Skin Care Tip: Skin care for hands

There's a commercial showing up in a lot of magazines now that states something like "your face looks like 30 but your hands look like 50." That was me for sure, but not any longer. Here's what I now do and recommend to others:

1. Use the same products on your hands as your face. The exception is that you don't want to exfoliate as hand skin is thinner. But the trick is to extend what goes on your face to your hands, too.

My routine includes Renova and I split a pea-sized amount between my two hands every third night. This is slowly fading out brown spots, as well as improving wrinkles and generally looking "plumper."

Friends and I remark that we try a lot of stuff on our faces, and it doesn't always work (clogged pores, redness, etc.) Rather than throw it out, we use it up on our hands.

2. Finish off your hand care with top dressing of something with some staying power such as a shea butter or even petroleum jelly. Keep this by your nightstand, too, and use it just before you go to sleep.

3. The most important thing of all, though, is to use the highest strength UVA/UVB sun block on your hands and apply it throughout the day. I keep sunblock in my purse and in my car, too. If you drive any length at all, you are exposing your hands constantly to harmful effects from the sun. Having that tube of sunscreen handy in the car makes a big difference in keeping hands protected all day long.

4. I've also changed my styles in watches, rings, bracelets, and nail color so they harmonize more with my hand and arm colors rather than contrasting so much. But that's likely more personal choice.

Now I have fewer brown spots and few wrinkles on my hands. They look plumper and younger. My cuticles have improved and my nails, too. They feel better, too, and don't get the mid-afternoon tightness and wrinkly look.