Hand skin doesn’t feature many sebaceous glands, hence such a thin protective coat. To make matters worse, we keep removing the coat when washing hands, cleaning windows or doing the washing up. When deprived of protection and exposed to cold weather and wind, hand skin becomes dehydrated and cracks. What should you do to regain the lost smoothness? My answer is: home therapies for hands. Below you’ll find my recipes for hand baths, masks, scrubs and other beautifying treatments that your hands will be grateful for.
HAND BATH: My recipes
- Herbal hand bath – my recipe
To prepare it, I pour boiling water over garden marigold flowers. Once the infusion cools down, I dunk my hands in it and keep them there for 10 minutes. Next, I towel dry my hands and slather a moisturizing cream over the skin. ‘Why garden marigold?’ you would ask. Well, this plant is a rich source of vitamin C, carotenoids and triterpenes that regenerate and protect skin. - Flaxseed hand bath – my recipe
I boil two spoons of flaxseed for two minutes. When the infusion cools down, I keep my hands dunked in the infusion for 15-20 minutes. Then, I towel dry the hands and follow with a moisturizing cream. Flaxseed is rich in vegetable oil and mucilage that accelerate skin self-healing processes as well as make hands softer and lock water inside.
HAND MASK with olive oil – my recipe
I combine three spoons of warm olive oil with an egg yolk. Then I apply this mask to my hands and wrap them with food foil and a towel. I let the hand mask sit for 20 minutes and then rinse. Olive oil supplies skin with nourishing fatty acids and vitamin E that moisturizes skin and delays ageing processes. Egg yolk contains vitamin A and zinc that are regenerating and protect hands.
HAND POULTICE with potato – my recipe
I cook two potatoes, mash them with a fork and mix with an egg yolk and two/three spoons of warm milk. I keep stirring until all the ingredients create an even mass. Then I apply it to my hands and wrap them with food foil. I wash my hands after 15 minutes and coat them with a moisturising cream. Potatoes deliver proteins, starch and enzymes that nourish and smooth hand skin out. Also, this vegetable supplies skin with vitamin C that leaves skin highlighted.
HAND SOAK with paraffin wax – my recipe
I warm paraffin wax up. Then I apply a nourishing cream to my hands and dunk them in the warm paraffin wax. I remove my hands from the bowl and wait until the paraffin wax hardens on my hands. Then, I dunk my hands in the bowl once again. Now I put on foil gloves and wrap the hands with a towel. After 15 minutes I crumble the paraffin wax coat and dry my hands with a paper towel. The paraffin wax coat facilitates better absorption of the hand cream. Also, it softens skin, smooths it out and locks moisture inside.
HAND SCRUB with olive oil and almond – my recipe
I combine one spoon of baby or olive oil with a spoon of sugar, fine ground almonds and a cup of lemon juice. Once ready, I keep massaging the homemade scrub into hands, then I wash them in warm water and apply a nourishing cream. I exfoliate my hands in this way once a week.
Homemade NAIL CONDITIONER to combat brittleness – my recipe
I mix an egg yolk, a teaspoon of olive oil, a few drops of vitamin C and E, and a tablespoon of honey. I apply this mixture to my nails and hands, let it sit for a few minutes and then rinse.
Do you know other remedies for dehydrated hand skin? Please share your recipes below.
