Rx for Cold-Weather Hands

Rx for Cold-Weather Hands

Winter can be hard on your hands -- keep them looking their best with this professional advice.

During the winter months, wind and cold can inflict damage on your delicate digits and make your hands look weather-beaten and world-weary. To help you combat those ill effects, we assembled tips from some of the best experts in the beauty business. Follow their advice, and your hands will look their best all winter long — no matter how harsh Mother Nature decides to be.

1. Wear gloves.

It might seem obvious, but it bears repeating: Gloves are key to protecting the fragile skin of your hands. Even for quick errands outside, you should shield your hands from the elements. Keep a pair in your purse, in case you forget them on your way out the door.

2. Swap harsh soap for something milder.

“Trade in your bar soap and keep a bath and shower gel sink-side for hand washing,” suggests Marion Fenwick, head nail trainer at Bliss spas in New York City. “It’s a nice change for the colder months, because while bar soaps can strip the skin of moisture, bath and shower gels are richer and can actually add moisture to dry hands.”

3. Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize!

Moisturizing is crucial to hand care year-round, but in the winter it’s even more important. Aside from regular application throughout the day and after washing your hands, consider an intensive treatment. “Try applying your favorite hand or body cream to hands, then putting on [specialized hand treatment] gloves for 20 minutes,” she advises. You can also try regular cotton gloves for short intense treatments or overnight use.

Also, it’s a good idea to keep a small bottle of lotion in your purse so you’ll have it available while you’re on the go.

4. Stay hydrated.

A refreshing glass of water may be the last thing on your winter beverage list, but it’s actually one of the times you need water most: Water will keep your body hydrated and counterbalance the drying effect of indoor heating. By drinking water throughout the day, you’ll help your skin stay supple and moist. You might also want to invest in a humidifier to put moisture back into parched indoor air.

5. Supplement your way to softer hands.

In a recent study of 45 non-smoking, healthy women between the ages of 18 and 65, researchers in Dusseldorf, Germany, found that flaxseed and borage oils helped to significantly decrease roughness and scaling in the skin. If you don’t want to take supplements, you can always add a sprinkling of flax seeds to oatmeal or a salad for some of the same nutritional benefits.

6. Use the Vasseur Candle Treatment on you hands before you go to bed. Light the candle for 5 minutes. Blow candle out and pour the treatment on your hands and rub in. You can put gloves on for added benefit.

By following these simple tips, you’ll have soft, supple hands all winter long!