Guestpost: Anti Ageing – Tips to protect your hands

Hydrate your hands with these anti-ageing tips

Our hands are overexposed.  They’re in the sun all day; they’re touching the desk and the computer screen; they’re dumped in buckets of water and scraped with paper towels and napkins.

And because of this overexposure, our hands are usually the first place on our body to show signs of ageing;  our skin becomes dry and brittle, and the back of our hands develop sun spots or large, bulging veins.

We all need to do a better job in protecting our hands; and so here are a few tips to help you do just that.

Tip 1: Wear gloves when doing laundry

Detergents (particularly antimicrobial detergents) can cause extreme dryness and irritation over long periods of use.  So when doing the laundry, try wearing gloves to protect your hands.  As an alternative, find detergents that are safe for your hands or that are not antimicrobial in nature.

Tip 2: Moisturize after showers

Showers dry out your hands quickly.  Water strips your hand of protective oils which causes your skin to lose moisture, and hot showers do this at an even quicker rate.  Be sure to replenish your skin’s natural moisture supply by applying plenty of hydrating moisturiser.

See Paint the Town Scarlet writer, Sarah George’s, top 5 hand creams.

Tip 3: Always pat dry

Everyone knows to pat their face dry instead of rub, so why doesn’t everybody do the same for their hands?  Your hands are just as delicate as your face—so treat them the same way.  Always pat them dry with a soft towel, and opt for the hand dryer when possible.

Tip 4: Put sun screen on your hands

It’s quite funny, actually.  We put sunscreen all over our bodies expect for the part that never hides from the sun.  Wear an SPF 15 sunscreen even on dull days, and you’ll protect your hand from heinous sun damage.  Note: some hand creams and natural skincare products contain SPF 15 sun block.

So that’s it for our tips.  How did we do?  Any other tips you’d add to the list?  Please let us know in the comments section.

Written by Jesse Ortiz, a writer for Dr. Samir Bute and www.Alluskincare.com, who specialises in topics that include anti-aging, natural skincare products, and general skincare.  Follow him on twitter @OrtizJesse.

Guest post: Summer Skincare

Glow like Rihanna with these skincare tips

The elements of Summer can take their toll on our skin. Things like heat, chlorine and humidity can damage your skin during the Summer months, and even though it may not seem like it, the season is almost upon us. So in order to prepare your skin for the hot weather ahead and keep it looking healthy and feeling smooth, here are some tips on taking care of your skin this Summer.

Be sure to use SPF every day – Even when it’s raining or cloudy. You should always apply SPF 15 minutes before you leave your home and every two hours after that. You should also reapply it after you’ve gone swimming because the water will wash off the sunscreen. The fairer your skin, the higher the factor your sunscreen should be to prevent burning.

Use moisturiser every day – Instead of the thick, intense moisturiser that you use during the Winter, get a lighter one so that your skin can breathe and not feel suffocated. If your moisturiser has SPF in it, it’s a good idea to find out how much, but if you’re moisturiser contains less than 15% sunscreen, you should apply some SPF underneath in order to minimise sun damage.

Exfoliate – Use a exfoliator and scrub solution weekly to remove the dead skin cells from your face and body and keep your skin looking radiant. Be sure not to overdo it because freshly exfoliated skin is more sensitive; once a week is plenty during the Summer.

Drink lots of water – On a regular day, you should drink eight glasses of water, but in the Summer try to drink more so that your entire body maintains hydration and feels energized.

Consult your dermatologist – Check with your dermatologist before you continue using acne products, as when mixed with sweat the active ingredients in them can cause the skin to become irritated.

These easy-to-follow tips should help you get through the Summer season by maintaining the natural beauty of your skin. Have a fun summer!

Radiant Summer skin is but a few steps away

Written by Aleya Bamdad of the Manhattan Beauty School, Hair Design Institute