Your Essential Hand Care Routine: Simple Steps for Healthy, Radiant Hands

A consistent hand care routine can make a world of difference for tired, overwashed hands. By combining gentle cleansing, thorough moisturizing, and protective measures, you’ll keep your hands looking and feeling their best.

Our hands tell our stories. One look at them reveals all sorts of things about their owners, from the chipped polish of a busy mother to the calluses of an artist. I think about the chunky hands of my toddler, with their dimples and rolls. Or the scars on the hands of my son, an aspiring acrobat who loves to flip across concrete, woodchips, and dirt. And while the rest of us grownups may feel like our hands are pretty arbitrary, they’ve become a primary focus of our lives. Now more than ever, prioritizing good hand care is essential.

With that said, how many of us can say we take care of our hands the way they deserve? We spend hours on our hair, delicately detangling and deep conditioning. Our skincare routine can span hours, with deep treatments and gentle massages, while the rest of our bodies are generously slathered with nourishing body butters and oils. Even our nails get the grand treatment: manicures, colorful polish, and of course the carefully selected designs.

But the one place we don’t put that same energy is in our hands themselves. In these pandemic times, if hand sanitizer is king, hand care is queen. 

Our days are filled with handwashing on repeat and applying hand sanitizer more times than we can count. We’re fixing our masks, being careful not to touch our nose or our eyes, and stuffing our hands inside plastic gloves if we’re being extra cautious. We’re putting our hands through a lot, and for good reason—clean hands save lives—but how do we take care of and nurture them in return? With a proper hand care routine and a few good practices to keep them healthy, nourished, and refreshed. 

Why You Need a Hand Care Routine

Even before the pandemic, our hands have always been one of the most-used parts of our body. And every day we expose them to our work, to environmental stressors, and these days, to more harsh chemicals and soaps than ever before. While we can’t escape the weather and will always advocate for frequent handwashing and sanitizing, the truth is that sun exposure, cold temperatures, soap, and alcohol can all wreak havoc on your skin.

A hand care routine is simply a daily ritual that can help repay your hands for their tireless work and replenish some of the hydration and nutrients that may have deteriorated over the day. Handwashing is a given, but hydrating creams and oils can work to restore moisture, which is essential for hands to look and feel healthy. Deep treatments can provide an extra dose of nourishment, as can targeted treatments for specific concerns like extreme dryness or irritation. Taking steps daily to protect your hands is a great way to prevent unnecessary damage before it happens. This level of hand skin care can help ensure your hands remain smooth and healthy.

A Simple and Effective Hand Care Routine

Hand care doesn’t have to be complicated. A simple daily routine can make all the difference. Cleansing, moisturizing, exfoliating, treating, and protecting are all parts of a good hand care routine—and if you notice this looks pretty similar to your skincare routine, you’re right. If there’s a universal hand-care rule to follow, it’s this: treat your hands with the same level of care as you do your face. 

Step 1: Cleanse. This goes without saying, especially as we’re all washing our hands multiple times a day, but your hand care routine should always start with clean, freshly washed hands. The key to ensuring that handwashing is beneficial without undue stress on your already overextended skin is to use a mild soap or cleanser that won’t dry out your skin. You can even opt for soaps that contain some naturally moisturizing ingredients like shea butter or jojoba oil. 

And here’s another key: it’s not just the ingredients in your soap that can affect your skin. How you wash your hands matters. Hot water is notoriously harsh, and using an air dryer can cause even more dryness. The best method is to wash with warm water and towel dry gently. 

Radiant Health Pick: Organic Bath Co. Peacefull Hand Soap ($10)

Step 2: Moisturize. Arguably the most important part of your hand care routine is moisturizing. Dry skin is the top cause of all sorts of problems with your hands, including cracks, ashiness, irritation, and even premature aging. Yes, dryness left unchecked can lead to fine lines and wrinkles appearing before their time. And because our soaps and hand sanitizers typically contain ingredients that dry out our skin, replenishing that lost moisture is key. 

So how often should you moisturize your hands? Well, that depends. The look and feel of your hands should give you some clues, such as tight, ashy, or irritated skin. But in addition, anytime you’re washing, sanitizing, or exposing your hands to water or extreme temperatures would be ideal. It’s also a good practice to moisturize your hands before bed to let the moisture and nutrients work their magic while you rest. It’s like beauty sleep for your hands. 

Radiant Health Pick: 54 Thrones African Beauty Butter ($24)

Step 3: Exfoliate. It may sound strange, but exfoliating your hands is an essential step in any hand care routine. Exfoliation is simply the process of gently buffing the skin to remove dead skin cells, dirt, and other impurities that may have built up over time. Without it, skin can look dull and lifeless if left unchecked.

A good exfoliating session can help slough away buildup and leave your skin looking and feeling brighter. As a bonus, exfoliated skin helps the rest of your hand care routine to work better by allowing your creams and oils to penetrate the skin more deeply. 

Just like in your regular skincare routine, you don’t want to overdo it with exfoliation. Too much and you risk some irritation, especially if you have more sensitive skin. A few times a week or whenever you notice your hands looking particularly dull is a great place to start. 

Radiant Health Pick: Luv Scrub Mesh Body Exfoliator ($18)

Step 4: Mask. A hand mask? Yes—just like your face, whenever your hands need that extra TLC, a hand mask is a great way to give them a deep treatment. The good news is you don’t need a special mask to perfect this step. Just slather on a nourishing hand cream and tuck your hands into soft cotton gloves overnight. You’ll wake up to smooth, well-hydrated hands in the morning. 

Radiant Health Pick: Beneath Your Mask Heal Whipped Skin Soufflé ($28)

Step 5: Protect. The last step in your hand care routine is all about protection. Your first line of defense is sunscreen. Sunscreen can help to protect your skin from sun exposure which can lead to sunburn, dark spots, and premature aging. We’d advise using sunscreen daily, even if you don’t think you’ll be heading outside. If the weather is harsh, also consider protecting your hands with a pair of gloves to protect against brutal winds and temperature changes, which can be distressing to the skin. 

When choosing sunscreen for your hands, you want to look for something with at least SPF 30 or more. If you’ll be outside and on the go, make sure you reapply as directed for ultimate protection. 

Radiant Pick: Black Girl Sunscreen SPF 30 ($18.99)

Don’t Forget Your Nails

We all love the cute aesthetics and bold colors when it comes to our nails, but nail care is a bit different than nail design. And since your nails are an important extension of your hands, giving them a little attention during your hand care routine can go a long way. 

Start by taking care of your cuticles. This is one of the most important areas to focus on. Think of the cuticle as the foundation of your nails; cuticles are to nails what your scalp is to your hair: it is where new growth begins. You want healthy, moisturized, smooth cuticles to give your nails the best roots from which to grow and thrive.

Keep your cuticles neat and hydrated. While it might be tempting to cut them yourself, leave that to the pros, as cutting can cause them to grow back rougher and more jagged than before. A good alternative is to very gently push them back as needed and to use cuticle oils and creams for daily maintenance to keep them hydrated. 

As for the nails themselves, while you’re perfecting your designs and letting your personality show through your color choices, be conscious of your selections. All nail polish is not created equal, and many brands are full of chemicals we can do without. Opt for nail polishes that are labeled five-free, seven-free, or ten-free (meaning they do not contain that particular number of the main toxins and chemicals you should avoid whenever possible). 

Radiant Health Pick: Mischo Beauty Vegan Nail Lacquer ($20)

Everyday Hand Care Tips

In addition to your daily hand care routine, healthy habits are a great way to make sure your hands are in their best condition and stay that way. These can include simple things like wearing gloves when you’re outside to shield your hands from inclement weather and excess sun exposure.

Likewise, it’s always a good idea to wear gloves when you’re cleaning in order to protect your already overworked skin from harsh chemicals that can wreak havoc on all of your hard work. Keeping a moisturizing hand cream or oil at the ready is a great idea as well so that you can always refresh and rehydrate whenever your skin needs a little boost.

Remember, hand care is important but it doesn’t have to be complicated. Wash your hands, keep them protected, give them a little extra love, and don’t forget to moisturize.