Our hands play a hugely important role in our everyday lives, often serving as an initial point of contact with the external world. They are an essential part of many of our everyday activities: we use them to write, open doors, greet other people and wash ourselves, just to name a few. Yet despite how much we use our hands, it can be easy for us to neglect to pamper for them the way we would for other parts of our body.
Because we use our hands in so many different contexts, dirt, bacteria and other impurities easily accumulate, making it essential to wash our hands regularly. However, failing to hydrate & moisturize and protect one’s hands after washing strips them of their natural oils, rendering them dull, dry and more prone to wrinkles as a result. In addition, factors like cold or dry climates, excessive UV exposure and regular contact with harsh chemicals can contribute to these problems.
There are a number of simple Ayurveda-informed practices that can make a big difference toward rejuvinating ,nourishing & exfoliating your hands. Combat wrinkles, dryness and more with these tips!
AYURVEDIC HAND CARE TIPS –
1. GIVE YOURSELF A HAND MASSAGE
One quick, instantly-soothing way to hydrate and soften the skin is by giving yourself a hand massage with essential oils. The best thing about a self-massage is that it is deeply personalizable: you can choose oils that are most suitable to your health and wellness needs and target specific areas during your massage.
If you are looking to soothe stress and anxiety, to promote better sleep or to boost mood and energy, you can try out one of our wellness oils. If you want to target wrinkles, hyperpigmentation and unevenness, you can try out our UMA Absolute Anti Aging Body Oil. And for a targeted, versatile formula that promotes circulation, detoxifies, hydrates and more, our UMA Absolute Essential Self Massage Oil is a potent panacea for all your self-massage needs.
To give yourself a hand massage, use firm, circular movements to massage 4-5 drops of oil into the middle of the palm, the base of the thumb, in between each finger, the knuckles, the inside of the wrist and wherever else you feel your hands could use some TLC.
2. MAKE A DIY HAND MASK
There are also a number of ways to make an at-home hydrating, exfoliating hand mask with ingredients you might already have in your kitchen.
Aloe Vera & Lemon Mask
Mix together aloe vera and several drops of lemon juice to form a paste. Massage into hands and leave on for 10-15 minutes before washing off with lukewarm water. Harnessing the deeply hydrating, healing and wrinkle-reducing anti-aging powers of aloe vera, this mask will leave your skin feeling soft, brightened and tightened.
Cucumber Mask
For an instantly moisturizing and cooling effect (which is especially useful during the warm summer months!), rub your hands with cucumber slices and gently massage them for 5 minutes. Rinse off with lukewarm water.
Carrot & Honey Mask
Mash a boiled carrot and mix with a teaspoon of honey to form a thick paste. Massage into your hands and leave on for half an hour before rinsing off with lukewarm water.
3. DON’T FORGET TO CARE FOR YOUR CUTICLES
While many of us may try to apply lotion to our hands regularly, we often forget that our cuticles need care, too. They serve as an important connecting point between the nails and the skin, and they act as a first line of protection against infection. Make sure to avoid damage or breakage to your cuticles, as that can leave your skin vulnerable to external toxins. Keep hangnails trimmed back. In addition, be sure to moisturize your cuticles as well, and if you’re giving yourself a hand massage, gently rub essential oils into the cuticles.
4. WEAR GLOVES DURING HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES
Whether we’re washing the dishes, cleaning the house, gardening outdoors or doing any other kind of hands-on activity—especially if it requires contact with chemicals—make sure to wear gloves. Such a simple step takes no more than a couple of seconds and makes a huge difference to our hands, protecting them from calluses, dryness, wrinkle- and hyperpigmentation-inducing chemicals and more.
Incorporating a few seamless, soothing and incredibly easy hand care practices into our daily routines can go a long way toward promoting hydrated, soft and healthy hands—and toward treating them with the care and attention they deserve.
