3 tricks for beautiful and soft hands

It's that time of year when your hands suddenly feel like sandpaper and your cuticles seem torn with teeth. Here are some smart tips to keep your hands soft and velvety this winter. Frequent hand washing is a necessity of the times we live in, but constant exposure to soap and water reduces the healthy fatty compounds in the top layers of our skin, according to Harvard University. To counteract this effect, use lukewarm water for washing and a moisturizing soap that won't strip your natural oils. Choose one that contains moisturizing ingredients such as shea butter, aloe, or plant-based oils. After washing, apply an emollient hand cream, which forms a protective barrier over the skin and locks in the moisture underneath.

The skin on your hands is constantly exposed to environmental factors and is thinner and more susceptible to damage than the rest of your body. Hydration is key to keeping hands soft and supple. Always carry a hand cream that contains humectants (such as glycerin, urea or hyaluronic acid) that draw moisture into the skin from the atmosphere and apply as often as needed. If the appearance of your skin is bothering you (think age spots and wrinkles), use a lightening treatment that uses active ingredients to boost skin density and reduce pigmentation. When you apply products to your face, massage the excess into the back of your hands for an extra dose of nutrition – and never forget the SPF.

To combat dry cuticles, massage them daily with a moisturizer to keep the skin around the nails well-nourished. Our nails naturally become drier and more brittle as we age as our bodies absorb fewer nutrients. What's more, nails can reflect your internal health and eating habits, so if you feed them the right nutrients, they'll grow stronger and be more resistant to breakage. Good foods to eat include cucumbers, barley, oats, root vegetables, green leafy vegetables such as spinach, broccoli and kale, along with raw nuts and seeds. .