If you wish to continue on with your manicure at this point, go on back to Step 6 of the Spa Manicure for instructions. If you are just giving yourself a treatment, then you are finished, let the moisturizers soak in all the way (don’t wash them off) before you get into anything with your hands.
Archive for the 'Facial for the Hands' Category
As if you don’t feel like you have enough cream on your hands already, it is time to add some more! A moisturizer is important to combat dryness, which contributes to the “crepe-y” look of older skin. Once again, I use two, the first of which is a Vitamin C cream, and the second is just a good intensive moisturizer. The vitamin C acts as a carrier, bringing the moisturizer into your cells deeper and more effectively. Massage into your hands deeply, and use plenty of product. A good idea here is to get out your heating pad or your heated mitts (or even your paraffin!) and wrap your hands in plastic wrap and put them in the heat. This will open your pores and allow them to really soak up the moisturizer deeply. Let this treatment work for about 15-20 minutes.
At this point, you are going to smooth a firming cream or serum on your hands, wrists and fingers. I personally use 2 different products on my face (and hands when I do this treatment), the first is a rejuvenating serum, which is purported to cause your cells to become active and reproduce quicker, and with more elasticity, which will hopefully lead to less sagginess and wrinkling. The second is a wrinkle reducing serum, which is applied just after the rejuvenating serum. I also have a serum that is supposed to be a cancer preventative that I sometimes add on top of these two. Use what you have, but be sure you have something to use.
Apply any (or all – one treatment at a time, please – if you are feeling like your skin needs some serious work!) of the facial treament products listed- just like you would do on your face. A thin coat of mask, peel, or dermabrasion cream is all you need, and you need only do this on the top side of your hand, as this is where your skin has been damaged (see the word AGED at the end of damaged?) by the sun. Wait the prescribed time (usually 10-15 minutes), then remove the
mask and/or peel. Use the electric brush that comes with the dermabrasion kit to scrub the dermabrasion cream if you have chosen this treatment. Rinse off mask/peel/cream, and move on to the next step of your Facial for the Hands.
Just like on your face, toner is used to minimize (tighten) your pores, bring your skin’s pH back to normal and prepare it for moisturizing treatments. Either pour a little into your palm and spread it lightly all over your hands and forearms OR you can keep some in a small spray bottle and lightly spray. Regardless of the method you use, just a very small amount of toner needs to be used.
As if your hands aren’t feeling clean enough already, you are now going to scrub them, and your forearms, vigorously with whatever exfoliant product you use on your face and/or body. Take your time, and spend extra time on your problem areas (callouses, elbows, tops of hands).
We are going to start talking about the Facial for the Hands, which incorporates all of the special spa treatments that you are likely to find at the salons. Our main focus in the manicure was your nails, and making them look great and be ready to hold polish for 2 weeks. Our focus now is on the skin of your hands and forearms, and your goal is to get them exfoliated, moisturized and smooth as a baby’s bottom.
Generally you will begin this process at Step 5 of the basic spa manicure, although you can always just do this by itself, anytime.
Facial for the Hands, Spa Treatments
