Your hands do play an important role in your everyday life. There is hardly a day that goes by that you do not use them. Since they are important and you love them, you need to treat them better using hand lotion.
We use our hands to do almost everything, which can make them dried out. Think of all the things you do with your hands daily. From washing dishes, driving, social media, making gestures while discussing, the list is endless.
If you subject your face to the same things your hands deal with, your face would have been destroyed. Yet we tend to care more for the face than the hands. Have you heard of the cliché ‘you can always tell a person’s age by looking at their hands’?
The combination of heat and cold weather conditions makes it nearly impossible to keep hands soft and supple. If you treat the hands like trash, you open them up to the signs of aging such as wrinkles and dehydration. Wait a minute, for all of the work your hands have helped you accomplished, have you been really caring for them?
Taking care of your hands should always be one of your skin priority routines. This is not referring to pedicure alone. Applying hand lotion should be a vital addition to your skincare regime if you haven’t been doing so. If you have been incorporating them in your skincare regime, it is a habit to be sustained.
The best way to apply hand lotion is to squeeze it onto the back of your hand. From there, you rub the back of your other hand against it. Take note: the top of your hands is much thinner, has less sebaceous gland and can become dry very quickly.
Are you curious about hand lotions? Relax because you are about to learn all about it.
Table of Contents
Benefits of Using Hand lotion
You might be wondering what the big deal is about hand lotion. Here are some major benefits of incorporating hand lotion into your skincare regimen.
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Hand Lotions Improve the Skin around the Area of your Hands
Most hand lotions contain emollients in them which actually improves skin condition. If you use a hand lotion, the skin areas around your hands would be much better.
The massaging effect that is used when applying hand lotion helps stimulate blood circulation and new cell generation.
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It Combats the Signs of Premature Aging
The skin on your hand area tends to react to the environment quickly. Due to constant use, the skin there also needs moisture in order to stay hydrated and smooth. Hand lotion helps to boost the moisture levels and skin elasticity.
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Hand Lotions Protect your Hands against UV Exposure
UV exposure can cause cracking and pigmentation. Using a hand lotion protects your hand against the sun’s harmful radiation.
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It Reduces the Chances of Skin Problems
Using hand lotion every day can greatly cut down the chances of unnecessarily developing extreme oiliness or dryness, and prevent skin diseases like eczema.
Factors to Consider When Selecting Hand Lotion
Manufacturers will exaggerate information to lure you using their hand lotion and make sales. This hand lotion buying guide was written to prevent you from falling into prey and getting the ideal one.
1. Skin Type
Never use hand lotion that does not suit the skin type you have. Companies that produce hand lotion do label their products with a specific skin type.
If you have dry, itchy skin, choose a thick hand lotion that can keep moisture in. Look for a hand lotion that contains ingredients like hyaluronic acid and dimethicone, they keep the skin hydrated.
Is your skin flaky or bumpy? An exfoliating hand lotion would help you remove dead skin cells to smooth your skin and attract moisture to keep it smooth.
Hand lotions that come in the cream formula are best for normal skin. This is because they tend to be light and good at hydrating the skin. Use a hand lotion that has water as the main ingredient for skin that is predominantly oily.
People with sensitive skin should select a hand lotion that is fragrance-free moisturizer.
2. Sun Protection Factor (SPF)
No matter the type of skin you have, go for a sunscreen that contains SPF 30, at the least. This is what almost every dermatologist would tell you. You stand a better chance of protecting your skin that way.
3. Ingredients
You derive benefits from the ingredients used in a hand lotion. There are certain ingredients you should look out for if you want an effective hand lotion. Ingredients like chamomile, green tea and pomegranate usually help maintain the healthiness and freshness of any type of skin.
People with dry skin should use a hand lotion that contains urea, glycerin, proteins and propylene glycol. They help attract and trap moisture in the skin.
That is not all; check that a hand lotion contain antioxidants. The reason is that antioxidants help neutralize free radicals that break down the skin cells.
Occlusives like petrolatum, mineral oil, lanolin, and waxes form a coat that enables the skin to keep in moisture. Emollients like jojoba oil and silicones make the skin pliable, soft and smooth. Cholesterol and ceramides can restore the skin’s barrier without giving any irritation.
Warning: avoid coloring and perfumes in a hand lotion because they are potential irritating ingredients.
![[Fruits and Passion] ALO Hand Cream Four Piece Set - Includes Orange Cantaloupe, Ocean Flower, Grapefruit Guava, Pear Peony Scents](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/513L+OlB76L.jpg)
4. Weather
The weather should be considered before choosing a hand lotion. Watch for weather changes as there are hand lotions for hot and cold seasons. Here is why: it is evident that the skin does not react the same in all the seasons.
To make the most of your shopping experience for a hand lotion, consider purchasing according to current weather conditions. If your skin becomes extra dry in the winter, use a hand lotion with occlusives to combat the dryness. This will help protect your skin and seal in moisture.
5. Skin Condition
This is an essential factor to remember when buying your hand lotion. If you have any skin condition such that you suffer from eczema, buy a hand lotion that is recommended by dermatologists.
Tips to Guide You When Shopping for Hand Lotion
There are so many products of hand lotion out there. How do you know what to look for and avoid when buying a hand lotion?
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Avoid Harsh Ingredients
Some hand lotions contain a lot of acids. Do not select a hand lotion with alpha-hydroxy acids, salicylic acid and glycolic acid if your skin is sensitive or dry. There is a huge chance they would cause undue irritation and you do not want that.
That is not all; avoid a hand lotion with steroidal ingredients as they can thin out the skin.
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Affordable price
Hand lotion is to be put on the hands every day. This routine can be difficult to maintain if it costs so much. Packaging and high prices can mislead your choice.
You should be aware that a hand lotion with active ingredients will always be more expensive. Take note: Focus on the ingredients and not be deceived by the price.
Check online and offline stores to know their price range and compare prices. Make sure that you visit more than three stores.
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Tube packaging
Check that your choice of hand lotion is packaged properly. Tube packaging keeps bacteria and air from degrading the hand lotion.
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The pH balance
Hand lotions with ingredients like alpha-hydroxy acid need to have the perfect pH balance in order to work maximally. Anything other than this can disrupt the natural pH balance of the skin.
When your skin natural protective barrier is destroyed, it contributes to dry skin or noticeable aging signs. You end up having the issues you were running from.
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Research
Try to make time to conduct research before purchasing a particular hand lotion. Ask questions about your product choice, this would help you get the right information. Check search engines for your choice of hand lotion.
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Brands
Ignore advertising claims, commercials are misleading. Companies spend a lot of money on marketing to entice you to their products. Choose a company that you believe you can trust, and then scrutinize their products, their claims, and their ingredients.
Buy a hand lotion from a reputable brand name, doing this gives you a guarantee and a sense of security.
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Take your friend with you
Going shopping with a friend can prevent you from making the wrong choices. The opinion of others might help you have a broader view of hand lotion and reduce your stress.
Check out these interesting skin care product reviews/articles:
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Neutrogena Men Skin Clearing Acne Wash – Comprehensive Review
What Can Cause Itchy Skin without a Rash? – In-depth Answer
How to Get Rid of Stretched Skin after Pregnancy – Extensive Answer
How to Exfoliate Sensitive Skin – Extensive Answer
What Lotion Is Good for Baby Dry Skin – Comprehensive Answer
How to Get the Best from Using Hand Lotion
Using hand lotion is important but how do you ensure that all conditions are in place to make it effective?
1. Always Clean Your Hands
be sure to get your hands washed any time you perform any activity. It is important as dirt particles are everywhere in the air. Use lukewarm water when doing this. Using hot or cold water could cause some damage due to the frequency with which you wash your hands.
In the same vein, make sure you use a mild soap or hand wash. Using anything strong would cause even more damage than water in any extreme temperature.
Ensure your hands are free of dirt before applying hand lotion. Use enough amount of the hand lotion and rub vigorously for 20 to 30 seconds. Distribute the hand lotion between your fingers, under your nails, on your wrists and on the backs of each hand.
Do not rinse your hands with water or wipe them with a towel after using hand lotion. Here is why: doing so will counteract the effect of hand lotion.
Take note: frequent washing of the hands gets the moisture sapped out of them than any other area of the body.
2. Apply Hand Lotion after your Shower
It is advisable that you use hand lotion on the skin while it is still a little damp. This provides moisture for the humectants in the lotion to seep into your skin and for the occlusives to be sealed in.
3. Wear gloves During Chores
The chemicals in most cleaning agents can dry out your skin stripping away the natural oils in your skin. Your skin can become parched, cracked and irritated. To prevent this from happening, wear hand gloves when using your hands for choice.
Gloves are good protection to the hands. They protect you against sharp and harmful objects that may hurt your hands. Wear them when doing tasks like gardening, carrying heavy tools, and doing heavy manual labors.
That is not all, hand gloves should not be only used during chores. When going to bed at night, cover your hands with a pair of light cotton gloves. You will be awakened with soft and supple hands, don’t you want that?
4. Exfoliate
Dead skin cells have the ability to create a wall between your skincare products and your skin. When these products do not have a way of getting to your skin, it would be an exercise in futility. Therefore, it is good to scrub your hands at least once a week using an exfoliating product. This is to remove your dead skin.
Exfoliating the hands improves its texture, it is is an easy way to revive dry, dull hands by revealing new skin. Another benefit of exfoliating the hands is that it can help remove leftover dirt and help skincare products sink in.
5. Use a Sun Protection Product
Do you forget to use sun protection products for your hands? The hands get exposure to the sun all year round. Sun exposure has the tendency to cause wrinkles on the hands, making them age faster.
So, protect your hands from getting too exposed to the sun frequently. Use sun protection any time you want to head out. Sun protection products such as sunscreen or sunblock protect your hands from UV radiation and reduce your chance of skin cancer.
6. Eat Healthily
What you eat can affect how your hands look and feel like. There are certain foods you should regularly eat to avoid having dry hands and brittle nails. Make up your diet with foods that are rich in protein, Vitamin B and Vitamin E to keep your hands looking fresh.
