Photo: IMaxTree
As we hurtle towards Fall and the requisite cooler temperatures, it’s time to start thinking about changing our daily beauty routines. The obvious ones may have already occurred to you: switching to a heavier moisturizer, maybe adding in a rich night cream, and stocking up on luxurious body lotions and oils. That’s all very good, but what about your Fall hand care routine? Our hands and nails go through so much, from washing the dishes to typing furiously at work—so it’s especially important to take care of them. Keep your hands feeling hydrated and looking beautiful this Fall by stocking up on the following essentials now.
1. Hand cream.
If you treat yourself to one beauty product this fall, let it be a luxurious hand cream. Whether it’s from cold winter weather or frequent hand-washing, nobody enjoys having dry, cracked hands. That said, the amount of hand creams available is, frankly, overwhelming. How to choose? Consider what’s important to you in a hand cream. Do you want one with a decadent scent? Try TokyoMilk Dark Tainted Love Handcreme ($22, sephora.com), which has sensuous notes of dark vanilla, sandalwood, and orchid. If you need something fragrance-free, Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream is for you ($5.29, ulta.com). And if you just want smells good and looks adorable while sitting on your desk, you can’t go wrong with any of Tony Moly’s food-shaped offerings such as this Peach Hand Cream ($12, sephora.com). And if you’re not sure, just get a bunch: one for your desk, once for your purse, one for home, and so on. One can never have too many hand creams.
2. Hand scrub.
It’s also a good idea to pick up a scrub just for your hands this fall. Sure, you could just use the body scrub sitting in your shower but sometimes it’s about the little luxuries. Plus, this L’Occitane One Minute Hand Scrub ($24, sephora.com) is specifically formulated for dry hands and ragged cuticles. You’ll love how silky smooth your hands and nail areas feel and look after using this scrub.
3. Cuticle oil.
It’s important to take good care of your cuticles during the colder months in order to promote healthy nails. Using a quality cuticle oil such as Deborah Lippman Cuticle Oil ($20, sephora.com) a few times a week will help with dry, ragged cuticles. Gentle reminder: Never cut your cuticles, as this could lead to damage and infections.
4. Nail strengthener.
Dry, brittle nails are common in the fall and winter but it doesn’t have to be that way. Keep your nails long, shiny, and strong by investing in a decent nail strengthener and using it regularly. Try Perfect Formula Nail Essentials Duo ($20, sephora.com). It will keep your nails strong and healthy, thanks to the inclusion of keratin protein, while adding an attractive pink sheen to your nails.
5. Dark nail polish.
Nothing signals the arrival of fall quite like some vampy nail polish. Essie’s Shearling Darling is a gorgeous deep (almost plum) red ($8.50, essie.com) that will look perfect on short or long nails alike. Butter London Wallis ($15, ulta.com) is a wonderfully multifaceted shimmering mix of gold and olive green that looks like old gold, and Colour Prevails Mr. Big is a moody dark gray ($8, drugstore.com). Make sure to take good care of your nails with the aforementioned cuticle oil to really make your dark manicure look good.
6. Hand soap and sanitizer.
This isn’t the most exciting purchase, but it is beauty-related. How are you supposed to look and feel your best this fall if you immediately catch a cold? Taking the time to find hand soap and hand sanitizer that you enjoy using will make it that much easier for you to use them consistently. We love Mrs. Meyer’s Hand Soap ($3.99, target.com), which comes in eight scents; Lavender is soothing and relaxing. As for hand sanitizer, ULTA’s Anti-Bacterial Gel ($3, ulta.com) comes in six enticing scents such as Lavender Woods and Vanilla Sugar, plus it’s small enough to keep in your bag 24/7. The Vitamin E and aloe will help you nourish your hands while keeping them germ-free.
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