Hand Care

Hands can often give away age, even before little wrinkles around eyes and lips appear. The skin on top of the hands is thin, with small muscles and little fat to

support it. Also, it is rarely covered and is therefore exposed to virtually all kinds of weather, as well as soap and water and potentially harsh detergents. During

winter, hands become dry and chapped. In summer, most hands get more sun than the rest of the body. For all these reasons, our hands may not look their best and

may require special attention.

Double-Agent Hand Mask

This mask begins with an exfoliating phase that will take off all the dryness on top of your hands and prepare newer skin cells for a makeover. The second phase combines the firming effect of egg whites with the nutritious properties of honey. Cream cheese provides a fat component that will soften the skin.

INGREDIENTS FOR PHASE 1

½ cup semolina

1 teaspoon sea salt

1 ounce (30 ml) olive oil

2 ounces (60 ml) almond milk

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Mix all the above ingredients.

2. Apply by rubbing on the hands with circular motions for a couple of minutes.

Make sure to rub around the fingernails, as well, to improve cuticle

appearance. Then rinse off. Repeat one more time.

3. You should be able to tell the difference by feeling smoother skin on your

hands.

INGREDIENTS FOR PHASE 2

1 tablespoon softened cream cheese 1 tablespoon honey

1 egg

Disposable gloves

Note: If you are allergic to eggs, replace the egg with 1 tablespoon olive oil.

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Mix the cream cheese and honey, and set the mixture aside. Whisk the egg;

then add it to the creamy mixture.

2. Spread the mixture on your hands, and then put on the disposable gloves. Wait

10–15 minutes before removing the gloves and washing your hands.

3. Follow with your usual hand cream.

Youthful Hand Concoction

Hands age as fast as the face, sometimes even faster, and people may be able to guess your age only by looking at your hands. This formula combines essential elements and a few extra proteins to help hands fight aging, reverse sun damage, and remain soft to the touch.

INGREDIENTS

1 egg white

1 ounce (30 ml) heavy cream

½ teaspoon lemon juice

2 teaspoons almond oil

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Whisk together all the above ingredients in their listed order and transfer the

mixture to a bottle.

2. Rub a little on both hands twice a day. Leave on for 10–15 minutes before

washing. Follow with a sunscreen in the morning, especially if your hands

will be exposed to sunlight.

3. Store in the refrigerator for up to a week. Shake well before each application.

Weather Shield Mask

This mask is good in wintertime, when hands tend to become dry and rough. Prepare as often as needed to whiten and nourish hands.

INGREDIENTS

4 small potatoes, peeled, cooked, and mashed 1 ounce (30 ml) heavy cream

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 tablespoon lemon juice

10 drops (0.5 ml) vitamin E

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Mix the above ingredients well until a uniform paste is formed.

2. Spread the mask on your hands and rub in well to help the fats from the cream

and oil penetrate the skin.

3. Keep this mask on for a few minutes; then rinse off with warm water. Follow

with a hand moisturizer.

Round-the-Clock Hand Moisturizer

As its name suggests, this silky moisturizer can be used as many

times as needed during the day. Prepare this moisturizer as often as you

like and store it in a pump bottle right next to your hand soap.

INGREDIENTS

4 ounces (60 ml) aloe vera gel

2 teaspoons almond oil

1 teaspoon vegetable-derived glycerin

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Start with the gel, to which you will add the almond oil, 1 teaspoon at a time,

whisking continuously. Add the glycerin, whisk well for several minutes, and

then transfer to a pump bottle.

2. Apply as often as your hands need it, especially after washing with soap or

working with detergents.

Hand and Elbow Formula

This extremely simple recipe may look like a Mediterranean salad dressing, but it’s much more than that. Olive oil is a wonderful moisturizer, and lemon juice will brighten your hands and elbows. Himalayan salt contains more than 80 minerals and helps with exfoliation. Prepare frequently to soften rough areas on the hands and elbows.

INGREDIENTS

2 ounces (60 ml) extra virgin olive oil 2 ounces (60 ml) sunflower oil

1 ounce (30 ml) lemon juice

1 pinch Himalayan salt

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Mix the oils together, then whisk in the lemon juice. Sprinkle the salt in

gradually and whisk continuously to blend. Use a stick blender to achieve

better mixing.

2. Transfer the mixture to a bottle. Always shake vigorously before applying to

hands and elbows. Follow with sunscreen prior to sun exposure.

Soft and Bright Hands

This recipe calls for a few drops of white vinegar, which acts as a keratolytic (remover of dead skin cells) and a skin brightener capable of revealing newer skin. Prepare this formula if you need to

improve the appearance of sunspots on your hands. The addition of more

friendly ingredients will compensate for the harsh acidity and drying effect of

the vinegar.

INGREDIENTS

2 ounces (60 ml) rose water

2 ounces (60 ml) pulp-free cucumber juice 1 tablespoon vegetable-derived

glycerin 1 tablespoon white vinegar (5% acidity)

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Combine the rose water with the cucumber juice in a small bowl. Then,

stirring continuously, slowly pour the glycerin into the rose water and

cucumber juice. Add the white vinegar, mix, and transfer to a bottle.

2. Spread a small amount on the hands once daily, preferably at bedtime.

Alternate with a hand moisturizer and a sunscreen in the morning.

All-Natural Hand Sanitizer

Rubbing alcohol is a widely used sanitizer with reliable efficacy.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends a concentration

ranging from 60 percent to 95 percent ethanol or isopropanol for effective

germicidal activity.

Once you try this recipe, you will stop buying commercial hand sanitizers. It

is so easy to make and costs a fraction of the price. You can prepare enough for a

whole season and refill small empty spray bottles as you go.

The formula has three basic ingredients:

• The sanitizing agent: rubbing alcohol. Rubbing alcohol is not pure alcohol. It

is diluted with water to a 70 percent concentration. Make sure you use a

reputable brand because alcohol can carry many impurities that you do not

want.

• Essential oils (such as thyme or eucalyptus oils) help improve the smell of

the spray and may provide antiseptic properties of their own.

• Glycerin or aloe vera will counterbalance the drying effect of the rubbing

alcohol on the skin.

INGREDIENTS

3 ounces (100 ml) 70 percent rubbing alcohol 1 teaspoon vegetable-derived

glycerin 1 teaspoon aloe vera juice

20 drops (1 ml) thyme (or other) essential oil

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Mix all the above ingredients and transfer the mixture to a spray bottle.

2. Use to sanitize hands when needed.