Hands can tell the passage of time more accurately than the face. Several reasons: the skin here is very thin; hands are extremely exposed to the elements; and, we tend to neglect them. Not anymore though! Here, the top tricks and TLC tips:
Pamper: Keep a hand cream in your handbag, on your desk and on your bedside table, and slather on regularly. For a serious deep-treat, mix olive oil into your hand cream in the evening, pull on some cotton gloves, and leave overnight. It’s also a great idea to stash a hand cream by the sink. Washing hands is very dehydrating on skin, so try to get into the habit of replenishing with moisture straight after washing. Make sure also to always wear gloves when doing the dishes.
Smooth: Massage your facial exfoliant into the backs of hands once a week. This will clear away dead skin cells and surface discolouration, as well as allow hand creams to absorb more effectively.
Protect: Keep a broad-spectrum sunscreen in your glove box and apply before setting out. UVA rays pierce through glass, and you only need several minutes of unprotected exposure every day to add up to major sun damage.
Treat: Your hands are already suffering from sings of sun damage? Speak to your skin clinic about having a few sessions of IPL (intense pulsed light), an extremely effective way to blitz away sunspots.
Cover: Why should your face get all the makeup fun? One of the easiest ways to instantly make hands look younger is the brush on some mineral makeup. Try: Almay Pure Blends Mineral Makeup, $29.95, from Priceline.
