Nivea gives the lowdown on gorgeous hands and the perfect mani.
Care for beautiful hands
The condition of our hands and finger nails says a lot about us – but they are subjected to particular stresses day after day. Intensive care and regular manicures are therefore particularly important. We chatted to the Nivea team, who told us what we should pay attention to.
Like the back of your hand …
Here are a few things that you should know about the skin on your hands.
It’s almost as sensitive as the skin on our faces and it has to endure more, as our hands are constantly being used.
The skin on the back of our hands is very thin and has very little body fat in the layer of tissue under your skin compared to the rest of our bodies. This makes it sensitive and subject to ageing easily.
The palms have more fatty tissue and connective tissue and are more robust. But without the glands to produce hair or oil, it is difficult for them to absorb moisture.
External influences such as sun, cold, heat and water disrupt the skin’s natural protective barriers.
The aim of hand care is to protect the hands from drying out and to provide them with moisture.
Beautiful right down to your fingertips
Nails. Nail beds. Cuticles. Beautiful fingernails complete your hand care. Therefore, you should regularly indulge in a manicure for your nails, cuticles, and nail bed.
But how else can you look after your nails?
When you apply cream to your hands, make sure you always include your nails in the routine. While you are applying cream to your hands (or feet), you can simply lightly massage some of it into the edges of the nails and care for them in this way, too.
There are also special cuticle sticks impregnated with nail oil. Using the stick, apply the moisturiser simply and quickly to the edges of the nails and rub it in gently. Alternatively, you can also massage nail oil into the nails in the evening before going to bed. This provides extra moisture, strengthens the nails, and keeps them healthy and smooth.
Another advantage: the cuticles do not produce much of a protein barrier, so you save time on manicures and pedicures.
Scrub away …
A scrub is particularly effective, and can also easily be done at home. Simply mix three tablespoons of olive oil with two tablespoons of sugar. Alternatively, you could use Nivea Crème instead of olive oil to mix in with your sugar. Apply the paste generously to your hands and then massage it in without applying too much pressure. The olive oil and Nivea Crème both make your skin soft and smooth, and the sugar rubs off dead skin particles and ensures the blood circulates well. Finally, rinse the scrub off with lukewarm water.
If your hands are very dry, rough and cracked, they need a lot more care and attention. Try Nivea Repair & Care Hand Balm. Its Hydra IQ formula provides a lot of moisture, and the dexpanthenol soothes the feeling of tightness.
Step by step: the perfect mani
Just like the skin on your hands, the cuticle can also easily become dry or tear. This is why it also needs a lot of moisture. Moisturise the cuticle regularly with oil or cream – for best results, every time you have a manicure. Simply gently massage it in and let it absorb into the skin for a short while!
When manicuring and cutting your nails, it is better to use scissors than nail clippers. Clippers often cause small tears that can then lead to the nail splitting later on.
Then file your nails into shape using a glass nail file. As these have a smooth surface, the nails can be filed very finely. Start by using the coarse side, then use the fine one. It is important to file in one direction only so that the structure is not damaged.
A rounded nail shape that extends just a short way over the fingertip, looks most natural.
