During the pandemic, we are constantly concerned about germs on our hands. We are constantly washing our hands to keep them clean and germ-free. However, the skin on our hands will need a little love this winter. Washing your hands can be rough on the skin, especially if you are using hand wash that has harsh chemicals. Washing your hands will strip your hands from its natural oils and will promote flaky dry skin. This article will discuss some helpful hand care tips to keep them safe during winter.

Wear Protective Clothing

It is wise to wear protective clothing like gloves to protect your skin from the frigid cold. This will be your first line of defense during the winter. Gloves that are made of organic cotton would be ideal because the fabric will not draw out the moisture in the skin. This super important when you are dealing with snow or ice, you don't want frostbite. Trust me that is not fun.

Use the Right Ingredients

You need to find skincare products that have the proper ingredients to protect your skin from the elements. This will also strengthen the barriers of your skin from the bitter cold and toxins in the air. Vitamins like C&E will do the trick to keep your skin healthy.

PCA Skin C&E Hand Renewal

Alcohol-Free hand wash

Many hand washes have lots of chemicals in them that can be harsh to the skin on a daily basis. They may contain different alcohols that dry out the skin. Switch to more moisturizing hand washes that have natural ingredients in them. Natural ingredients and some oils will leave your skin moisturized and soft. Hand wash should kill germs, however, it shouldn't strip all of your skin's natural oils. Your hands won't be able to protect yourself from the elements or everyday bacteria if your hands are stripped. Do yourself a favor and read the label on the back of your hand soaps before purchasing. Here is a couple of our favs!

Panier Des Sens Liquid Marseille Soap Rejuvinating Rose - It is made with 100% vegetable oil and other natural ingredients. While washing your hands it will give you that lovely scent of roses.

Panier Des Sens Marseille Soap Jasmine -This natural hand soap also cones in the scent of Jasmine. Jasmine is known for giving the aromatherapy experience a calming one. The scent of jasmine is also blended with fruit with a hint of honey.

Exfoliate

Just like you would the rest of your body and face, it is great to exfoliate your hands as well. This will encourage the skin to renew itself and keep it supple. Your skin sheds on its own on a daily, it is good to encourage cell renewal during the week. This will also strengthen the barrier on your skin from harmful bacteria and winter elements. You can buy a hand scrub from your local drug store or just do a DIY with coconut oil and brown sugar. Make sure not to exfoliate your hands if you have open sores, cuts, or burns. Please wait to heal before doing so to avoid irritation.

Moisturizing Hand Sanitizer

Hand sanitizer is super important especially when you don't have access to water and soap at the moment. Make sure to carry around hand sanitizer everywhere you go or keep it somewhere safe. Hand sanitizer is one of the best inventions made to combat nasty everyday germs you pick up from. You'd be surprised where you pick up germs; door handles, your cell phone, the steering wheel, your desk. Make sure the hand sanitizers kill 99.9% of germs and it's not too drying. Some hand sanitizers have a lot of alcohol in it to kill the germs, which is great, but it dries out the skin in the meantime. Here is a recommendation below.

Worthy Goods A-pur-all Spritz Hand Sanitizer - this lightweight hand sanitizer is a breath of fresh air. It is not only safe for your hands, it can also refresh your face mask when running errands or working.

Moisturizing Hand Lotion

Hand lotion is always great to carry around in your purse or in your car when you are on the go. You want to sleep your hands moisturized or bring back oils to prevent dry skin. Our hands will need more protection during the winter than your everyday winter gloves. Here are some hand cream favorites!

Solinotes Paris Hand Cream Pomegranate - This hand cream will give you the hydration that you need with some freshness. This will give you a sense of being refreshed aroma of fruit. The texture is just enough to give you that lightweight moisture that you need, in case you don't like that greasy feel.

Nuxe Reve de Miel Hand and Nail Cream - This hand cream protects and nourishes dry hands.

Avene Cold Cream Hand Cream - A rich and fast-absorbing hand cream that is great for dry hands. It will also help repair dry hands from the weather, etc.

Bioderma Atoderm Hand & Nail Cream -  A repairing treatment that intensely nourishes damaged hands.

Don't neglect your Cuticles

When it comes to hand care, our cuticles tend to neglect the most. Remember, they are also very sensitive and tend to get dry. You should add some cuticle oil or cuticle butter to your hand care routine. A little bit of it goes a long way. A little is just enough to keep your cuticles in tip-top shape, especially when you use your hands for everything! 

Your hands are one of the vital parts of your body since we use them for everything. Don't forget to keep them warm, clean, and moisturized in your hand care routine. When you don't have access to soap on the go, just whip out that hand sanitizer and keep it moving!