When it comes to preparing a skin care routine, your face comes first. Not only is it the most exposed and viewed area of your skin, it also develops wrinkles more quickly than other areas of your body thanks to the amount of fine muscle movement wearing down its elasticity, so obviously it needs the most attention.
But tragically, for many, the face is the beginning and end of skin care planning. Seeing as your skin is your largest organ and your first line of defense against the perils of the world around you, there are plenty of other locations on your body that need just as much attention to detail as your face. One area, in particular, is your hands.
It isn’t uncommon to see someone with an amazing facial complexion but when they lift their hands to their face you are shocked to find the stark difference in aging between their face and hands. You can chalk that difference up to the focus of their skin care routine, but beyond that, it still often seems like this area ages more rapidly than any other part of the body.
It also doesn’t help that your hands are exposed to the elements, so they get much more damage from harmful UV radiation than most areas of your body.
THE MOST COMMON TRAITS OF OVERLOOKED HANDS ARE:
- Brown spots
- Dry skin
- Fine lines and wrinkles
- Thin skin
TREATING YOUR HANDS
The first step in saving the delicate skin on your hands is a mainstay in skin care for any exposed part of your body: always, always, always use an SPF. The best offense is a good defence so fight the wrinkles and brown spots before they even happen by using an SPF on your hands that is at least as strong as the one you use on your face.
For anyone who is already bearing the effects of sun-damaged hands, there are luckily plenty of options to revive that skin to its natural glow.
Unsightly sun spots and discoloration can be greatly reduced over time with the help of topical vitamin C. With the addition of anti-aging moisturising creams – which can be the same products you use on your face – both the discoloration, as well as the beginnings of fine lines, will be a thing of the past in no time at all.
The ingredients to look for when you are focusing on rejuvenating your hands are vitamins A, C, E and any other antioxidants, potent moisturizers like coconut oil, and light exfoliants such as lactic acid. These ingredients will do wonders for smoothing and brightening your hands, especially when used in combination with each other.
A good rule of thumb when treating your hands is to use the majority of daily products you use to keep your skin healthy and beautiful since they both get roughly the same exposure to the elements. Always remember: skin care doesn’t stop at your chin!
Check out our new release Spring Luxury Treatment Guide from our previous blog – each treatment includes a FREE intensive hand treatment!