Nourish Your Hands with our DIY Recipe

The outermost layer of the skin is of utmost importance as it helps protect us from environmental and external pollutants. The skin barrier or stratum corneum is the outer layer of the skin’s surface. It is chock full of cells and lipids (fat cells). It helps water and nutrients from evaporating while also shielding the skin from germs and bacteria by producing antimicrobial peptides and proteins.

Our skin barrier functions well when it is nourished and cared for. Poor barrier function will result in red, irritated skin which can possibly develop into rashes, breakouts or eczema. Your hands might feel very dry, tight and painful.

Therefore, establishing and maintaining a strong barrier function will reveal healthy, smooth, supple and beautiful skin.

Do’s and Don’ts

Have a nutrient-rich diet. Eat foods that are nutrient rich meaning foods high in Omega 3’s are particularly important.
Avoid the sun and wear sunscreen.
When you can avoid products that have fillers as you don’t want to strip your skin of moisture.
Use warm water to wash your hands – not hot water.
When having to increase hand washing and sanitation apply a moisturizer that will help restore the skin’s barrier function.
Consider supplementing your diet with Omega 3, 6 & 9 essential fatty acids for amazing skin benefits.

Be loving to your hands

It takes maintaining a good diet and a routine of nurturing skin care. Being loving to your skin equals good barrier function. Have glowing, clear, soft and even skin with our DIY Restoring Hand Lotion recipe below.

DIY Restoring Hand Lotion

Supplies
1/4 cup cocoa butter or shea butter
1/4 cup Comfrey and calendula infused olive oil (or just olive oil)
1 Tbsp beeswax
1/4 tsp vitamin e oil

Method

Mix the cocoa butter, olive oil and beeswax in a double boiler over low heat, until melted. Pour the melted lotion into a glass jar (a mason jar works well) and allow to cool. Then add the vitamin E and stir in with a spoon, popsicle stick, whatever you have. You can take it one step further and whip the lotion with a hand mixer to make this lotion more like a body butter, but it is not necessary.

The natural ingredients in this healing lotion help moisturize and protect the skin from dry and cold air. It’s not greasy so your hands don’t slip but your skin gets a bit of a barrier from the beeswax.