Staying Fit
A close-up view of the hands of Vivica A. Fox (left) and Demi Moore.
David Livingston/Getty Images; Jeff Vespa/WireImage
How much attention do you pay to your hands? Be honest. Except for lots of handwashing (thanks to COVID-19), sanitizer and maybe a coat of polish… almost none. Inevitably the day comes when the contrast between your cared-for face and ignored hands makes wearing gloves 24/7 appealing. Don’t despair. Here are 11 ways to pretty-up your paws with some expert advice from Anthony Rossi, a top board-certified dermatologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, and beauty editor me:
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(Left to right) The Honest Company Hand Sanitizer Spray in Grapefruit Grove; Dove Coconut & Almond Milk Nourishing Foaming Hand Wash; Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Hand Sanitizer in Basil
Target (3)
Update your hand wash and sanitizer
This duo is the new normal and there’s no way around it. However, small changes to your routine can minimize the drying, redness and irritation that accompanies frequent washing and alcohol application. First, use lukewarm water, not hot, and choose a moisturizing cleanser like Dove Coconut & Almond Milk Nourishing Foaming Hand Wash ($4, target.com) instead of drying antibacterial soaps, and immediately apply hand cream to damp, blotted hands for better absorption. When using a sanitizer, switch to a hydrating spray with aloe like The Honest Company Hand Sanitizer Spray in Grapefruit Grove ($3, target.com) or Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Hand Sanitizer in Basil ($3, target.com). Both meet the CDC recommendation of at least 60 percent isopropyl alcohol, but sprays are neater and less sticky than gels. And last switch: Apply hand cream immediately after the sanitizer dries.
(Clockwise from left) Forliver Cleaning Sponge Gloves in Blue; Casabella Premium Waterblock Gloves in Pink; Gorilla Grip Premium Silicone Oven Mitts in True Aqua; Digz Gardener High Performance Women’s Gardening and Work Gloves With Touch Screen Compatible Fingertips in Blue Leaves Pattern
Amazon (4)
Make work gloves a must-have
It’s a nuisance but gloves really do protect hands from gritty and waterlogged chores like laundry, dishes, dog- and car washing, cooking, gardening and garage/attic cleanups. The key is finding work gloves that are not too bulky and suit the task. Try the Casabella Premium Waterblock Gloves in Pink ($10, amazon.com), with cuffed, longer sleeves for dishwashing; the Gorilla Grip Premium Silicone Oven Mitts in True Aqua ($16, amazon.com), cotton lined and waterproof with a slip-proof texture for cooking safety; the Forliver Cleaning Sponge Gloves in Blue ($12, amazon.com), with bristles on palms and fingers for messy chores like scrubbing Fido; or the Digz Gardener High Performance Women’s Gardening and Work Gloves With Touch Screen Compatible Fingertips in Blue Leaves Pattern ($12, amazon.com), so you can prune, weed and answer your phone. Do see your GP or dermatologist about any hand rash that doesn’t improve.
(Left to right) CeraVe Therapeutic Hand Cream; Gold Bond Ultimate Eczema Relief Hand Cream; Vaseline Dry Hands Rescue
Ulta Beauty; Target (2)
Choose hand cream the way you choose face cream
While fist and elbow bumps have pretty much replaced handshakes, soft, smooth hands still rule. Ingredients and texture matter so don’t grab any old hand cream on sale. Look for ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin that attract water for a dewy, plumped look; ceramides or occlusives such as petroleum jelly and cocoa butter to seal the skin barrier, keep hands supple and lock moisture in; and emollients like shea butter, colloidal oatmeal, vitamin E and essential fatty acids to soothe and smooth. Try these three fragrance-free formulas with the right stuff: CeraVe Therapeutic Hand Cream ($12, ulta.com), Gold Bond Ultimate Eczema Relief Hand Cream ($12, target.com) — great even if you don’t have eczema — and Vaseline Dry Hands Rescue ($5, target.com).
(Left to right) Cetaphil Extra Gentle Daily Scrub; Pixi Overnight Retinol Oil; Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Skin Therapy Oil
Walgreens; Target (2)
Exfoliate hands, too
Make exfoliation part of your strategy — the same as facial skin care. Sloughing off dead surface cells not only freshens and smooths hands but it eases the application and absorption of any topical treatment (including hand cream and sunscreen). But keep it gentle since hand skin at 50 is even thinner than facial skin and has fewer sebaceous glands. One option is to use a micro-fine face cleanser like Cetaphil Extra Gentle Daily Scrub ($10, walgreens.com), or for a DIY version just add a tablespoon or two of sugar to olive oil to make a paste and softly massage hands. Or try boosting your usual nightly hand cream with a retinol oil like Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Skin Therapy Oil ($11, target.com) or Pixi Overnight Retinol Oil ($24, target.com) that soothes and exfoliates chemically to help fade spots and roughness. “Retinol applied to backs of hands can improve the photo-aged appearance,” says Rossi. Stay the course; it takes four months for results to show.
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