Hands and feet need extra attention during the cold winter months. Feet often spend long periods of time inside fur-lined boots or frozen cold in shoes that look fabulous but would reveal blue toes if they were taken off. Hands are often entombed in tight leather gloves, or smothered in wool or fleecy ones – or left bare completely so that they can grip shopping bag handles or the hands of small children. None of this is particular healthy for the skin and so you need to take additional care of your hands and feet when you are doing your usual face skincare routine each evening.
Use a good hand cream on your hands. This should be allowed to sink through the skin and then rub a little additional on so that it can work through the night as you sleep to replenish the skin. Every couple of weeks use a face mask – leaving it on as you would on your face – to give a little additional nourishment to your hands and keep them soft. If your finances allow for it, try to find time to have a manicure every 4-6 weeks so that your nails and cuticles are kept in tip-top condition, and if your finances don’t allow, then treat yourself to a self-manicure every few weeks to keep your nails healthy.
Feet either seem to be one of two extremes in the winter months – extremely hot or extremely cold. You may not be able to do anything about the extremes whilst you’re out and about, but indoors you should try to ensure that you don’t wear outdoor shoes that will make your feet sweat when they aren’t in the lower temperatures outside, and when outdoors, ensure that you wear shoes that are weather appropriate where possible. On a daily basis once you’re ready to climb into bed, massage your feet with a good thick cream that will soften the skin and help your feet to recover from the stresses of the day. Once the cream is applied, put a pair of socks on top of it to stop it losing its effectiveness by being rubbed off onto your bed linen. The socks will also keep your feet cozy through the night and stop them becoming cold if they escape from under the duvet!
The winter season is harsh on your skin, so make sure you find a few additional minutes each to keep your hands and feet in a healthy state and they’ll remain as soft as they are in the summer months.
This post has been submitted by Joseph Byers. Joseph is also one of the three orginal writer on Pet Gazette and has started to become a authority on the topic of H.I.P..

