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Mackfam
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Ladies,
I recently decided that I really wanted to take better care of my hands.
** I'm nearly 43. Wrinklier hands. My veins pop up in my hands a lot now...genetic, I assume. My mom's hands are like this.
** I wash...a lot.
** My hands are always "out there," so to speak.
** My hands look dry and neglected.
** In the winter, my knuckles are so dry they crack.
** My nails were kept trimmed close just to keep them out of the way.
I wanted my hands to be neat, pretty, clean and trim, an extension of my ability to extend hospitality.
I spent some time brainstorming a routine toward this end:
** Evening wash and lotion, paying special attention to cuticle area and knuckles (mine are so dry and prone to crack in winter).
** Periodic under-nail cleaning
** Weekly: intensive cuticle moisturizer, cuticle management, trim fingernails, paint nails.
I really look forward to my hand pampering time in the evenings, and I really enjoy how much prettier my hands are since I've started this routine!
Here are some of my favorite tools so far:
** Evolution of Smooth (EOS) Hand Lotion - I love berry blossom. This is my favorite evening lotion treat.
** Curel Fragrance Free Lotion - this is a great, daily, unscented lotion. I use it in the mornings. I use Ultra Healing in the winter months.
** Plastic Cuticle Pusher - only need to use this once/month just to shape and trim cuticles. I notice that the more regular I am about using it, the less I need to use it. It makes a HUGE difference in neat hands!!!
** Nail Buffer with a variety of smoothing/polishing surfaces
** Love these fingernail scrub brushes - I use them all year long! They're especially great after gardening! Keep one in the shower!
** Neutral, but pink-based nail polish adds a very polished, finished look without screaming - "LOOK AT ME!" My favorites are:
:: Revlon Sheer Translucide Sheer Nude
:: Revlon Sheer Translucide Sheer Rose
:: Covergirl Outlast Stay Brilliant Peaches and Cream
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PLEASE SHARE YOUR ROUTINE AND FAVORITE TOOLS!!
** I'd love to try the new Clinique Nail Enamel - has anyone tried it?
** I wash my hands a lot!!! I know you ladies do, too! I really want to find a hand soap that is very lotion-y on its own to help with dry-ness. I can't always apply lotion after every wash, so I'm looking for a soap that is very moisturizing. We avoid anti-bacterial soap here...so not looking for that at all. Ideas? Share your favorites! I love things that smell nice, too! 
** What do you do with your rings during the day - if you moisturize/lotion frequently? My diamond engagement ring would get really yucky if I kept it on, but I don't like taking it off. Maybe I need to just wear my simple wedding band during the day though, and just put my engagement ring on if I'm going out? What do you ladies do about rings and lotion?
** Favorite nail polish remover? I'm using the cheap non-acetone-standard-stinky-stuff. Can anyone recommend anything else?
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PLEASE share any other helpful hand routine ideas I might be missing!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'd really like to add to my routine, "polish" it up a bit! 
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Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19 , ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
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Mackfam
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| Posted: Dec 19 2013 at 10:19pm | IP Logged
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Adding ---
I hinted for Mary Kay Satin Hands Pampering Set for Christmas. I used to have a set of this a long time ago, and a friend reminded me that it would be a great addition to my routine!
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Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19, ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
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Pilgrim
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| Posted: Dec 19 2013 at 10:21pm | IP Logged
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I don't do a whole lot in caring for my hands, but this winter i have started trying to be better at keeping up on the dry skin issue, mainly so they aren't scratchy to my loved ones. Dh bought me this wonderful lotion, St. Monica, the eucalyptus one, from a delightful catholic home business, Nazareth Farms/Saintly Soaps. The lotion is all natural, so I don't mind putting it on at any time, even before cooking or eating, which has always been a big factor in preventing me using lotion more frequently. I have tried a LOT of lotions over the years, due to eczema and dry heels, etc. and this is hands down the nicest lotion I've ever tried. It makes my hands smooth so quickly, it amazes me all the time! I tend to also get cracked knuckles, and this is the first year I have had it so under control. HTH!
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JodieLyn
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If you don't stay on top of the cracking, dry knuckles, I'd like to recommend Country Comfort Baby Cream we use it for everything.. but with the healing herbs and good oils in it, it works really well for healing cracked dry skin. I'd rub it in and then rub on lotion.
squaring off the tips of your nails gives a more finished look than a more oval shape. And just buffing your nails can give them a soft luster that makes them look nice without needing any sort of polish.
I don't have rings but my wedding band right now but I do wear bracelets.. I'm just careful when I'm putting lotion.. I don't go over the jewelry but up to it and rub around the edge and then lift my hand to the other side and do that side.. it does slow down the amount of gunk build up.
You might consider just a ring holder where you're keeping your lotions, then when you stop to put on lotion you have a safe spot for you ring to go while you put on the lotion.
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Jodie, wife to Dave
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St. Ann
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Oh my, my hands are certainly not my most beautiful asset!  I have no tips for care, but would like to touch on the ring issue.
I only wear a simple gold wedding band and never remove it. It is (or was) customary in Germany to wear the ring on your left hand during the engagement and at the wedding the groom places the ring on the right hand. So the wedding band serves as the engagement ring, just on the other hand. As an aside, during one of my pregnancies my fingers were swelling a bit and I changed the ring to the left hand like in America. I've kept it there ever since - I am American! I was at a certain age(and with children in tow) that it was easy to recognize that I was indeed married even though there was no ring on the right hand. My dh wears his on his right hand! Yes, my husband is taken! thank you very much!
Do you remove your rings while washing and cleaning? I could never keep up with it I am sure. That is my problem. As soon as I have put cream on my hands they are in water again! 
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Christine
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With 10 people in our family, soon to be 11, I do a lot of washing. When my hands start to feel dry, I rub coconut oil on them. I have tried various lotions, but coconut oil seems to work best for me when my hands need a little babying.
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SeaStar
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It's a total pain- but wearing rubber gloves when washing dishes, etc goes a long way to keeping hands from being rough and dry.
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Mackfam
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Great ideas everyone!
I actually am not the dishes person in my house anymore so I don't have to worry about that as much as frequent hand washing. But...I have always religiously worn rubber gloves when I do have to wash dishes though, so that is something I do highly recommend!! And of course, I have special pink rubber gloves for toilet swishing a dirty diaper. So, I've got those times covered...but still...there's a lot of hand washing!! I'm determined to find some kind of very lotion-y soap product!!! I found some possibilities with good reviews on Amazon - but was hoping someone here had already found the IDEAL soap-with-lotion product!! 
I'm definitely adding these lotion ideas to my list to try! I might try the Coconut Oil soon, but...sadly...the smell of coconut repulses dh, so that may not be the best option in terms of smell.
And...I like pretty smells. !!!!! I love perfumed things! I am not an unscented gal.  So, if you have a favorite scented lotion, bring it on!!
Oh, I should add that my mom told me about Jojoba oil - maybe I'll add that to my evening routine, too.
The rings....sigh....I just think the best option for winter for me is to keep my engagement ring in my bathroom and get in the habit of wearing it when I go out and just keeping my wedding band on during the day. I could never leave a ring out in a public part of the house...shiny baubles are a serious temptation!! But my bathroom is in the forbidden-without-permission zone!!! So, I could definitely just leave it there! Maybe Jodie's right, a pretty ring holder might encourage me to look there and put my ring back on rather than just setting it to the back of my counter.
LOVING this conversation!!! Keep adding "handy" ideas, gals! (Don't you just love my puns?)
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Jen Mackintosh
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Wildflowers and Marbles
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pumpkinmom
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Jen, my hands sound like yours! I think it is from lack of taking care of my hands. Just too busy! I love to use Jordan Essential! Mostly because the products don't contain all the nasty ingredients that most other products do and the products work. I use the shea butter lotion and when my fingers get rough and flaky I use a salt scrub on my finger tips. If I would learn to use gloves when I washed the dishes I'm sure this would prevent that!
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I don't have a lot of time right now, but I just wanted to chime in with our family experience. My husband and daughter used to have cracked, bleeding skin on their hands all winter. They tried every cream available. Nothing helped all that much. Then one day I just happened to be listening to a program on the radio and the doctor there said that the biggest problem and the cause of the dry, chapped, cracking hands was not thoroughly drying hands in the winter after washing. It seemed all too simple, but when I mentioned it to my husband and daughter, they were willing to try. No kidding, they have had NO PROBLEMS with their hands since making sure that they thoroughly dry their hands after any type of washing in the winter months! It has been over 3 years now, and we seem to have found our solution.
Hope that helps!
Christine
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DianaC
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Hands down the best lotion to keep your hands soft and smooth especially in winter is Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream
I generally only need to use it once in the evening, so I keep it on my nightstand and use it just before turning out the light. I work it into my cuticles as well and all is smooth and soft.
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JodieLyn
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Jen the refined coconut oil (vs unrefined) doesn't smell like coconut.
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Jodie, wife to Dave
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I love this thread. I wash all the dishes around here by hand and my hands really suffer during the colder months! I've use coconut oil since it's right here in the kitchen but they're still very dry.
I also have a cute pump bottle of lotion next to the sink that I try to remember to use when I'm done washing the dishes. I'm certainly going to check out the links above to get some lotion ideas. I like nice scents too, Jen!
I have age spots too!  I don't like them but I'm not willing to take the time to rub lemon juice on them like my mom does! Which is probably my problem all the way around. I never want to take the time to take care of my hands so they really show the wear and tear.
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oh! moisturing soap.. Jen.. what about the body wash for the shower? some of those are good for that.
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Servant2theKing
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Loving all these tips and ideas! We use moisturizing hand sanitizers when we're away from home ~ this brand which sells under the names Avagard or Nexcare and these purse or pocket versions are more friendly to dry skin than those with higher alcohol content.
I've noticed my hands (and other skin) being much less dry whenever I remember to stay hydrated. If I taper off on fluid consumption I notice it very quickly in my hands ~ the dryness and age spots return quite rapidly. Perhaps fingers and hands don't have fluid retaining tissue or muscle. Whatever the reason, just thought I'd share that observation in case it's helpful.
A little off topic perhaps, but helpful for anyone who might have difficulty consuming enough water, try adding a flavored tea bag to your glass or bottle of water ~ it naturally steeps and can be reused throughout an entire day of refills ~ minty or spiced teas are delightful for this purpose.
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SuzanneG
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cvbmom wrote:
| Then one day I just happened to be listening to a program on the radio and the doctor there said that the biggest problem and the cause of the dry, chapped, cracking hands was not thoroughly drying hands in the winter after washing. |
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A friend mentioned this to me about 2 years ago too, b/c my one daughter had horrible sandpaper-hands....and there was a visible line between the sandpaper and her regular skin right at her wrist. And, sure enough, I watched her wash her hands and she did the drying SO FAST, so she had lots of water left on them. So, whenever I see that on her now, I remind her about DRYING.
Yes! This is a great hand cream! Love it! It's a little greasy for about the first minute or two, but after that, I'm fine to do anything. I keep this one in my car. My girls put this on before bed.
These HUGE bottles of Everyday Shea Lotion are wonderful! They are huge and last a long time. I keep one at every sink. They are TOTALLY NON GREASY, so you can put it on, rub it for 15 seconds and go pick up a pen, touch your couch....do anything without lotion residue.
For us....it's IMPORTANT TO HAVE A PUMP, SO IT'S EASY TO USE!
Skin So Soft. This is a favorite here too. We would use it more, but it doesn't come in a pump.
Jergen's Oatmeal Cream. This is a good one...very moisturizing, but can't use it at any time.....need about 10 minutes of "doing nothing" with it on. I use this on my neck too. (Maybe we should start a thread on neck-care! LOL!...very important for aging-looks, I've been reading )
L'Occitane Hand Cream--I received this as a gift last Christmas and just LOVE it for my before-going-to-bed-cream. Not good for throughout the day.....because it does such a good job working in your hands if it's left in....it's expensive, so hate to waste it for only 10-30 minutes.
Jen mentioned this above....Satin Hands Pampering SEt. OK....so this is SO AMAZING! This is a routine that I thought would be WAY TOO MANY STEPS for me, but I just LOVE LOVE LOVE this whole set up. I won it at a Mary Kay open house and I'm hooked! The 3-step process is a bit much and I don't do it every night, but when I do, it makes such a difference. And, I make the non-hand-drying-child do it about once/week too. The exfoliating scrub works wonders. A great gift request, ladies!
Mary Kay Satin Hand Cream - Love this hand cream! If it came in a pump and was as inexpensive as the Everyday Shea, it would be the lotion of choice for all the sinks. But, it doesn't, so for now, it's in my bathroom and in my purse. It's not oily or greasy....awesome to use and then go on with whatever activity I have to.
And, when things get REALLY bad, there is always Bag Balm or Aquafor generously applied with socks-over-hands for the night.
I love reading reviews on hand creams....I like it when they break them into categories like this one does.
And, love this thread and the other tips! I love a nice polished hand of nails! I said good-bye to it about 11 years ago after baby #2, but can't WAIT to start again, maybe sometime in the next year or so...after I'm out of baby-phase with this next little one. And, now that I'm not in the kitchen so much cooking and cleaning up, (since bigs are doing most of that)...maybe nail polish will last longer than 12 hours without chipping 
Jen.....how long are you going with your polish before you have to touch up or re-do?
LOVE a light peach, pink polish....so pretty!
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Mackfam
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JodieLyn wrote:
| Jen the refined coconut oil (vs unrefined) doesn't smell like coconut. |
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Yes, but that is the GOOD STUFF, Jodie!! That's for popcorn!!!! Merciful heavens - semi-liquid-gold!!!! I wouldn't DREAM of using my popcorn coconut oil on my hands!!! That's just HOW MUCH WE POPCORN!! Priorities!!!
Hey - this is inspiring! I feel like popping White Christmas in the Blu Ray and popping some popcorn!!! I'm sure THAT is definitely GOOD FOR MY HANDS!!!
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Jen Mackintosh
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Mackfam
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JodieLyn wrote:
| oh! moisturing soap.. Jen.. what about the body wash for the shower? some of those are good for that. |
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That's a really good idea, Jodie - I'm going to take a look! I hadn't thought about checking out the moisturizing body washes!! I bet there are some really good options there! And, those usually come in larger containers which would be perfect for my under-kitchen-sink-soap-dispenser pump!
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Jen Mackintosh
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Mackfam
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cvbmom wrote:
| the doctor there said that the biggest problem and the cause of the dry, chapped, cracking hands was not thoroughly drying hands in the winter after washing. |
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Very interesting! I'm going to watch for this and see how well everyone is drying their hands...including myself. Thanks, Christine!
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Jen Mackintosh
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Wildflowers and Marbles
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Mackfam
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pumpkinmom wrote:
| Jen, my hands sound like yours! I think it is from lack of taking care of my hands. Just too busy! I love to use Jordan Essential! Mostly because the products don't contain all the nasty ingredients that most other products do and the products work. I use the shea butter lotion and when my fingers get rough and flaky I use a salt scrub on my finger tips. |
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This looks so neat, Cassie!!! I'm very eager to sit down and look through those salt scrubs tonight! I'm so glad you linked it! The salt scrub would be nice for knees, too!
I can't wait to spend some more time on that site tonight, Cassie! Great suggestion!
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Jen Mackintosh
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4Real Forums : Our Lady of Good Remedy and Care
Topic: Let's talk -- hands!
