Are your hands showing their age?

Maybe you glanced at them the other day and wondered where those new wrinkles came from.

Perhaps you saw an old photo and realized just how much your hands have changed in a few short years.

Or maybe you just want to start treating your hands right before anything happens.

Whatever the reason, just read on.

We’ve done our research on the best ways to bring new life to your hands and make them look ten years younger.

Why does hand care matter?

With the beauty industry so focused on smile lines, eye creams, and the like, it’s easy to forget that we show our age first in the hands. 

That’s right—your hands tend to age faster than the rest of your body. 

The back of our hand is made of thin skin that’s more prone to damage than our face. 

And we do plenty every day to cause it damage.

From sunlight to water to daily household chores, it’s no wonder our hands' age so fast.

 Yet most of us completely overlook proper hand care. 

Well, not anymore. 

These seven tips are just what you need to repair your hands and keep them looking young for years to come.

Source: Lazar Gugleta onUnsplash

Nothing says vacation like getting plenty of suns.

But for your hands, excuse the term, it’s not all sunshine.

In addition to sunburn, the sun’s powerful ultraviolet rays can cause spots, wrinkles, and further thinning of the already-thin skin on the backs of our hands.

Sunlight is the cause of 80% of visible aging, according to dermatologists.

Plus, too much exposure to the sun can lead to effects that are more than just skin deep, like cancer.

Thankfully, the solution is fairly simple—each morning, you’ll want to apply a sunblock of at least SPF 30.

If you already apply sunblock to your face each morning (you should!), this is a simple step to add to your routine.

However, every time you wash your hands, you wash away the sunblock as well.

That’s why it’s a good idea to reapply every time you wash your hands.

Keep a travel-size bottle of sunblock next to the bathroom sink as a reminder.

For activities where you’re in the sun, you should also protect your hands.

It’s easy to remember to put on gloves when you’re gardening, but there are a number of activities that can be harmful.

If you’re driving, jogging, cycling, or going for a walk, it’s not a bad idea to slip on a pair of ultraviolet protective gloves.

These create a strong barrier against the sun’s rays and can be a great investment for your hand health.

Source: Linda Prebreza on Pexels

You might already have an anti-aging routine for your face at night.

But as we’ve mentioned, your hands are just important.

With a few simple changes to your nighttime routine, you can start caring for your hands the way you should.

The first thing you’ll want to do is apply a basic cream each night to keep them moisturized. (This is especially true if you live in a dry or cold climate.)

Look for a product that contains vitamin C or E, as these vitamins are great for combating free radicals and can brighten your skin tone at the same time.

Those ingredients are great for preventing aging.

But if you want to reverse aging, you’ll also want to include a product with retinol, an active form of vitamin A.

This can eliminate wrinkles and even out your skin tone.

Retinol can cause sensitivity to sunlight, so make sure it’s part of your evening routine.

One of the simplest ways to make this work is to apply a bit of extra cream for your face.

With what’s leftover in your hands, rub it in—especially focusing on the backs of your hands.

Face creams can work great for your hands (just ask hand models), so it’s an easy two-in-one anti-aging routine.

Source: Christin Hume onUnsplash

It’s easy to focus on just the skin, but good hand health includes our nails and cuticles.

To keep your cuticles healthy, you’ll want to apply a small amount of oil daily.

This can be either skincare or cuticle oil, depending on what fits best with the products you already have or want to invest in.

Either way, look for something with gentle and natural ingredients like coconut, sweet almond, or argan oil.

Apply a small amount to the tops of your cuticles and nail beds, and massage the oil until it’s mostly absorbed.

A good time to do it is at night when the oils are less likely to rub off or get washed off during your daily activities.

Source: Pharma Hemp Complex onUnsplash

As we mentioned earlier, the tops of your hands have thinner skin that’s similar to, say, the skin under your eyes.

It has fewer sebaceous glands, which produce a protective layer of oil that keeps our skin supple and waterproof.

Instead, you’ll want to apply hand creams on the regular. And make sure they’re actual hand creams, not just other creams you’re using for the purpose.

Hand creams tend to be thicker and have special ingredients critical to hand health, which makes them an important product to have around.

Look for a cream that has ceramides. These form a protective layer that holds in moisture—much like the oils our skin naturally produces with sebaceous glands.

The most important time to apply hand cream is after washing your hands. This is when they’re at their driest and most vulnerable.

It’s a good idea to keep a travel-size hand cream in other places, too, like your purse or in the drawer at your office desk.

Did you know there’s such a thing as hand masks? That’s right!

Just like you might treat yourself to a facial cleansing mask, a hand mask can help do a deep clean of your hand and bring out the best in your skin.

While hand masks are certainly not mandatory, they can be a nice way to add something new and give a professional touch to your hand care routine.

 Another option is an overnight treatment you can easily do at home. 

To start, you’ll want to wash and exfoliate your hands.

Then, massage in a skincare product like tamanu oil or argan oil. 

Cover your hands in plastic wrap or even nitrile gloves, then cover those with cotton gloves, mittens, or socks.

The ideal is to leave them like that overnight, but if you can’t, just an hour will show results.

When you take off the gloves, you’ll have baby-soft skin. An instant anti-aging trick!

Source: Blush and Bar via Instagram

The final touch to your anti-aging hand care routine isn’t about skincare.

It’s about making your hands look the way you want them to look.

When you’re putting the right care into hand health, it’s only right to dress them up as well.

Everyone has a personal style. And by letting that individuality shine through, you can show off your hands in ways that another oil or cream will never be able to do.

If you’re married or engaged, you probably already proudly wear a ring telling others something about you.

A few small accessories—a dainty ring, minimalistic bracelet, or even a sleek watch—can draw attention to your hands and show them off.

There’s nothing more attractive than confidence and no anti-aging tip like loving the way you look.

If you’ve been neglecting hand care, now’s the time to start.

With a few minutes each day, you can start bringing life back to your hands. And it’s not expensive, either. You can find most handcare products at your local drugstore.

A simple routine can turn back the clock by as much as a decade.

And even better?

Your hands will stay beautiful for years to come.

Just choose one tip and get started today.