What with all the hand washing and hand sanitizer use lately, here are some rejuvenating treatments to replenish your hands natural oil barrier and soothe any irritated skin.

Firming skin cream a pampering treat to over-washed or garden-stressed hands

Ingredients
• 6 tablespoons of witch-hazel extract
• 6 tablespoons of grape seed oil (or substitute with olive oil or coconut oil)
• 1 tablespoon of grated beeswax
• 1 tablespoon of grated/granulated emulsifying wax

Method – Warm the oil in a bain-marie, add the waxes and keep heat on until fully melted , remove from heat and slowly add the witch hazel, whisking as you go. Allow to cool for 20 minutes and whisk gain to final creamy consistency.

Luxurious hand lotion to moisturise and repair

Ingredients
• 1 cup raw/solid shea butter
• 1 cup coconut oil
• ½ cup of almond oil
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

Method – Using a bain-marie melt the coconut oil and shea butter together. Remove from heat, fold in the almond oil and vanilla extract. Cool for 20 minutes before hand whisking up some meringue like peaks. Alternately a slight chill in fridge for 20mins at this point will help whip up a creamier thicker butter-like consistency – with the aid of an electric whisk for best results. Decant to storage container. End product stores in fridge or cool bathroom for 3weeks.

Banana and avocado hand mask – for intense conditioning

Method – blend ½ a banana with two tablespoons of avocado oil and a t-spoon of honey – a good tip is to coat onto hand then glove with surgical glove, coat second hand and glove it also. Relax for half an hour, remove gloves and rinse hands with tepid water.