Practical ways to care for your hands

Wear gloves to protect hands from harsh detergents.

AFTER MORE THAN A DECADE OF WASHING dishes with my bare hands, I’ve taken to wearing rubber gloves recently. Not only does this preserve my nail polish, it also helps stave off some signs of aging.

In the same vein as applying eye cream as early as you can, caring for your hands way before they show signs of aging reaps good results in the looks department.

Here are no-nonsense tips to keep your digits as flawless-looking as possible.

Get a thorough manicure.

Or if you live in the US and a professional manicure just doesn’t fit your budget, make time for an ultra-tedious do-it-yourself manicure session. This way, whenever you’re tempted to rough up your hands, all you have to do is think about how much time it took (or how much money you spent) to achieve your perfect set of tips, painted in that super plush shade.

Recycle your skincare products.

Go over your skincare stash and see what products (especially dormant pricey ones) you can “donate” to your hands. Some skincare products may do nothing for your pores and actually leave blemishes, but can actually be intensely hydrating for dry hands and cuticles. This is also a great way to utilize those free sachets of face cream from beauty magazines. Park them at your desk so you’re easily reminded of massaging your cuticles when working on the keyboard.

Invest in good products.

If you’re not recycling your face cream, a luxurious hand lotion is a given splurge. But take note of other incidental hand products like the soap and dish-washing liquid you use in the kitchen. Around this time of the year, your family members abroad are probably asking for your bilin [wish list] for the balikbayan box they’re sending home for the holidays. Ask them to buy you bottles of an organic or environmentally-friendly dish soap like Clorox Greenworks or Method from Target. These formulas not only do not leave behind harsh chemicals in the environment, they’re also gentle on your hands.

I’m also a big fan of hand soaps from L’Occitane, Crabtree & Evelyn, and Fruits & Passion (I particularly love the Olive Oil line). These usually are too pricey for something that washes off in seconds, but I believe in the rejuvenating properties of good-quality natural essential oils.

Buy two pairs of gloves—a snug-fitting one for the kitchen (to make dish-washing with gloves a more tactile experience) and another slightly soft and loose one to take to bed.

Just before you turn in, slather your hands with the richest balm or cream you can find. (Just make sure it contains no mineral oil as it renders this treatment pointless.) Once you’ve massaged your cuticles and liberally applied this cream, slip on the gloves and wear them for the night. You’ll wake up with extra-soft hands that would only make you want to keep taking care of them better.

Ask a beauty question at http://BeautyintheBigApple.com or visit Mariel’s blog at http://NyMinuteNow.com.

(Image courtesy of CasaSugar.com. Original Inquirer article link here.)