What is the Best Hand Moisturizer Routine and What Ingredients you Should Avoid
Sunday, December 7th, 2008Some suggest that the best hand moisturizer routine is to coat your hands with Vaseline and cover them with plastic gloves before going to bed. That?s the wrong advice.
In fact, you should never use Vaseline on your hands or body. It?s not an effective moisturizer and neither is petrolatum or mineral oils. They are all the same thing. They are not similar enough to your skin?s own oils, so they will not be beneficial.
The use of those kinds of products on a regular basis inhibits the body?s natural ability to replenish skin cells. They clog the pores, so toxins cannot be released through them. The reason it helps prevent diaper rash is because it REPELS moisture.
Why someone would think that the best hand moisturizer routine would include the use of something that repels moisture is obvious. Unilever and other cosmetic companies have convinced them that it?s a good ingredient to use.
They are supposed to provide safe health and beauty aids. We are supposed to trust in their wisdom. But, if we don?t make efforts to protect ourselves, they make our problems worse.
In actuality the best hand moisturizer routine should include a number of steps. Let?s start with the other products that you use.
If you use those antibacterial hand soaps, you are drying out your skin. All of them cause excessive dryness, because all of them contain excessive amounts of alcohol. You should also avoid the use of Purell and other ?soap-less? hand cleansers.
Some of the antibacterial soaps contain triclosan, a chemical that accumulates in the body over time and disrupts the endocrine system. It is listed as a ?probable? human carcinogen and every one should stop using because it is polluting our environment.
It is too chemically stable, so it doesn?t decompose in nature as regular soap would. Researchers advise that washing your hands with plain soap and water is just as effective as using anti-bacterial soaps with triclosan.
Other things that you should consider part of your best hand moisturizer routine include the use of gloves when cleaning the house or doing dishes. Your hands are more likely to be exposed to the sun than other parts of your body. The sun is very drying and causes damage that makes your hands look older.
If you have chlorinated water, you should invest in a good filter for your showerhead and your faucets. Chlorine is also very drying.
Once you consider making these changes, you should look for a cream to use every day and every night. It should contain natural plant oils like jojoba, grape seed and olive oil. It should contain antioxidants like vitamin E and coenzyme Q10. All of these are effective moisturizers and they undo some of the damage that has been done over time.
But, the best ingredient to look for is called Functional Keratin. In clinical studies it has been shown to vastly improve conditions such as detergent-related contact dermatitis. That?s the best hand moisturizer routine that I can come up with; safe, effective ingredients.