When I teach math, I use a document camera, which projects what I’m writing or doing with math manipulatives onto the classroom’s SmartBoard. This is absolutely awesome as a teaching tool, but it also provides an up-close-and-personal view of the things that endure a tremendous amount of wear-and-tear during the day, my hands. Sometimes I can’t tell if the hands projected up on the SmartBoard are mine or those of an 85-year-old woman. Once in a while, I’m provided with this much-needed reminder to give my hands a little extra love. I mean, they are literally working all day- Grading papers, opening bags of pretzels for the kids, cleaning the desks, you name it. Not to mention, I wash them a million times a day to try to avoid getting sick, aka the reason my hands are so dry and scaly. Seriously, you could mistake them for a reptile.
So, what are my tricks that I use when my hands look like they seriously need some extra care?
1. Cuticle oil: I’ll admit, I absolutely love having manicured fingers, but the reality is I don’t go to the nail salon very often. Unless I get a gel manicure which I’m not a huge fan of, my nails usually last about 12 hours until I chip one opening a box of staples the next morning. Dried-out-looking cuticles is what a manicure usually takes care of, but rubbing on some cuticle oil right before bed has the same affect. It seriously makes your hands look so much younger, and it literally takes 10 seconds. I use Deco Miami Lavender Cuticle Oil.
2. Hand massage: I feel like the hands get so forgotten when it comes to massages. When my hands are looking or feeling kinda dingy, I make it a point to take 5 minutes either right before bed or first thing in the morning to give them a nice little DIY massage. I use the Aroma Therapy Bath & Body Works Stress Relief lotion in Eucalyptus Spearmint (the smell is so amazing that if you close your eyes you’ll think you’re in a luxury spa). I just use my thumb to massage the opposite hand’s palm and spaces between fingers in a circular motion and then switch hands. Your forgotten hands will seriously love you for this.
3. Coconut oil & gloves overnight treatment: My #1 secret for treating my hands is slathering them with coconut oil right before bedtime and then sleeping with gloves on. I know it sounds a little nutty, but stay with me here. Coconut oil is an amazing natural moisturizer that I actually use on my entire body, so my hands are no exception. The gloves keep the oil concentrated on the hands and keeps it from getting everywhere, and this also forces me to have some unplugged time before bed. Oily hands with gloves? Sorry, iPhone, can’t touch you. Also, the gloves don’t need to be anything specific. I use inexpensive ones from Amazon. I must say, I don’t do this as often as I’d like, but I’m working on it.
How do you keep your hands soft & glowy?
Xo LR