The top three remedies for hands and feet are easy to make
and are well worth including in your regular beauty routine. Not only do they
make the hands and feet look more attractive, but they also help prevent more
serious disorders from developing in the future.
1. Lavender Barrier
Cream
·
10 g (14 oz.) beeswax pieces
·
25 g (1 oz.) cocoa butter
·
600 m (4 tbsp.) almond oil
·
15 ml 1 (tbsp. )castor oil
·
15 drops lavender essential oil
Method
This waterproof hand cream will protect the hands from
environmental abuse and is perfect to use before chores such as gardening and
washing-up. Keep a tub handy in the kitchen for regular use. Instead of using
lavender essential oil, the cream may also be scented with lemon or sandalwood
oils for more macho aroma.
·
Put the beeswax pieces and cocoa butter in a heatproof
bowl and place in a saucepan half-filled with water. Gently heat until the
beeswax and cocoa have melted together. Remove from the heat and stir in the
almond oil and castor oil.
·
Allow cooling and beat in the lavender. Pour the
mixture into tubs of shallow screw-top jars and rub into the hands whenever a
protective barrier cream is needed.
2. Cuticle Cream
·
10 g (¼ oz.) beeswax pieces
·
60 ml. (4 tbsp.) almond oil
·
5 drops lavender essential oil
·
10 drops tea tree essential oil
Method
This nourishing cream also contains essential oils to heal
minor skin irritations and the inclusion of the tea tree essential oil will
help prevent common fungal nail infections.
·
Put the beeswax pieces and almond oil together in
a heatproof bowl and place in a saucepan half-filled with water. Gently heat
until the beeswax has completely melted into the oil. Stir thoroughly, remove
from the heat, and allow cooling slightly. Then stir in the essential oils.
·
Pour the mixture into a small screw-top jar and
use to massage daily around the nails to soften cuticles and prevent them from
splitting and peeling.
3. Hot oil Smoother
·
50 ml.(2 fl. oz.) almond oil
·
20 ml. (4 tsp.) wheat germ oil
·
10 drops lavender essential oil
·
Pair of old cotton socks
·
Pair of cotton gloves
Method
This is an excellent overnight intensive treatment for
re-moisturising hard skin on the hands and feet. The hot oil rapidly soaks into
the upper layers of skin and is sealed in with cotton socks and gloves. This
encourages our natural body heat to boost penetration of the oil even further
(cotton manicure gloves are available from major department stores and some
chemists).
·
Warm the almond oil in a small saucepan. Add the
wheat germ oil and lavender essential oil and remove from the heat.
·
Apply liberally to clean feet and hands,
massaging well into the skin before covering with cotton socks and gloves.
Leave overnight and in the morning the skin will feel fabulously soft and
smooth.
