Maintain Pretty Nails To Look Younger

You know that your skin can easily show your age; that’s why you’ve invested so much time and money into those wonderful anti aging skin care products that you apply religiously. But even if your face doesn’t reveal your secret number, there’s another body part that might give you away: your hands. All the facial skin care products in the world won’t make a bit of difference if your hands are wrinkled or speckled with age spots, and your nails are dry and gnarled. Before you invest in some gloves to hide the offenders, here are some tips for how to look younger naturally, just by putting a little extra effort into your digits.

Soften Dry Cuticles
The cuticles are at the base of your fingernails, that tiny flap of skin that covers the end of the nail plate. When you go to get your nails done, the manicurist often rubs cuticle oil on them to help them soften, so they can either be trimmed or pushed back so they don’t cover so much of the nail itself. Keeping the cuticles in check helps to keep your nails look clean and well-maintained. If you don’t plan to hit the salon anytime soon, you can get the same effect at home using a hydrating cream on your hands, focusing on rubbing the cream into your cuticles to soften them. You don’t need a whole lot of product for it to work; just a small dab of cream or a few drops of cuticle oil will do the trick. Massage the product into the cuticles for a few seconds every day, and then you can use an orangewood stick to gently smooth the cuticles back.

Clean Up Nails
Once your hydrating cream or cuticle oil has dried, focus on fixing up your nails. Use a soft-bristled brush to clean the tops, sides and underneath the nails, and use a file or clippers to trim them if they’re uneven or splitting. If you have any hangnails or skin tags around your nails, trim them away. When you’re finished, your fingernails should look trim, clean and healthy. If you prefer not to apply nail polish, you can buff your nails to a shine with a clean cloth and a bit of oil (give olive oil or your favorite essential oil a try).