Did you know, in the Vedic era, washing of the hands became a ritual from another practice of drinking water by making a cup from folded fingers? Hand cleansing thus became a precursor of anything that involved measuring, drinking or using the hands for intake of anything.
While the importance of washing hands was realized as late as in the 1900s in the west, Ayurveda believed in cleansing oneself before and after taking anything around the personal sphere of the body. Here are 5 easy hand care tips by Forest Essentials that you can easily follow at home, while salon manicures are out of your reach:
1. D.I.Y. Moisturizing Hand Mask for Nourished Skin
The skin on your hands is more delicate than the skin on the rest of your body. With constant hand washing, the skin may start flaking, and to avoid this from happening, we suggest a D.I.Y. Hand Mask with ingredients from your kitchen, for immense hand hydration:
How to make a hand mask?
- 2 tbsp fine raw Sugar
- 1 tbsp raw Honey
- 1 tbsp Olive Oil (or 1 raw Egg Yolk)
- 1 tbsp full-fat Cream
Mix all the ingredients well. Then, apply a generous layer of this hand softening treatment and keep it on for 15 minutes. For extra nourishment, cover your hands with a pair of gloves. Finally, rinse off the hand mask with lukewarm water and follow with the Forest Essentials Blood Orange Hand Serum, after rinsing off the hand mask.
2. Cuticle Care
Cuticles form the base of your nails and if you cut them wrong whilst giving yourself a manicure, it can hamper their growth. Instead, ditch the cuticle cutter and push them back gently, as you may have seen your manicurist doing so. Follow this with a nourishing cuticle oil or cream.
If you don’t have a cuticle oil handy, here’s an alternative D.I.Y. cuticle oil recipe:
- Mix warm oils of Olive, Almond and Coconut.
- You can also add a drop of your favourite essential oil for a soothing fragrance.
Dip your fingers this mix for about 3-5 minutes. Wipe of the excess and follow with the Forest Essentials Blood Orange Hand Serum for a boost of Vitamin C. Regular usage will plump the hands on your skin and make them softer. Follow these cuticle care tips for stronger nails.
3. Practice Ayurvedic Hand Massages at Home
The technique of an Ayurvedic hand massage revitalizes the mind and body whilst soothing the senses. Our Ayurveda Experts recommend the following massage therapy for hands, for you to practice:
- Clean your hands with a hot towel.
- Apply a nourishing Body Cream with a few drops of oil, and massage each hand for 5 minutes, focusing on the pressure points. These include the crease on your outer wrist, below your pinkie finger, the tip of your thumb down along the side of your hand, and the point between two tendons on the backside of the arm.
May we suggest the Forest Essentials Body Massage Oils with a base of pure Cow’s Ghee and a fragrance for each mood.
- Wipe off the excess with a hot towel.
4. Include a Polisher in Your Hand Ritual
Polishers ensure dead skin cells get buffed away whilst you wash it off with lukewarm water. We suggest using the Forest Essentials Blood Orange Hand Polisher, enriched with rich sea salts blended in pure herb-infused cold-pressed oils, honey, and blood orange essential oil, to exfoliate and polish for a satin, smooth and luminous finish.
5. Nail Care – Always Apply a Base Coat Under Your Nail Colour
This may seem like an obvious tip but many of us forget to apply a base coat and prefer using a top coat over our colorful nail polishes, for that extra shine. While the latter makes your nails look beautiful in the short run, applying a base coat will ensure your nails stay protected from chemicals in your nail polish and may make them stronger in the long run. Use natural nail polish to make your nails stronger while you cherish the manicure.
Follow these simple tips to take care of your hands. Wash them frequently, for at least 20 seconds, always apply a cream or serum after washing, and avoid touching your face. Stay indoors, stay safe!