Tips for your Beautiful Hands

Do your hands look older than you feel? It's not surprising when you think of how much we use and abuse them – exposing them to the drying effects of the sun, winter winds and the harsh chemicals found in many cleaning products. You may be surprised to learn that just five minutes of hand care each day can make a difference. Try these handy ways to keep yours looking beautiful :
• Protect your hands by wearing sunscreen every day and gloves when doing work that might damage them, such as cleaning, gardening or shoveling. This is the first and most important step to minimizing the signs of aging.
• Slough off dead skin cells and give your hands a smoother and healthier appearance. Mix together some sea salt and lemon juice. Brush it into your hands with an old toothbrush a couple of times a week and then rinse. It's rejuvenating.
• Soften your hands even while you do the dishes. Add a little almond oil (about a teaspoon) to your dishwater. The water will reduce roughness, while the oil seals the moisture into your skin.

• Strengthen fragile nails by heating a cup of milk in the microwave for about 30 seconds (or until warm). Then soak your hands in the milk for about five minutes. Its high calcium content works to strengthen brittle nails.
• Moisturize your hands while you're washing them. Did you know that the average woman washes her hands five to six times each day? This can be very drying over time. Try switching to Dove Nourishing Hand Wash that contains a moisturizing ingredient for clean hands that stay soft and supple.
• Alleviate dry, cracked hands using leftovers. Create a mask with warm mashed potatoes (that contain milk or olive oil) and apply it to your hands. Leave it on for about 15 minutes and then rinse with cool water.
• Lighten age spots that appear on your hands due to sun exposure (hint: they look like large freckles). Simply dab a cotton ball into freshly squeezed lemon juice and apply to the spots twice a day until you get the desired results (usually in about six to eight weeks).
• Brighten dull nails with a little bit of castor oil. Massage a drop onto each nail and then buff using a tissue. Your nails will have a natural, beautiful shine.
• Foster healthy hands with this simple exercise. Clench your fists tightly for a second and them throw them open so that your fingers are spread as wide as possible. Repeat this steadily 10 times. It will help improve circulation and loosen your finger joints.