When I say “skincare,” what do you think of? Probably your face. But your entire body is protected by your skin, including your hands. It is so true— your hands are a dead giveaway of your actual age. Your hands are exposed to environmental aggressors like sunlight, dry cold air, cleaning products, seasonal irritants, plants in your garden, and cold/hot water, to name a few. Our day-to-day activities from driving, using the keyboard, bathroom, cleaning, basically everything leaves our hands exposed. So, our team has created 5 easy steps to reverse the effect of aging on your hands.
Step 1: Apply Sunscreen
Sun exposure plays a huge role in aging. Our cumulative sun exposure over many years can lead to brown spots, irregular pigmentation, thinning of the skin, vascularity, and fine lines and wrinkles. Daily sunscreen application can help shield your hands from the signs of aging. Our hands are always exposed— they aren’t covered up by our clothing, so treat them like your face.
We also wash our hands all day long (hopefully). Even if you apply sunscreen in the morning, it is important to reapply the sunscreen after washing your hands. Our favorite sunscreen for reapplication throughout the day is the Colorescience Sunforgettable Brush-On Sunscreen.
Step 2: Hydrate Your Hands
Daily routines, like frequent hand washing/sanitizer, doing the dishes, cleaning the house, and forgetting to apply your hand cream can seriously dry out your hands. Our hands have fewer sebaceous glands than our faces. The sebaceous glands produce sebum which protects the skin by keeping it lubricated and waterproof. Because we have fewer sebaceous glands on our hands, it can make the skin more prone to dryness.
Handwashing – Hopefully, you are washing your hands all day long. So, find a product that works well with your skin. We love the Epionce Lytic Gel Cleanser ($38). It is antibacterial and antimicrobial without drying out our skin. Trust me; a little bit goes a very, very long way – think pea-size amount.
Hydrating – Invest in a hydrating hand cream like Epionce Restorative Hand Cream ($20). This quick-absorbing formulation is non-greasy and designed to reverse the visible appearance of imperfections and signs of skin aging on the hands.
Have some hand creams in your line-up already. Make sure they contain ceramides. Ceramides are molecules that help form a protective layer and retain moisture. If your hand cream is leaving your palms and fingers filling greasy, skip the palms by squeezing the cream onto the back of your hands, then rub the back of your hands together.
Chores – Wear gloves while washing the dishes, especially if you are using dish soap designed to remove oil!
Step 3: Daily Product Application
Your morning and evening skincare routine is for your hands too! The same antioxidant serum you are applying on your face each morning works on your hands as well. Antioxidants help protect our skin from free radical damage. The oxidative stress from free radicals causes premature aging. By topically applying antioxidants, you can help your skin maintain its youthful appearance. And of course, don’t forget your SPF.
Apply retinol to your hands during your evening skincare routine and top of with a nourishing moisturizer designed to rebuild the skincare barrier.
Step 4: Weekly Hand Facial
Once a week, use a mild exfoliator on the back of your hands to help slough away dead skin. This will allow both your sunscreen and your moisturizer to absorb into your skin better.
“I tend to switch up my exfoliators and use what I’m doing on my face on my hands too,” says Beth, Spa Manager at Lifted. “Two of my favorite exfoliators are O-Cosmedics 3-in1 Fruit Peel and Skinbetter Science Alpha Ret Pads. After you exfoliate, apply a hyaluronic serum and ceramide-rich hand cream for ultimate hydration.”
Step 5: Reverse the Signs of Aging at Lifted Beauty + Wellness
So, you already have the signs of aging and want to reverse them? Your homecare routine of using a retinol, antioxidants, weekly exfoliating, hydrators, and SPF application will certainly help, but sometimes you need to call in the pros.
Here is how we help clients age in reverse. At Lifted, we use lasers, light, chemical peels, and energy to stimulate collagen, reduce hyperpigmentation, vascularity, and plump the skin on your hands.
“My client’s hands are a dead giveaway of their actual age. If you are investing in your skin to keep your youthful appearance, don’t neglect your hands! When I am performing IPLs for my clients, I always suggest we do a quick pass on their hands too.” – IngaLisa Wickstrom, LME. “After all, your hands are allowed to age gracefully too.”
Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) – this light-based energy treatment targets the hyperpigmentation and vascularity in your skin. When it finds the target, it delivers the energy causing the brown spots to slough away and the redness to suppress. It is incredible how many years a single treatment can take off your hands.
WiQo PRX-T33 is a chemical peel with no peeling. The deep penetrating formula triggers a collagen-building response in our skin. It approves the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, skin laxity, and pigmentation. Do you have crepiness on your hands? This treatment will improve the appearance of crepiness on your skin.
TempSure Envi uses radiofrequency to stimulate collagen production and elastin. This treatment feels like a hot stone massage, has no downtime, and has immediate results. As your hands age, the skin can begin to appear thin and crepe. This treatment will help smooth and plump the skin on your hands.
Potenza RF Microneedling uses radiofrequency energy and manual injuries by microneedling to stimulate collagen production and elastin, resulting in tightening of the skin and a more youthful appearance. It also is excellent for treating scars. The next time you are in the spa treating your face, if we have remaining pulses, let’s try it on your hands!
For skin rejuvenation treatments in the Madrona community of Seattle, request a consultation at Lifted Beauty + Wellness.
