Handle With Care
Give your hands a holiday this winter season. Low humidity, chilling
winds and subzero temperatures contrast with dry, indoor heating
to wreak havoc on our delicate epidermis. At this time of year,
it becomes even more important to have a hand care plan.
Think about it… Our hands are on the front lines of our
everyday life. In many ways, they’re our connection to the
physical world. In the course of a regular day it’s their
job to get roughed up -- but the holiday season brings with it
a whole extra set of hand-demands.
Here a few ideas to help your hands stay beautiful through the
holiday season.
In the Kitchen
We may spend more time in the kitchen around the holidays, coming
in close contact with high heat and sharp knives. Protect your
hands from burns and store knives carefully with handles out and
blades down.
Tip!
Keep a quality pair of oven mitts around to protect your hands
from painful burns and potentially permanent scars.
Shopping
While we shop, our hands get dirty with more microscopic nasties
than we’d like to know. Handling money and touching items
other people have touched puts us at increased risk of catching
colds and other illnesses. (Read our article on combating colds!)
To avoid getting sick, it’s wise to wash frequently when
you’re out and about, but increased washing can be hard
on your hands. Be careful to avoid harsh detergent soaps and gently
pat dry with a soft towel rather than vigorously rubbing or using
harshly heated hand dryers. Apply a rich, nourishing moisturizer
after every wash.
Tip!
Carry an Olay Total Effects Moisturizer in your purse for any-time
application.Gift Wrapping
The perils of paper cuts lead to small nicks and cuts that sting,
causing our poor hands to look used and abused. Cut and fold paper
carefully to avoid hurting yourself or just switch to gift bags.
They look beautiful and hurt less.
Tip!
Many stores and shopping malls offer free gift wrapping services.
Take advantage of them!
House Cleaning
Giving everything a good scrub before holiday guests arrive is
almost certainly on the agenda, but just think what those harsh
solvents and chemicals are doing to your hands! Make a habit of
putting gloves on whenever you roll up your sleeves.
Tip!
A box of skin-thin latex gloves will last forever and are much
easier to work in than traditional rubber gloves.
Socializing
Keep your hands covered whenever you go outside and always remember
to drink lots of water – especially if your social occasions
are likely to include a hot toddy or two! Alcohol and cold weather
are both extremely damaging to our skin’s hydration.
Tip!
Drink at least one glass of water for every glass of wine to keep
yourself fully hydrated.
Staying In
While the wind’s howling at the window, the nicest thing
to do is to curl up on the couch. During these welcome downtimes,
you can help soothe damage done by pampering your hands with a
moisturizing at-home spa treatment:
1. Soak hands in warm water with a few tablespoons of baking
soda
2. Gently pat dry
3. Apply an extra amount of warm hand moisturizer
4. Cover hands with cotton gloves, socks or cling wrap
5. Rest for 30 minutes while it soaks in
Tip!
Keep an Olay Total Effects Moisturizer by the couch and give yourself
a gentle hand massage whenever you watch TV.
Do you have a great tip for keeping your hands beautiful in winter?
*Share it with us at editor@beingbeautiful.ca
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