Our hands are exposed to external factors more than any other part of the body. Frequent hand washing, contact with detergents, changes in temperature - warm and dry indoor air during the heating season and cold, frosty air in winter - all this means that the skin on our hands quickly loses moisture and becomes rough.

How to look after your hands and nails so that they stay in good condition all year round? Which hand care cosmetics are worth having in your make-up bag? How to build an effective care routine and which methods will help you keep your hands in excellent condition?

We have some tips!

Why is hand care so important?

The skin on the hands does not have sebaceous glands to the same extent as, for example, the skin of the face, which is why hands need extra support in maintaining the right level of hydration. The epidermis on the back of the hands is thin and delicate, and at the same time constantly exposed to water, soap, detergents and unfavourable weather conditions.

Regular hand washing, although essential from the point of view of hygiene, additionally damages the hydrolipid coat of the epidermis. As a result the hands become dry and the cuticles around the nails start to flake and crack. In time painful hangnails may appear, and the skin of the hands loses its elasticity and healthy look.

Dryness, irritation - how to prevent it, how to care for your hands?

Dried-out skin on the hands is not only an aesthetic problem. Cracks and micro-damage to the epidermis are a gateway for bacteria and can lead to inflammation. Systematic and correct care helps maintain the right level of hydration and strengthens the natural protective barrier of the skin on the hands. Hand hygiene is extremely important, so to minimise the risk of any irritation, use gentle soaps (for example hypoallergenic ones), pat your hands dry gently with a soft towel and use hand cream regularly - even several times a day if you feel your hands need it. Gloves in winter and a cream with SPF in summer are a must have!

Protection against external factors

Hands are particularly exposed to the harmful action of external factors: UV rays speed up the ageing processes, frost and wind dry the skin out, and detergents and cleaning products can cause irritation. Protecting your hands properly along with correct and regular hand care lets you minimise the risk and has a positive effect on the condition of your hands. In summer do not forget a cream with SPF, in winter choose cotton gloves, if you use strong detergents remember to wear protective gloves, and as soon as you feel discomfort or dryness in your hands - reach for a good hand cream. Go for active ingredients such as panthenol or allantoin, as well as natural oils and butters, for example shea butter, which intensively nourishes the epidermis, supports its regeneration and surrounds the skin with a delicate protective layer.

Hand and nail care - well-cared-for nails and cuticles

Hand and nail care are an inseparable whole. The condition of the nail plate depends largely on the hydration of the cuticles around the nails and their proper nourishment. Brittle, splitting nails often signal that the whole hand needs more intensive, but at the same time responsible, care. Pay attention to the hand care cosmetics you use - do they not cause redness or irritation? Often a simple solution - natural oils and butters (for example shea butter) - may turn out to be exactly what your hands need. The tips above - prevention, protection and care - plus a properly performed manicure (both the salon kind and the one done in the quiet of your own home) and cuticle care, that is massaging a natural oil into them (for example plum seed oil), make an excellent recipe for well-cared-for hands.

Natural cosmetics for hand and nail care and the active ingredients worth knowing

The right cosmetics are the foundation of effective care. You do not need dozens of them - a few carefully chosen products that answer the needs of your skin are enough.

Hand cream - the basis of daily care

A good hand cream should intensively moisturise and regenerate the skin while not leaving a greasy layer that gets in the way of everyday activities. The best results come from creams containing natural oils and butters, which moisturise and rebuild the protective barrier of the epidermis.

Ingredients worth paying attention to:

• Shea butter - soothes irritation and redness, prevents itching of the skin. It helps maintain hydration and softens.
• Sweet almond oil - softens and smooths, helps regenerate the epidermal barrier.
• Allantoin - moisturises, softens, smooths, soothes and supports the regeneration of the epidermis.
• Panthenol - penetrates deep into the epidermis, superbly soothes, moisturises and improves elasticity.
• Vitamin F - regenerates the epidermal barrier and helps maintain its balance, increases resistance to environmental factors.

Our Saffron moisturising hand cream is a real SOS for cracked and dry skin on the hands. Its refined formula based on natural ingredients means the cream absorbs quickly and the hands stay soft and moisturised. A complex of corneomimetic ingredients supports the proper functioning of the epidermis, regenerates, calms and smooths, while a set of 10 exotic extracts brightens and improves the texture of the skin.

Hand scrub - the way to smooth skin

Regular use of a scrub allows you to exfoliate dead skin and prepare the skin for the deeper action of creams and oils. It is best to choose products with fine particles, which effectively remove hardened skin but do not damage it. After a scrub the hands become smoother, and the active ingredients from the cosmetics that follow can penetrate the skin better. It is also a great way to even out the complexion and get rid of roughness on the hands.

Our Halva scrub works excellently as a product for exfoliating dry and rough hands. It contains finely ground sweet almond shells and walnut seeds, which leave the skin soft and silky smooth. Use it once or twice a week - exfoliating too often can dry out the delicate skin of the hands and cause irritation. After the scrub, do not forget a hand cream or to wrap your hands in your favourite oil or shea butter.

Oils - intensive regeneration

Natural oils are a true spa for hands and nails. They can be used on their own or as a complement to a cream, especially in the evening, when the skin has more time to regenerate.

For the care of dried-out skin on the hands we recommend:

• Shea butter - nourishes and smooths, protects and supports the regeneration processes of the skin.
• Sweet almond oil - strengthens the nails and the cuticles around them, nourishes and smooths the skin, softens hardened skin.
• Plum seed oil - fantastically moisturises and rebuilds damaged epidermis, regenerates and nourishes brittle nails.
• Sugar cane squalane - restores smoothness to the skin, reduces its roughness.
• Berry seed oils (raspberry, blueberry, blackcurrant, strawberry) - nourish and strengthen the nail plate.

Massage the oil into your nails and the cuticles around them every evening. Systematic care will bring beautiful results - the nails will become stronger and the cuticles soft and well cared for. Definitely worth it! Our Honey lip balm-mask also works wonderfully for this purpose. It has a protective, moisturising, nourishing and regenerating action - so it is perfectly suited to caring for the nails and the cuticles around them.

Hand gels and soaps - hygiene without drying

Gentle but effective hand hygiene is just as important as care. Soaps and hand gels based on strong detergents can destroy the hydrolipid barrier of the skin with every use. Choose gentle products with the addition of moisturising ingredients, which cleanse the skin without drying it out excessively.

For gentle daily hand washing our hypoallergenic soap bars work beautifully: Rice and Calendula. 100% natural, craft-made soaps with shea butter, rice and almond oil, full of natural glycerine, with no added fragrance.

Daily care - how to build an effective routine?

Hand and nail care does not have to be time-consuming or complicated. All it takes is a few simple habits that you work into your everyday life. The key is consistency - regular care brings far better results than occasional intensive treatments.

During the day

After every hand wash it is worth applying a little cream - it is best to keep a tube by the sink in the bathroom and in the kitchen, so you do not forget. Frequent hand washing during the day puts a significant strain on the skin, which is why moisturising them regularly is so important. If you work at a computer, keep a cream on your desk too.

Evening routine

In the evening, before bed, it is worth taking a moment for more intensive care. Massage a thicker layer of cream or oil into your hands, and you can additionally put on thin cotton gloves. This way the active ingredients will work all night long, and in the morning your hands will be soft and nourished.

After applying the cream, massage a few drops of oil into your nails and the cuticles around them. This simple action will significantly improve the condition of the nail plate and prevent hangnails from forming.

A weekly ritual - a home spa for the hands

Once a week give yourself a home spa for the hands: start with a scrub, which will remove dead skin and smooth the skin. Then apply your favourite cream and massage it gently into the skin. You can finish your home spa by rubbing a few drops of your favourite oil into your nails and the cuticles around them.

Home care is a moment of relaxation that brings measurable benefits for the condition of your hands. You can combine this ritual with a manicure - after the scrub and the cream the cuticles will be soft and easy to push back.

Voilà! Well-cared-for hands, ready :)

Daily hand protection

Prevention is just as important as care:

• Always wear gloves in winter - frost and wind dry the skin out extremely. Choose gloves made of natural materials, which let the skin breathe.

• Use protective gloves for housework - contact with detergents and cleaning products destroys the skin's protective barrier. Rubber gloves are a simple way to protect your hands.

• Always apply cream after contact with water - water dries the skin out. Moisturise your hands after every wash.

• Avoid water that is too hot - wash your hands in lukewarm water, hot water can dry the epidermis out further.

• Use a cream with a UV filter - the skin on the hands is prone to photoageing. In summer use creams with high sun protection (SPF 50).

What should daily hand care look like?

Beautiful hands and well-cared-for nails are the result of regular care, not one-off treatments. Daily hand care does not require much time or effort - all you need is consistency and the right cosmetics.

Remember a few of the most important rules:

1. Moisturise your hands after every wash
2. In the evening use more intensive care with oils
3. Exfoliate 1-2 times a week
4. Protect your hands from cold and detergents
5. Choose natural cosmetics, rich in oils and active ingredients

Natural care products, rich in oils, butters and active ingredients of plant origin, will help give the skin effective protection against the unfavourable action of external factors, holding moisture in the skin and keeping it soft and smooth. Systematic care with natural cosmetics will not only improve the look of your hands, but will also slow down the skin's ageing processes.

Start today - your hands deserve comprehensive care!