Our hands are subject to numerous external attacks: sun, cold, pollution, repeated washing, chemicals… In short, nothing is spared them. To show off pretty hands, we reveal seven simple tips for taking care of them.
Men, women: how to have beautiful, soft and smooth hands?
Take care of cuticles to have pretty hands
Why is it important? To have healthy nails, it is necessary to have healthy cuticles. In addition, when they are not maintained, they quickly dry out and end up cracking. To treat them, simply feed them with a balm or oil. Sweet almond, glycerin, jojoba, cocoa butter or even oily rose macerate, the cuticles delight in any emollient ingredient.
The right gesture: if they are too visible, gently push them back with a boxwood stick wrapped in cotton. And apply the balm or oil every day around the edge of the nail. Massage in.
Stimulate nails to complete beautiful hands
Why is it important? Like the skin, they are subject to aging. The nails become fragile, more brittle or softer. The surface may deteriorate and show streaks. Even the rate of growth is slowing down. To keep them strong and smooth, give them a little boost with hydrating, repairing and regenerating formulas. They contain energizing amino acids, fortifying plant extracts, protective antioxidants or minerals, to blur imperfections.
The right gesture: rid the nail of all traces of varnish. Apply one coat at least twice a week. Most bases and treatment products can be used under varnishes.
To prevent your nails from becoming soft, ridged or brittle, you can also get into the habit of gently exfoliating them. This tip was shared on the TikTok app by dermatologist @drdrayzday. And it’s very simple, you just need to equip yourself with a lotion with glycolic acid, soak a cotton swab in it and pass it over your nails and cuticles.
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Exfoliate the surface to have beautiful hands naturally
Why is it important? Exfoliation helps rid the skin of dead cells, a good point for homogeneity and radiance, but above all it boosts cell renewal, which strengthens the barrier function. Opt for a specific formula for the hands, gentler than a body scrub. If it is enriched with macadamia or grapeseed oils, for example, its exfoliating agents – sugar or salt crystals – will be less abrasive.
The right gesture: once a week, apply the treatment to the back of slightly damp hands. Massage gently, paying particular attention to the cuticles and finger joints, where dead skin is concentrated. Rinse with lukewarm water then apply a moisturizer.
How to have pretty hands? The importance of hydrating them well
The skin of the hands tends to dry out, especially in winter, the skin in this area being particularly exposed to temperature variations. Asked by Current wife, Dr Dima Haidar, dermatologist shared some tips for properly hydrating them. You can in fact swap your soap, which is too drying, for a soap-free dermatological bar, which is gentler. She also reminds us to wear gloves to protect hands from the cold but also when cleaning or washing dishes, to avoid harsh chemicals. And obviously, we remember to moisturize them well, using creams specifically designed for this purpose, and always without perfume. She also recommends the app “a barrier cream rich with copper and zinc, which will repair the skin, and create a sort of film which will resist washing and strengthen the skin barrier“.
The right gesture: From time to time, apply a glove mask to provide in-depth treatment. The fabric is impregnated with a formula enriched with nourishing active ingredients such as jojoba oil, shea butter and aloe vera. The occlusive effect of this mask, worn for between 20 and 30 minutes, or even all night if desired, boosts the action of the ingredients. The hands come out repaired and softer.
Reduce brown spots
Why is it important? The hands are among the areas most exposed to the sun and, paradoxically, the least protected. This is why, around the age of 50, they start to show spots. Less treated than those of the face, they constitute a visible sign of age. Fortunately, certain formulas containing glabridin, viniferine or niacinamide can make them disappear. These light treatments leave no greasy film.
The right gesture: apply the treatment at least three or four times a day, paying particular attention to the backs of the hands, for at least two months to obtain results.
Plump the skin
Why is it important? With age, the production of hyaluronic acid, elastin and collagen decreases. However, on the hands, adipose tissue is much less present and sebum almost absent. Result: the skin becomes thinner more quickly and reveals wrinkles. It is therefore essential to rehydrate and nourish deeply to maintain a plump appearance. The best: prefer hand creams with densifying active ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, antioxidants such as grape extract or lipid-replenishing agents such as omega 9.
The right gesture: place a dab of cream on the back of the hands, then massage until well absorbed. A ritual to adopt after each passage of the hands under water.
The specialist’s advice
“I do not recommend applying sun protection, except in cases where you have a job where your hands are exposed to UV rays all day long, of course. On the other hand, I recommend slipping a sunscreen into your bag with an SPF 50 index and to apply it as soon as the sunny days return. Because, it is often with the first rays, those which we do not suspect when having lunch on the terrace or during an afternoon shopping, that the we can catch Sun burn. A few minutes are enough. Unpleasant at the time, they will above all, a few years later, be at the origin of pigment spots.”
Thanks to Bethsabée Coutaz, scientific director Dr Pierre Ricaud