Spring Beauty Tips: Hands and Nails

by Aimee Amodio | More from this Blogger

05 Apr 2008 12:36 PM

Spring is the season of rebirth... of rejuvenation. Don't forget your hands! Over the winter, your skin may have gotten rough and dry thanks to forced-air heat. It's time to renew your hands and nails.

Want a good idea of someone's age? Look at their hands. Hands are often a truer judge of age than any other part of the body. You can keep your hands looking healthy and young with these tips:

• Keep moisturizer handy -- all year round. Apply lotion after you wash your hands to help lock in moisture.
• Pick a hand cream that includes sunscreen. A lotion that includes SPF 15 (or more) will help prevent sunspots and burns. The skin on your hands is already thin -- don't let a burn make the skin even more fragile.
• Take care of your cuticles -- they're your body's guard at the gates. Don't cut or tear or chew your cuticles. If you need to, use an orange stick to gently push them back.
• Going out into your garden? Don't forget to wear gloves to protect your hands while you work.

A manicure can help make you feel fun, graceful, and elegant. I know my hand gestures become more graceful when I've got my nails painted. I can't help it! Here are a few quick tips to keep your nails looking good and healthy.

• Try putting polish underneath the nail, too! This can help prevent chipping and make your manicure last a few extra days. Beauty experts use this trick to get an extra three days of perfection out of a new coat of pain. It doesn't have to be color -- even clear nail polish on the underside tip of the nail will help.
• When you are removing nail polish, apply lotion to your cuticles first. Protect the nail bed before you strip away the paint -- the lotion will help keep your nails healthy, strong, and hydrated.

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Aimee is a fiction writer... dog lover... music lover...

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