Our hands come into contact with millions of germs every day. In fact, experts estimate that just 1cm of your hand holds 1500 bacteria! In this article, we examine how keeping your hands clean can lead to a clear and beautiful complexion.
Beauty Hack: Don’t Touch Your Face with Dirty Hands
Frequently touching your face can transfer dirt, oil, and bacteria from your hands, leading to clogged pores and breakouts. Getting into the habit of not touching your face is one of the most effective ways to control oily skin. It is also a skincare no-no if you are acne-prone as excessive touching can trigger breakouts.
Why Handwashing Should Be the First Step of Your Beauty Regime
Washing your hands should be the first step of any skincare or beauty regime. Our palms carry many natural oils that can be laden with dirt and bacteria. Not washing your hands means that these bacteria can easily travel to your face, leading to pimples and blemishes.
If you don’t have a sink nearby then it’s a good idea to keep a hand sanitizer wherever you store your beauty products.
Remember that beauty products, which are stored in jars, are more prone to contamination. It is advisable to purchase products stored in air-tight pumps. If you are using a beauty product stored in a jar, make sure to wash your hands before using them.
How to Keep Your Hands Soft
Washing your hands a lot throughout the day can lead to dryness and cracking. This is because each time you wash your hands; you are stripping away natural oils from your skin.
To prevent dryness, use a gentle moisturizing soap to help them stay soft. You should also invest in a good-quality hand moisturizer that contains glycerine, shea butter, or aloe vera gel.
I would prefer shea butter since it helps cure eczema if you have severely dry skin, or during cold seasons. This whipped shea butter recipe is easy to make and it helps keep your hands and your whole body soft.
You may want to consider a travel-sized bottle, or a lotion bar, that you can easily carry in your handbag.
Hot water also causes your hands to dry, so make sure to use warm water when washing your hands.
Learn More about How to Keep Your Hands Clean
If you are interested in learning more about how to clean your hands properly, then you should read through the below infographic from The Cleaning Services Group. This handy guide looks at the link between handwashing and health and includes a step-by-step guide on how to wash your hands. It also features advice on water temperature and the best kind of soap to use.