Here’s how to protect, nourish and care for your hands

20 July 2018

By Fashion Quarterly

Want to know a woman’s age? Just look at her hands.

Our hardworking hands are generally the last in the skincare pecking order, yet they’re the first part of our bodies to age. Endless washing, dehydration and sun exposure adds up quickly; so it’s time we gave our mitts their own anti-ageing routine.

Scroll below to how to care for your hands:

Step one – Cleanse

“Look for nourishment as well as cleansing properties when it comes to your hand wash,” explains Rosa Guthrie of The Cosmetic Clinic. “Avoid anything that strips the skin of its natural oils; I like Aesop for its gentle cleansing.”

Mor Correspondence Hand & Body Wash, $25, from Koop; Aesop Resurrection Aromatique Hand Wash, $49, from World; The Aromatherapy Company Therapy Kitchen Chef’s Natural Soap & Nail Brush, $19.

Step two – Scrub

“Turning over the dead skin on any part of your body is important to keep your skin looking youthful and clear. Pigmentation and dehydration are the most common hand issues. A regular use of a glycolic scrub [a type of AHA or alpha hydroxy acid] or adding your hands to your monthly facial microdermabrasion treatment is ideal.”

Pure Fiji Exfoliating Scrub, $50; Institut Glycolic Scrub, $49, from The Cosmetic Clinic; asap Revitalising Body Scrub with AHAs, $49, from Enrich Beauty.

Step three – Treat

“The winning solution is a combination of active home care and advanced skin treatments. In the clinic, pigmentation removal using lasers is the most effective treatment hands down (excuse the pun); we can turn an old-looking, mottled hand into a clear canvas in no time. As the area is close to the bone and low in fat, it can tend to look dehydrated, veiny and wrinkly, so our cosmetic nurses can also inject hydrating filler very superficially across the backs of the hands, resulting in a smoother, plumper look.”

Hand Chemistry Intense Youth Complex, $40, from Caci Clinic; Institut Vitamin C Powder, $49, from The Cosmetic Clinic; Burt’s Bees Dark Spot Corrector, $29.

Step four – Hydrate

When shopping for hand creams look to natural waxes and oils, such as shea butter, lanolin, beeswax or nut oils for their hydration and replenishing properties. Also look out for ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and glycerin, which will help deliver and lock in maximum moisture. “Sunscreen on the back of your hands is also key; it may seem over the top but it makes such a difference,” says Rosa.