisturizing-gloves.htm
https://www.scienceabc.com/humans/how-does-a-skin-lotion-moisturizer-emollient-occlusive-work.html
ARK Skincare: Looking after hardworking hands
Do you have a hand care routine at the moment? Do you have a favourite product that helps your hands to look and feel amazing? I would love to know! Whatever, you’d like to say – or ask – please do in the comment box below. I’m happy to help and I always love to hear from you.
ADVERTISEMENT:
Hey lovely – I didn’t use to have a good hand care routine but I do now. Every day I moisturise and every night I apply cuticle oil (while watching the telly!) Also, I’ve started putting spf on my hands to slow the signs of ageing – am I doing well? X
You are doing so well! That’s fantastic. Do you find it all helps? x
Totally agree with this hand-care routine – adding an intensive night cream can really work magic. For anyone that suffers from eczema (like me), wearing lightweight cotton gloves at night after moisturizing can work wonders during a flare up!
That’s great to know the cotton gloves help with eczema – thanks for sharing! x