Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Challenge: Handcream everyday challenge

I hate handcream. As a musician, I use my hands a lot. And as someone who suffers from hyperhydrosis (excessive sweating) on my hands, having moisturiser on makes it so much worse.

This would be fine if I wasn't predisposed to having terrible, icky cracked cuticles and super dry hands.

How disgusting are my cuticles and nails! 

It wasn't just superficial. My cuticles would really hurt when they cracked or ripped apart. And they would just do that, frequently, and become infected as well. How inconsiderate of them!

About four months ago, I decided to do this challenge.The aim was to apply hand cream every day, twice a day until they got better. I would also reapply in the middle of the day if my hands felt dry.

It took a good three months before I finally saw some results.


Same hand, cuticles are definitely healing, still a bit of peeling cuticles

Four months progress. My cuticles have healed and my nails look healthier.

No more peeling cuticles

Lesson learnt. Like it or not, I need my hand cream. Now that I'm used to it, I don't feel uncomfortable with it on, instead I feel dry and uncomfortable with no handcream on.

What products did I use?

Just the Garnier Intensive 7 Day Hand Cream (Shea Butter) and the Nivea Pure & Natural hand cream.

If you have problems with cracked cuticles, try this challenge. It may take awhile to work, but the results are worth the wait.

6 comments:

  1. Great results! I need to do this challenge for my dry feet :( they get quite neglected unfortunately.

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    1. My feet are terrible too, I just used the 1000hr soft sole on them though and now they are back to being presentable... Must remember to moisturise :S

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  2. They are great results! I used to have terrible nails and cuticles and I totally recommend coconut oil as a 'hand cream'. I use it at night and am amazed by the results even just the next morning. It's helped my cuticles and helped make my nails stronger.

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    1. Thanks for the recommendation sarah! I've heard so much about coconut oil but have yet to try it. I'll definitely give it a go.

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  3. I've also been using lots of hand cream... although like lip balms, I think that the more you use them, the more dependant you are on them. I used to not use them at all and my hands were fine but as soon as I started, I've found that I can't stop or otherwise, my hands are really really dry.

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    1. I certainly feel quite dependent on them now! I don't think my hands were fine previously though... kept getting all those cracked cuticles. I am definitely lip balm dependent... I feel like I need more moisturising lip balms.

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