Keeping our hands clean has become more important than ever this year! But unfortunately for our skin, overwashing your hands and exposing them to harsh chemicals like those found in hand sanitisers can quickly strip your hands of their naturally occurring moisturising oils, leaving you with dry, cracked hands.
Despite being one of the most used parts of our bodies, hands are one of the most overlooked when it comes to skincare and body care. Bringing hand care at the top of the agenda, we asked the skincare experts at INIKA Organic to share their top tips to keep the hands moisturised and feeling super soft.
How To Prevent Dry Hands
If you’re suffering from dry hands, this could be due to one single factor (like overwashing them or having to apply hand sanitiser too often), or it could be a combination of factors. Here are 3 tips to help you prevent dry hands:
#1 Stay hydrated – Dehydration is a major culprit in the fight against parched skin. If you’re not drinking enough water or getting enough sleep, your skin won’t be able to retain moisture like usual. Skin needs plenty of H2O – aim for at least 2 litres a day, more if you’ve been exercising.
#2 Moisturise – Factors such as weather and the environment can also play their part in skin dryness and hand care. More common in colder months, dry skin can be caused by the cold air, wind and indoor heating. Moisture is sapped from our skin so it’s vital to keep our hands moisturised.
#3 Use natural products – Exposure to harsh formulas that contain lots of chemicals and toxins can aggravate hands that are already feeling sensitive or dry. Look for hand care products that contain natural ingredients designed specifically for helping to restore moisture to dry hands, like Shea Butter and Coconut Oil.
Our 3-step hand care routine at home
Introducing a simple but effective hand care routine using natural and nourishing products like those created by INIKA Organic can help bring softness and moisture back into your hands.
1. Handwashing: Wash and dry your hands the right way
If you find yourself washing your hands more frequently, it’s important to make sure you are rinsing and drying your hands thoroughly. Damp skin and soap residue left on the surface of your skin can leave you with dry skin on your hands and lead to unwanted cracking and skin irritation, so make sure you wash all of the hand soap off and dry your hands completely each time.
Top Tip: Water that is too hot or too cold can cause damage to the skin. Using warm water to wash your hands will help prevent them from drying out.
2. Exfoliation: Use a gentle hand exfoliator to remove dull, dry skin
Use a gentle exfoliator to help remove any dry or flaking skin patches on your hands. This will ensure your hands remain smooth! Try INIKA’s Phytofuse Renew Caviar Lime Exfoliator, infused with natural exfoliating particles and botanicals to help purify pores and improve the texture of your skin.
Top Tip: Use an exfoliator before your hand cream to ensure your hand cream is easily absorbed.
3. Improve the look and feel of your hands
Now comes the key step in your hand care routine: using a skin-loving hand cream! As one of the most exposed areas of your skin, the skin on your hands tends to shed skin cells faster and more often. Regular moisturising allows the skin to retain its natural supple texture.
Use a chemical-free hand cream that has nourishing, natural ingredients, like INIKA’s Phytofuse Renew Avocado Oil Hand Cream. This powerful combination of plant oils and butters instantly melts into the skin without feeling sticky or greasy. It’s powered by Rose of Jericho Extract to create a barrier against dehydration and infused with fatty acids from Coconut and Avocado Oils to help soothe and heal the delicate skin on your hands.
Top Tip: Use a hydrating serum as a nutrient-rich pre-treatment before applying hand cream for an added moisture boost.
Give your hands the love they deserve
Many hand care products, whilst claiming to cleanse, moisturise and care for your hands, actually contain toxins and harsh chemicals that can dry out the skin and cause more harm than good. INIKA offer natural and organic skincare and makeup that’s infused with 100% natural ingredients. No silicones, chemicals or nasties. Just all the good stuff that nourishes your skin. To find out more, head over to their website now and browse their natural skincare range!
