How to: Get Your Hands Looking as Fresh as a Daisy for Spring

Mon, 20 August 2012 2:52PM

Can you believe it’s less than two weeks until spring? Along with a new season comes a fresh start – and new wardrobe – so it’s time to pull your paws out of your mittens and treat them to a little TLC.

Follow our top tips to softer, smoother hands and nails. Along with a cute-as-a-button DIY mani to try now.

1. Say good riddance to dry hands by using an exfoliating scrub
It may sound a little on the extravagant side, but giving your hands a thorough exfoliation once a week helps to slough away any dead skin cells, leaving them feeling silky soft. Try the OPI Chamomile Mint Scrub, $29.95, from David Jones. It’s made up of natural sugar crystals and plant extracts to get rid of dry skin, and is also enriched with vitamin A and E to rehydrate and moisturize.

2. Moisturise, moisturise, moisturise. Did I mention moisturise?
The skin on your hands is thin and delicate, so ensure that you factor in regular hand-hydrating sessions throughout the day. Better yet, keep a tube in the office and at home so you can slather it on whenever you need. If your hands are beginning to show signs of ageing, from wrinkles to freckles and sun spots, or even if it’s something you are becoming more aware of, then pick up Clinique’s Even Better Dark Spot Hand Correct Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 15, $42, from department stores on August 26th. The lightweight hand cream promises to provide your hands with long-lasting moisture throughout the day, including after hand washing, as your skin loses moisture when it comes into contact with water. The addition of vitamin C and other brightening ingredients helps to fade the appearance of dark spots, and the SPF 15 factor means your hands are getting their dose of sunscreen, too. Bonus points for the tube size – it slots right in your handbag.

3. Treat your hands to a little luxury
If you’re looking to indulge a little, a hand mask or hydrating gloves are a good place to start. Talika do an amazing pair ($129, from Mecca Cosmetica) lined with gel to nourish your skin while also giving your hands an anti-ageing treatment. You need to wear them for a minimum of 30 minutes 2-3 times a week, or overnight for a more intensive treatment. For a DIY option, dampen two hand towels and put them in the microwave for 30 seconds each. While you’re waiting, apply a hand mask like OPI’s Papaya & Pineapple Mask, $29.95, infused with shea butter to help rejuvenate your skin, then wrap your hands in the warm towels and leave for 10 minutes.

4. Care for your cuticles
Your cuticles are often the first thing you notice about unkempt nails, as they can become overgrown and split. The first step to cuticle TLC is to invest in a good quality cream. My current favourite? Sally Hansen’s Cuticle Eraser + Balm, $14.95, from Priceline on September 1st. The über-moisturising balm helps to soften and remove dry cuticles while also acting as a treatment, so I apply it at night on clean nails before bed so it can get to work through the night. Tip: After massaging it in, gently push cuticles back into neat shape; you can use an orange stick here, but even a five-cent coin will do the trick.

5. Invest in a good quality base and topcoat
I’m sure I don’t have to tell you how important using a base coat is when painting your nails, but I will again … Without it, your nails can become discoloured and brittle. A base coat not only extends the life of your manicure, but also helps to keep it chip-free, as your subsequent coats of polish will have something to adhere to. Try Orly’s Top 2 Bottom, $19.95, 1300 769 355, which acts as both a base and topcoat for a high-shine finish.

6. Make your nails look as fresh as a daisy. Literally.
Nothing says spring like a fresh bouquet of flowers, so I’ve taken the idea to my nails, with a fresh minty-green on the base – Ulta3 in Corsican Rose, $2, out September 1st – and then used my trust Sally Hansen Nail Art Pen in White, $9.95, from Priceline for the white petals. As for the bright pop of lemon yellow at the centre, I used the tip of a bobby pin and Hello Darling’s Rubber Duckie, $11.95, from Hello Darling.

Posted by: Hayley Bennett

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Tags: anti-ageing, clinique, cuticle balm, cuticles, daisy, diy, hand cream, hand treatment, manicure, nails, pampering., sally hansen, spring, tlc, top coat, ulta3