by Jayne Clarkson

Created on: June 19, 2009   Last Updated: November 18, 2009

Many jobs can be hard on your hands. Whether you are a gardener , a zookeeper or farmer ,keeping your hands soft and moisturised can be a chore. Calluses , blisters and dry skin , amongst other skin complaints, can be the bane of any hard working person's life . So, how can you look after your hands properly when time pressure is a big issue? Detailed below, I have formulated a quick and simple handcare routine, which can be performed in minutes and makes a real difference to the condition of your hands.

1.To begin with, it is so important to treat your hands with great care when you aren't working. The first step is to gently exfoliate your hands to remove any dead skin cells. There are many lovely exfoliants on the market but it is easy to choose a formulation that is too harsh. I would recommend an exfoliant specially formulated to use on the hands or delicate skin.

The Body Shop, has created a lovely hand exfoliator with almond oil which removes flaky skin and also provides moisturisation. Try www.thebodyshop.co.uk .However there are many others ,so it is merely important to look for a gentle, hand exfoliator with moisturising qualities.

2.Next, it is good to give your poor , weary hands a massage, using a relaxing essential oil such as Lavender or Rose. You will only need a few drops, as a little goes a long way . Essential oils are also fairly expensive, so that is another good reason to use them sparingly. However before you start, it is important to note that you need to use essential oils that have been specifically formulated for use on the body. Never use raw essential oils on the skin.

3.Hand massaging is actually very simple and does not need any specific training unlike many other forms of massage. Of course, it is fantastic if some one else can lavish such attention on you. However if not, just place a few drops of oil in one hand , then massage the back of your hand in circular movements. Next , move along each finger , rubbing each joint carefully as you go. Finally, repeat the circular movements on your palm and change hands.There are a number of video guides posted on, www.youtube.com, which give easy to follow visual instructions.

4.Finally, it is important to cover your hands in a thick layer of barrier cream. Moisturising creams specially formulated for gardeners are often useful, as they are thicker and contain slightly more grease. This may sound pretty horrible, but if your hands have been deep in bleach or battered by the elements , they will need an extra strong layer to protect them. Once again , the Body Shop has formulated a very useful hand moisturiser called "Hemp hand cream". It is extremely moisturising and actually very good for most skin types.

5. The easiest and most enjoyable step is,once you have moisturised your hands , just relax.

If you try to follow this simple routine , I'm sure that it will make a great difference to the well being of your hands and it only takes a few minutes.

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