Gardening is a wonderful hobby that allows us to connect with nature and provides access to fresh vegetables and beautiful flowers. However, working outdoors exposes our hands to various factors that can dry them out, irritate, or even damage them. Therefore, it is important to take proper care of them. Let’s look at a few key ways to keep our hands in excellent condition while working in the garden.
Use protective creams
Before starting work in the garden, it’s worth applying a protective cream or balm to your hands. This helps create a barrier that protects the skin from drying out. It’s good to choose products containing natural ingredients, such as shea butter, coconut oil, or aloe. An example of a good protective cream could be Burt’s Bees Shea Butter Hand Repair Cream or Hudsalva ointment for dry skin with vitamin E. What do you think about these products? Do you know any other good protective creams?
Wear gardening gloves
Gloves are an essential piece of equipment for every gardener. They protect hands from abrasions, scratches, and injuries that can occur while working with gardening tools, thorny plants, or digging in the soil. It’s worth investing in good quality gloves that are comfortable and durable. The best choice is leather or rubber gloves, which provide excellent protection and durability.
Moisturize your hands after work!
After finishing work in the garden, it is important to properly moisturize your hands. Soil, fertilizers, and other substances we come into contact with, or even just wearing rubber gloves, can significantly dry out the skin. Therefore, it is worth applying a deeply moisturizing cream or lotion that will restore the skin’s softness and elasticity. A great choice could be L’Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream. Its rich formula with shea butter and aloe will perfectly nourish and regenerate the skin of the hands.
Exfoliate once a week
Regularly performing a gentle hand exfoliation will help remove dead skin cells and impurities that can accumulate on the skin during gardening. You can prepare your own scrub by mixing sugar or salt with olive oil and honey. Gently massage your hands with it for a few minutes, then rinse with water. Your skin will be smooth, soft, and refreshed.
Remember to rest
Sometimes the best way to take care of your hands is simply to rest. If your hands are very overworked or irritated, give them time to recover. Avoid excessive exertion and contact with substances that may further dry or irritate them. If your hands require intensive regeneration, an excellent solution is an overnight treatment with a moisturizing cream and cotton gloves. Start by thoroughly cleansing the skin of your hands using a gentle soap. Then dry your hands with a soft towel, ensuring no moisture remains.
Apply a thick layer of deeply moisturizing cream or body butter to your hands—preferably one that contains regenerating ingredients such as shea butter, almond oil, vitamin E, or hyaluronic acid. Massage the product into the skin, focusing particularly on dry areas and around the nails and cuticles.
When the cream is applied, put on cotton gloves, which help retain heat and prevent the evaporation of active ingredients. They act as a gentle barrier, aiding the absorption of the product deep into the skin. Leave the gloves on your hands overnight – this way, your hands will have several hours to fully benefit from intensive hydration and nourishment.
In the morning, remove the gloves and gently massage the excess cream into the skin or rinse off with lukewarm water. The result? Soft, smooth, and nourished hands that look and feel as if after a professional treatment at a beauty salon. Regularly following this ritual will ensure your hands are always in perfect condition, even after intensive gardening work.
Taking care of your hands while working in the garden is a crucial aspect that is often overlooked. Remember that our hands are exposed to many factors that can dry them out, irritate, or damage them. Therefore, it is important to use appropriate protective measures, moisturize the skin, and allow it time to regenerate. Only in this way can we enjoy a beautiful garden while also taking care of the health and appearance of our hands.
What do you think about these tips? What are your favorite ways to care for your hands? We would love to hear your opinions and experiences on this topic.
