Happy Holiday Hand Tips

Many of us in the Ottawa region may be experiencing dry, cracked hands and maybe a few paper cuts from wrapping all those gifts and cooking endless meals. What to do to rescue our handy friends? They are as important as your feet!

Here 5 tips on saving your hands this winter:

1: Stick to lukewarm water when hand washing, hot water makes the natural oil of your skin evaporate and promptly moisturize your hands.

2: Liquid soaps are less drying on your skin.  If using a soap bar, trying using one that contains a moisturizer.

3: Use rubber gloves when your using cleaning products or washing the dishes.

4: Moisturize them with a good hand cream. If there's a cream I would recommend at the pharmacy, it would Neutrogena's Norwegian Formula Hand Cream. Even your most rugged construction worker would appreciate it in their stocking at this time of year. Winter is a rough one for everyone!

5: A moisturizer that contains urea will draw hydration in the deeper levels of your skin. I work with Gehwol when I provide footcare, they also have a line for hands. I've had some great results on myself with this cream, my hand washing is beyond frequent. It's one that I prefer since it's always on hand for me and it contains no perfumes either.

Gerlan Hand Cream

Another little skin saver of mine is in my kitchen. Olive oil and kosher salt, they make a great exfoliant for your hands after a long day of checking your list twice.  Adding 1 to 2 drops of lemon juice or essential oils in the mixture goes a long way. I like to add lavender, it's one of my favorites. The ratio should be half and half, that means 1 teaspoon of salt to 1 teaspoon of oil. I use olive oil often since it's what I have on hand, you can use grape seed oil or even sunflower oil if that's what you have in your pantry. Make sure your oil is not rancid either.

Olive oil, salt and lavender essential oil

Mix the ingredients together, apply the salt scrub in your dry hands, massage the scrub on the inside and outside of your hands, in between the fingers and right up to your nails. Making little circular movements around the cuticles will help smooth away the dryness and don't forget your wrists while your at it.

Rinse your hands under lukewarm water, dry and apply a moisturizer if needed. And voilà!!!! It's a mini hand spa in your kitchen that's quick and easy.

Meanwhile, the holidays are almost upon our doorsteps, I'm ready to greet friends and family with soft hands and putting my best foot forward in the New Year. Hopefully you will too and enjoy the season!