All About Hands - Winter Skin Care

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By Olena E

How many times this winter have you struggled with the unpleasant feeling of completely dry hands? Heating, cold, nasty weather, wind, house cleaning and numerous other factors make our hands become a source of permanent discomfort, especially in winter. While it is definitely recommended to use creams and moisturizers with vitamins and minerals, it is also very easy and efficient to use organic skin care methods: they are natural, affordable and extremely effective.

Tip no. 1: Wash your hands with room temperature water. Cold water makes skin become rough and in some cases peel; hot water dries it.

Tip no. 2: Beauty tubs for hands:

• Starch fights sandpapery skin: dissolve 1 tbs. of starch in water (1 l.), keep your hands in the solution for 15 min. and rinse it off with warm water.

• Sea salt beats wet palms: dissolve 1 tsp. of sea salt in warm water (1 l.), keep your hands in the solution for 5-10 min. every day (for about 7 days in a row depending on how bad the problem is).

• Eggs and oil help weather-beaten hands: thoroughly mix 1 egg yellow with 1 tbs. of olive oil and 1 tsp. of natural honey, cover and leave it on for 15-20 min.

As a final touch, use a small amount of hand moisturizer or cream after any hands' beauty tub.

A word about healthy looking nails:

1. Nutrition is your no. 1 weapon: vitamin A (tomatoes, carrots, greens) and calcium (dairy products) help nails stay firm.

2. Vitamin E (sunflower seeds, oil) nourishes nails.

3. Vitamin B (cabbage, egg yellows) and iodine (spinach, sea grass) stimulate nail growth.

4. Lemon juice eliminates yellowish nail color after using nail polish removers with acetone (just use a small piece of lemon as a nail wipe).

After all, nobody should be able to tell how old you are by looking at your hands even in winter!