Revitalise your hands with the ultimate ELEMIS hand-care ritual

The skin on our hands is far more delicate than other areas of the body. Its thin and fragile nature makes it more susceptible to everyday wear and tear, the elements, and ageing.

What’s more, our hands tend to be exposed most of the time, meaning they face the brunt of daily activities as well as the changing weather. Frequent washing, the use of cleaning products, and spending all day working on a keyboard are just a few of the aggressors that can lead to skin that feels tight, chapped, and overworked. But by taking a bit of time to focus on hand skincare, you can nourish, revitalise, and protect your skin from these everyday stresses.

Have you ever noticed how hands can be a true indicator of somebody’s age? That’s right, the natural ageing process can be a lot more visible on the backs of your hands than on your face.

From fine lines to protruding veins, dry-looking cuticles, and age spots, as we get older, our hands start to change. You may notice that the skin begins to sag more or become papery in texture as collagen production slows down — and because the backs of the hands have a very delicate layer of skin, this becomes more obvious than the skin on your face. Signs of ageing can manifest in your nails, too. Ridges may become more apparent, and nails can take on a yellow hue, particularly if you wear nail varnish a lot.

Of course, other factors come into play, too. Your lifestyle and genetics will contribute to how quickly or slowly your hands show signs of ageing. If you work with your hands or spend a lot of time gardening, you may find you need to take care of your hands more to keep them moisturised.

It’s particularly important to take the weather into account, too. In the winter, you may find that biting winds and dry air can strip the skin of its natural moisture, leading to dryness and cracking. In contrast, prolonged exposure to the sun's harmful UV rays can accelerate the ageing process, causing the development of age spots and a breakdown of collagen and elastin fibres. These natural proteins are responsible for the skin's elasticity and youthful appearance but can become compromised when facing changing temperatures and humidity levels.

Our Pro-Radiance Hand and Nail Cream is packed with macadamia oil to hydrate and moisturise, creating a more supple appearance no matter the weather.

Applying a hand cream or lotion is one of the best ways to keep your hands looking and feeling nourished. Hand creams, rich in emollients and humectants, penetrate deeply to provide the intensive moisture our hands crave. They lock in hydration to give the appearance of plump, youthful skin and can reduce feelings of tightness and discomfort.

As you’ll see across the ELEMIS hand care range, the best cream for hands features powerful active ingredients to combat the signs of ageing and shield against daily aggressors.

As well as offering a welcome moisture boost, the act of applying hand cream transcends functionality; it's a ritual of self-care. Taking a moment to massage a favourite hand cream or lotion across the backs of your hands, palms, and fingers can offer a calming effect and relieve tension — ideal for those who spend all day crunched over a keyboard. To really create a sense of peace and wellbeing, try a hand lotion brimming with essential oils for an aromatic boost. The Revitalise-Me Hand & Body Lotion features sweet orange, lime and neroli for an invigorating uplift. 

Applying hand lotion is also a lovely way to focus on attention to detail. Well-groomed, silky-smooth hands are the epitome of elegance and refinement so if you’re heading out for a special occasion, focusing on hand hydration can help you feel confident and youthful

So what’s the conclusion? In our humble opinion, using hand cream is certainly worth it — it can bring more benefits than you might first realise.

We’ve touched upon the calming effect applying hand cream can bring but it’s worth exploring the wellness benefits of hand care a little further. From a thorough hand wash to moisturisation, hand care tends to involve a lot of physical touch and massage, and studies have shown that this can ease tension and possibly reduce pain. 

A 2011 study suggests that hand massage can lead to anxiety reduction, improved sleep and mood, and greater grip strength. More than anything, perhaps, hand massage feels good and can be a great way to relax, unwind, and centre. And by incorporating luxurious hand lotions or oils — like our Frangipani Monoi Body Oil — you can enhance the experience further. Infused with fragrant frangipani and moisturising monoi, this sumptuous oil brings a calming aroma for a spa-like feeling at home. 

With a plethora of product options to explore, here are some properties to keep in mind so you can select the best hand creams.

Fast absorbing

When it comes to hydrating your hands, you don’t want to be waiting around for hours for your moisturiser to sink in. For best results, look for products made with oils that won’t leave a greasy residue.

Sweet almond oil is a popular carrier oil for this reason — you’ll find it in an array of our body products, including our Japanese Camellia Body Oil Blend and De-Stress Massage Oil. 

Shea butter is another hand cream hero that sinks into the skin beautifully. It gives our Mayfair No.9 Hand & Body Lotion a luxurious formula that nourishes and smooths right away. 

Moisturising

Both sweet almond oil and shea butter bring the added benefit of intense hydration, making them hand care powerhouses. However, you may also want to look out for hand creams containing hazelnut oil, which is rich in skin-kind vitamin E, and camellia (tea seed) oil, which is excellent for conditioning. Our Pro-Radiance Hand and Nail Cream boasts both of these moisturising ingredients.

Few of us would expect to satisfy all our complexion’s needs with a single product all year around – so why do we treat our hands so differently? Here’s our guide to keeping your hands in tip-top condition.

Exfoliate

Just as exfoliating your face is essential for retaining a smooth complexion on your face, using a body exfoliator on your hands can help buff away dead skin cells and reveal soft, supple skin beneath.

How often should you exfoliate? We recommend using a nutrient-rich exfoliator like our Frangipani Monoi Salt Glow Body Scrub once or twice a week. Fill a sink or bowl with warm water and work the scrub into the skin of your hands using small, circular motions. Pay attention to the edges of your nails to focus on smoothing your cuticles.

Rinse the scrub and pat your hands dry using a soft towel.

Moisturise and massage

Hard-working hands can easily become dry so you may wish to apply a moisturising lotion every morning and evening. Try our Pro-Radiance Hand and Nail Cream for an everyday staple or go for some Revitalise-Me Hand & Body Lotion when you’re in the mood for a vibrant burst of fragrance.

For an intensive weekly hand care ritual, it’s also helpful to soak dry cuticles in warm water for 15 minutes to soften and hydrate.

Then it’s time to massage your hand cream in. Take as long as you like to apply gentle pressure all over your hands as you work the lotion in using circular motions — just as you did with the body exfoliator. Extend your massage up your wrists and forearms to relieve tension and don’t forget your fingertips, too.

Hand yoga

We know that we need to stretch our bodies – especially for those of us who sit at a desk all day. And our hands also need a good stretch. How long do you spend typing on a keyboard or tapping on your phone? Repetitive movements and positions can affect hand mobility over time. So take a moment to ease out your wrists with gentle circles and open and clench your fists a few times to relieve tension — think of it as hand yoga.

Add a flourish with some nail polish

By no means a necessary step, adding a lick of subtle colour with nail polish can be a lovely way to give your hands a more youthful appearance. Rather than choosing a bold colour, consider a nail varnish shade that almost matches your skin tone. Much like applying a tinted moisturiser or BB Cream to your face, it has the overall effect of making the surrounding skin look healthier and creates the illusion of having long, elegant fingers.

Don’t forget sunscreen

The sun’s harmful UV rays can speed up the signs of ageing on your hands as well as on your face. Always apply sunscreen to your hands before going out to reduce the risk of developing tell-tale age spots. But don’t forget SPF for your face, too. We have a range of SPF skincare, including our Pro-Collagen Marine Cream SPF30 and Daily Defence Shield SPF30 to protect and nourish every day. 

Whether you work with your hands, tap away at a computer all day or notice sensitivity when the weather changes, an effective hand skincare routine can keep your hands feeling nourished and looking more youthful. The ELEMIS hand care collection features hand wash and hand cream products to hydrate, protect, and smooth. Explore the range and give your skin a helping hand.