A restorative hand ritual

We’re all probably much more aware of the importance of thorough hand washing these days. Good hygiene is essential but soaps and sanitisers can dry out skin, so why not take a few minutes to give your hands some TLC? As well as improving skin smoothness and flexibility our simple hand ritual will trigger the release of feel-good hormones to help relax you and ease away stresses.

Why do hands need extra care?

The skin on your hands is some of the thinnest and most fragile on your body, with a lack of sebaceous glands to create natural moisture. Our hands are often exposed to the elements, drying air conditioning and central heating and routinely submerged in chemicals and water, for housework as well as hygiene. These factors can all take a toll, leaving hands feeling dry, tight and over time, fragile with reduced elasticity.

Give your hands the TLC they deserve with this step-by-step, Slow hand treatment ritual. You will need:

• Cotton cloth or flannel
• Small hand towel
• Bowl of warm water
• Essential Perfect Skin Exfoliating Polish (or substitute with your own scrub)
• Essential Face Balm (or substitute a moisturising balm or rich cream)

Step 1: Polish
Gentle exfoliation sloughs away dead skin cells allowing moisturising products to be better absorbed. Take a small scoop of our Essential Perfect Skin Exfoliating Polish and mix with a little warm water. Begin by smoothing over the backs of your hands and wrists; use small movements to massage the product around your cuticles. Rinse with warm water using a cloth or flannel and pat hands dry.

Step 2: Nourish
Our deeply hydrating Essential Face Balm helps maintain your skin’s hydrolipidic film to nourish and protect, with a melting texture that’s ideal for your hands. Take a small amount of balm and smooth into your palm; rub hands together, close your eyes and inhale deeply. Massage all over the backs of hands then down over your wrists and around the elbows.

Step 3: Massage
Massaging your hands is incredibly relaxing. It also improves blood circulation, increases joint flexibility and encourages absorption of the nutrients in the balm. There’s no need to get hung up on getting every movement exactly right, do what feels good and adapt to suit your needs.

• Palm facing upwards, release muscle tension by firmly rubbing your thumb in circular motions all over your palm; start from the middle and work outwards. Move up onto finger pads before turning hand over and rubbing across the back of your hand to the wrist.
• Gently press and smooth down from the base of your fingers to your wrist.
• Using your free hand, encircle your thumb and then each finger individually and rotate at the joint; gently pull each finger.
• Pinch the end of each finger to ‘wake up’ the meridians in your hand. Each meridian corresponds to a different part of your body (to find out more search for hand reflexology zones online).
• Clasp the base of each finger then gently twist your free hand round in small anti-clockwise circles up to the tip.
• Push your whole hand backwards smoothly so you feel a slight stretch on the underside of your wrist.

4. Finish
Briskly stroke around the shoulder, down the arm, around the elbows, along the forearm, over your wrist and down the backs of your hands to your fingertips.

This treatment is wonderful at any time of day, every day if you wish. We find it’s especially therapeutic just before sleep and allows the balm time to deeply nourish and rejuvenate the skin overnight.