help me sort my hands out!!

[sarahseashell]

My hands look reallty crap - old, dirty nails just really awful. I do put hand cream on but that's all. Can't use nail varnish though because of an allergy. I know it sounds a bit bleurgh but but it's kind of brown-ish round my nails. Have decided I need to get some kind of routine going on to improve the situation and am hoping you kind folk can give me some guidance!

Boots No 7 do a really good exfoliating hand scrub. I can't remember what it's called but it comes in an peachy coloured tube. You put some on dry hands and then rub your hands together as if you're washing them. Then rinse it off with warm water and your hands will be lovely and soft.

A good scrub with a nail brush might help too.

thanks! will get some of that I hadn't thought of exfoliating
I know need to use the nail brush more often do use one though and I use gloves for washing up.. maybe I should file my nails at least how often do people normally do this stuff?

Exfoliating, and filing weekly will really help. Also buy a good hand cream - some are crap. Aveeno do a great hand cream (although I just use original Aveeno as a hand cream, it's brilliant). Get into the habit of putting it on whenever your hands have been wet or washed. I also put some on before donning rubber gloves as the heat helps it penetrate.

Also buy a 4-way nail buffer, this will condition your nails and add shine so they will look polished :) here's one The buffer will smooth out ridges, only use it about once a month though or it will thin your nails and could cause them to be weak. But buff for shine whenever you need it.

Put some SPF on the backs of your hands when you're going outside - first bit to age as they're usually the most exposed to sun and rarely get SPF!

Dry heel cream is supposed to be great for hands. Not tried it myself but heard very good things about it.

you lot are great thankyou

so today I got the 4 way buffer (amazing!! didn't even realise you could smooth out ridges or shine your nails ) a packet of sticks (99p) to clean my nails, some aveeno hand cream and some exfoliator. Didn't take very long and they're looking a tiny bit better already will make concerted effort for a week and report back on my hand boot camp

For some intensive moisturising you can also put your hand cream on at night and then put on some of those cotton gloves - you can get them in Boots, Asda etc.