Your hands work hard every day
Whether they're exposed to the elements or tackling household chores, they can easily become dry, rough and look old before their time. Neglect your nails and you run the risk of them splitting or breaking, and the delicate cuticle areas around fingernails can tear, causing irritation or infection.
So to keep your hands looking healthy, it's vital to include them in your daily beauty routine – a few small changes can make a big difference.
Time on your hands
To keep your hands feeling silky smooth, exfoliate regularly. Just as you might use a gentle, textured scrub on your face or feet to slough away rough patches of skin, a fine, grainy paste rubbed into your hands once a week can leave them with an ultra-silky touch. And it needn't cost the earth. You can make your own by blending equal measures of salt and olive oil, rubbing the mixture into your hands for five minutes and rinsing with water.
Try swapping your ordinary hand soap for one with extra moisturising ingredients. Dove's range of bar and liquid soaps are made with one-quarter moisturising lotion, so whether you choose to go for a soap that's extra sensitive, freshly fragranced or luxuriously creamy, you can hydrate your hands every time you wash, thanks to their uniquely caring formulas.
Nutrition overnight
A good quality hand cream is an essential product for everyday care – invest in one that nourishes your nails as well as your skin. Keep a tube or tub on your bedside table and apply to your hands before going to bed to give them a dose of overnight indulgence. Why not buy a spare to keep with you throughout the day, rubbing a little into your hands, from fingertips to wrists, whenever you feel you need to.
To truly nail your routine, take special care of your cuticles, rubbing a rich, moisturising cream into and around the nails every day. Keep your fingernails short and smooth – the gently curved almond-shape is ultra fashionable anyway.
