Three Hand Helping Steps

I have been taking salsa lessons lately; and as we swap partners I feel all types of hands. While I appreciate the different character of each hand I hold, I must admit, I am self-conscious of my dry hands.  Working at the Beauty Store I get to moisturize all day long and have immaculate hands; but when I am off the clock, my hands take a beating from harsh hand soaps, playing and working outdoors, and cleaning. Here are products I run to before partnering up for hours of dancing and other products my fellow Beauty Store ladies and gentleman rave about.

1. Start with a Scrub: Like sanding wood for a good coat of primer, a scrub will remove dead skin cells and allow the newer skin to absorb moisture.  If you are looking for an oil+sugar combo, CND's Almond Moisture Scrub is happiness in a jar. I perfer OPI's Skin Renewal Scrub. It's a non-runny combo of fine sugar and sunflower seed oil.

2. Moisturize: It helps to moisturize while your hands are still damp. Here are some of our favorite moisturizers.

Glysolid
Aromas and funky colors do nothing for your hands - Your priority is to get your chapped hands feeling smooth! Glysolid focuses on delivering just that with no fragrance, no preservatives, no colors.
Learn More.

Pre de Provence 100% Shea Butter
Hailing from the goodness of organic trees, Pre de Provence
makes this thick cure for even the driest hands. No fragrance or added color. Available in travel size tins.



Hempz Original Hydrating Cream
I tried imitation Hempz products and quickly learned this is truly an original formula. If you are dubious about carrying around a bottle with this label, pour it out into a travel size for your purse. One day of using this cream and you will have a change of heart and hands. It can also be used as an all-over cream.   
Learn More.


 Jack Black's Industrial Strength Hand Healer
So what if it's in a man's line of skin care. I have rougher hands than my boyfriend; and I love this product!


This is from their website: This rich, non-greasy formula helps heal and soothe dry, chapped, cracked hands. Road-tested by golfers, carpenters and chefs, this hard-working hand cream repairs tough, calloused skin and cuticles, providing lasting relief. Especially effective for those who wash their hands a lot or spend time outdoors in rugged temperatures; because the palms and back of your hands have the fewest and smallest oil glands, they tend to get the driest.




Lippmann Rich Girl Hand Cream with Spf 15 (at west only)
Shea Butter, Avocado Oil, and sun protection in one tube. It is not so much about concealing your age from your hands as it is just being practical about the health of your hands. It is no wonder Leading dermatologists voted it Health Magazine's winner for "Healthiest Hand Cream."






Kneipp Intensive Balm 10% Urea

This is not a hand lotion; but as my obsession for Kneipp products continues; I try it all thier products on my hands. A pea sized amount of this balm is enough to hydrate both hands. With Urea(?) as its claim to fame, this balm stands alone as a unique moisturizer at the Beauty Store.

Hand and Nail Creams
The great thing about these creams is that they take nail health into consideration- after all, nails are on your hands. Dermalogica Multivitamin Hand and Nail Cream is a high-seller at our stores; so I will let that be its testimony. My favorites are Nailtiques Cuticle and Hand Conditioner and Avoplex Hand and Nail Cream by OPI. While Avoplex instantly hydrates my hands and keeps them moist for hours, Nailtiques Conditioner dramatically improved the entire condition of my hands, nails, and cuticles a few winters ago.



3. Treat
Glove Your Hands Overnight
Whether you decide to follow a lotion with cotton gloves or treat yourself to Gel gloves by Swissco soft and soothing (call to check availability), you will wake up ready to shake everyone's hands!


Paraffin Wax
Dip your hands into immediate renewal. We sell Gigi paraffin wax (various scents) and paraffin warmers at the Beauty Store (call to confirm availability). The warmth of the wax allows it to penetrate the skin, and nourish it with Shea Butter.

We want to hear your comments, suggestions, and testimonies! 

Subscribe today for a chance to win a hand care product.

Cuticle Crisis!

What are your cuticles looking like these days?  After spending the holidays in the kitchen, wrapping presents, or caroling out in the cold, your cuticles probably resemble the Zilker lawn after ACL weekend. Here are our favorite products to help heal and care for torn, dry, and overgrown cuticles.  ***Let us know what has worked for you; and check back next week  for  our list of lotions to help even the driest hands and your chance to win hand care.***

Qtica's Cuticle Repair Balm: This is a favorite of ours at the Central Beauty Store. It is a sticky formula that is less messy than oil, stays on longer, and is tacky enough to make you not want to be picking away at your cuticles.                                                                                                                      

Solar Oil: The packaging has changed on this bad boy; but the formula remains the same miracle working magic potion. Jojoba Oil carries Vitamin E deep in to the skin it is applied to. I rubbed this around my cuticles several times a day and within a week of that consistency, I had the happiest cuticles in Austin. 

Heidi's Nail Solution: I've never had a chance to try this product because it is always flying off our shelves; and it is no wonder it does: Heidi's guarantees a 50% reduction of hangnails and rough cuticles by applying the solution twice a day for a consecutive 3 days, no trimming nor cutting required.

Be Natural Cuticle Eliminator: For stubborn cuticles that seem to adhere to your nailbed, apply cuticle eliminator and let it do the work for you. (If you already use callus eliminator, you know what I am talking about.)

 Tools:

Cuticle Nippers: We carry these in several brands; but I've always trusted Tweezerman for their precision; and they offer free sharpening! (This is a product you'll want to keep sharp.)

Cuticle Pushers:  While you should not completely push back or remove cuticles because they protect your nails from bacteria, these tools help push dead skin off the nail bed and lift excess cuticles to be nipped away.

*Metal pushers are sturdy and washable

*Nail stones are strong but can be abrasive

*Orangewoodsticks are easy to dispose and gentle on the nail bed.

**My favorite are OPI's plastic cuticle pushers.  They are double-sided, washable, and gentle.