Don’t let your hands give away your age. They are just as vulnerable as your face to environmental damage, so keep yours protected and looking young
by christine cho
Washing, typing, grabbing, pulling, pushing – our hands get a workout on a daily basis. So it’s no surprise that the signs of daily wear and tear confess an involuntary show and tell through our hands. Like any anti-aging routine, prevention is key, so start now – no matter your age!
20’s Right now you’re probably still taking for granted your youthful beauty and definitely not worrying about wrinkly hands – but don’t get too comfortable! Keep a light moisturizer in your purse or desk and remember to replenish moisture throughout the day, especially after washing or sanitizing your hands. Start preventing now – why wait until the signs of damage are already there?
30’s You may still look as young as you feel; however, your body is changing gears, so pay attention. As youth boosters such as collagen and Q-10 start to drop in production, restore some of your skin’s elasticity and moisture. Switch to richer creams such as those with sea buckthorn and try to avoid overuse of drying skin products with ingredients such as alcohol. This may be a great time to begin adding a scrub into your hand routine to slough off those dead skin cells and reveal new, fresh skin. Always follow a scrub with a good, rich moisturizer. And wear gloves whenever you can, whether it’s while braving the cold or doing the dishes!
40+ Your skin can tell stories of sun and fun, but let your voice take back the role of story-telling and let your hands tell a little white lie! If you notice age spots or freckles on your hands, try using moisturizer with whitening/brightening ingredients such as kojic acid. It’s definitely time to switch to richer creams and even try oils such as jojoba oil. Restore moisture throughout the day and try a simple, inexpensive hand spa treatment at home before going to bed. Rub oil into your hands, put on spa gloves (or disposable gloves), allow hands to heat and absorb some of the oil while you watch TV; remove gloves and rub in remaining oil, especially into cuticles.
