Clean, cook, write, exercise, type, drive, wash…. There really isn’t much that we don’t do with our hands. That’s why it’s so important to take care of our handy-helpers. Here’s how.
The key to beautiful soft hands is moisturizing. Organic moisturizers can get a little pricey; finding a cruelty and animal product-free brand? Forget it, probably not typically available at your local supermarket or drug store. So, what’s a vegan girl to do? Concoct a natural hand moisturizing scrub without even leaving your own home, of course!
Since you’re so smart, you probably already know that fiber-rich oatmeal basically absorbs cholesterol and sends it out of the body. Not only is oatmeal good for your insides, it can perform miracles on the largest organ your body has to offer–your skin! The tiny grains clear the skin of dead cells, irritation, dryness and redness followed by leaving a soft, moist glow behind. The flakes are also known to relieve skin from insect stings, rashes and eczema.
Since my hands were feeling kind of dry, I felt the need for some homemade oatmeal-based moisturizer. Here’s how you can too:
Materials: bowl, water, oatmeal, lemon juice, sunflower oil or olive oil
1. Gather your materials!
2. Add two tablespoons of oatmeal to ¼ cup water. Let oatmeal soak for 10 minutes, until a softened gel-like substance is made.
3. Add 1 ½ teaspoons lemon juice and ½ teaspoon oil to oatmeal and mix well.
4. Rub mixture all over hands. I did this over the sink, it gets messy! Allow mixture to soak for two minutes.
5. Rinse with cool water. Pat dry.
6. Apply lotion to your hands to lock in moisture.
After following this recipe and procedure, my hands felt nourished, but in a different way than my regular moisturizer does. Here are three benefits of this homemade remedy:
- I felt that the oatmeal exfoliated as it whisked away dead skin cells.
- The gel-like substance the oatmeal formed with the oil made my hands feel great as it soaked in.
- The best part was that I already had all the ingredients in my house, bonus!
Making your own beauty products not only makes you look more beautiful, but makes you feel beautiful about something that you’ve done for yourself, the planet, the animals, and your wallet. I’m thinking next week… banana sugar body scrub? Catch up with me next time to find out!
