To Prevent Any Wintery Woes…

Exfoliate Your Hands. Take one cup of regular oatmeal and ½ cup of regular milk and heat up over the stove. Stir until cooked, add sugar to thicken the mixture, and then let cool a bit.  When the mix is thickened, apply to hands (and feet).  Leave on for 5-10 minutes. The oatmeal soothes dry, itchy skin, and the milk acts as an exfoliant to help get rid of dry and dead skin cells. Finish off with pure shea butter as a moisturizer or a product that contains shea butter.

Condition Your Nails and Cuticles. Apply a generous amount of cuticle oil or Vaseline (or even lip balm if you’re in a pinch) to your nails before you get into the shower. When in the shower, massage it in as the steam helps the oil/Vaseline penetrate into dry and cracked nails and skin. Do not use a loofah (the hydrating benefits will get lost in the holes). Rather, use your opposite hand to gently massage the oil or Vaseline into the cuticle around the nails.

If The Winter Chill Has Already Taken Its Toll…

Treat Those Hangnails Hanging Around. Resist the temptation to pull. Take a nail clipper and gently clip the hangnail at the root. Spray the entire nail with an astringent, such as Sea Breeze, to prevent germs and bacteria from infecting the nail.

Save Your Split, Cracked or Torn Nail. Drop a small amount of nail glue on the nail where it is damaged, then lay a tiny piece of facial tissue over the nail glue.  Let the nail glue dry and gently buff to smooth.  The benefit of using tissue, rather than fabric, is that when the tissue dries over the glue, it will become clear.  If you use a fabric, like silk, you will see the individual stitches in fabric.

Keep Polish Looking Perfect. Dab a tiny drop of nail polish remover across the nail to even the remaining polish with the chip, so a new coat of nail polish can blend easily. Apply a new layer of nail color to the chipped nail and let dry.