Photograph by Alex Iby
We all work at having a natural and youthful look. You cover your gray hair, use anti-aging creams and protect your face with sunscreen. But what about your hands? If you neglect your hands, they may give away your true age or can even make you look older!
“I remember when I was age forty, I asked my late husband, Stuart Wallach, how he could tell the age of a woman. He said he could tell by looking at their hands” says Marlene.
As a consequence of his answer, I have always taken special care to moisturize my hands, especially in the cold of winter when the humidity in the outside air plunges. Inside, things are even drier thanks to indoor heating.
If you're washing your hands frequently to avoid catching a cold or the flu or COVID, this also adds to zapping whatever natural oils are left in your skin. That can leave your hands so dehydrated that they crack, peel, and even bleed. It is never too late to start taking good care of them.
Moisturizer and sunscreen are a great beginning – whether you're in warm weather or cold weather your hands must be protected. It's always best to apply the cream to your hands after you wash them. That’s when your skin can best absorb the product.
The other thing to do in cold weather is wearing gloves or mittens if dexterity is not important. You can add all the creams on the self but if you do not protect the skin barrier on your hands it’s all for naught.