Wash with a Moisturizing Hand Soap

It’s important to keep your hands clean, but using an antibacterial hand soap can dry out your skin. Instead, wash your hands with a moisturizing soap that contains hydrating ingredients, such as shea butter, olive oil, or aloe vera, to avoid stripping the natural oils from your skin.

Avoid using hot water!

This can also dry out your skin. Wash with lukewarm water instead.

Don't worry about washing your hands too much–it's important to wash regularly to keep your hands as free of germs as possible. At the very least, you should wash your hand before you eat & after you use the restroom. You should also wash after changing a diaper, when you are ill, interacting with animals, or anytime that your hands appear dirty.

Apply a hand crème regularly. To ensure that your hands stay soft, you should use a hand crème several times a day. Look for a formula that contains emollient ingredients, such as glycerin, shea butter & natural oils. Massage the crème in after you wash your hands in the morning & before you go to bed at night. If your hands start to feel dry during the day, reapply then as well.

If you’re worried about your hands being greasy, try one of our hand crèmes. It will sink into your skin without leaving any greasy residue behind.

TREAT YOUR HANDS WITH A MASK WEEKLY.

USE SUNSCREEN ON YOUR HANDS.

TREAT CRACKS ON YOUR HANDS WITH OINTMENT.

For chores that require submerging your hands in water … plastic or rubber gloves are the best option.

For light yard work & gardening, cloth gloves are usually effective in protecting your hands from dirt & grime.

Looking for something environmentally friendly? Here are some great Sustainable Gardening Gloves from West Country Gardner. Made from recycled plastic bottles!

Besides kicking back & giving your feet a rest, here are some tips that can help ease the ache & rejuvenate tired feet.

EMPLOY MOIST HEAT!

Sometimes achy feet are the result of overstressed muscles & connective tissue due to excess activity.. One of the absolute best remedies for relaxing sore muscles is a foot bath. Soak your feet in a basin of warm water or a store-bought foot spa for 5 - 10 min.

• WHILE STANDING, RISE UP ON YOUR TOES, LIFTING YOUR HEELS OFF THE GROUND.
• DO ANKLE PUMPS, MOVING YOUR FOOT UP AND DOWN.
• PICK UP OBJECTS WITH YOUR TOES & MOVE THEM FROM ONE PILE TO ANOTHER.
• TOE RAISE, POINT, AND CURL
• MAKE CIRCLES WITH YOUR ANKLES.

ROLL THE BOTTOM OF YOUR FOOT ON A FROZEN WATER BOTTLE💧 TENNIS BALL🎾 OR ON A TUBE OF NATURAL INSPIRATIONS FOOT BALM 🦶🏽

WASH THOSE STINKY FEET!

Make a point to wash your feet (don’t forget to scrub between your toes!) with a washcloth. Yes, that absolutely means bending over in the shower to soap them up. Be sure to dry feet completely, including between the toes. This process lessens problems such as athlete's foot, odor, bacteria & yucky fungus. Look for foot products that have natural anti-fungal and anti-bacterial ingredients like arnica, calendula or tea tree oils to help your tootsies feel fresh and fabulous.

MOISTURIZE YOUR FEET AFTER WASHING.

During dry-skin winter months, you may want to moisturize several times a day. Look for ingredients like Coconut Oil, Shea Butter or Cocoa Butter to nourish cracked heels and rough calluses.

Neither does walking barefoot. Women are especially prone to developing flat feet, which can lead to other foot problems. To keep feet strong and healthy, minimize the amount of time you wear shoes that lack supportive arches.

SWITCH UP THE SHOES YOU WEAR.

That may mean having two pairs of your favorite everyday style, but shoes need time to air out to avoid triggering foot odor or infections. Change socks or stockings more than once a day. If you have a problem with smelly feet, soak them in a mixture of vinegar and water.

YOUR FEET SHOULD NOT HURT—EVER.

Tight shoes can worsen bunions, distort toe shape and cause painful foot growths. If you wear high heels, choose heels that are wide, stable and no higher than two inches. Toe boxes should be wide; pointed toes shouldn't begin their narrowing shape until well past the ball of the foot. To protect your Achilles tendon from shortening, alternate heel heights regularly.

WEAR THE RIGHT SIZED SHOES!

Overuse: Increased walking or standing, especially when combined with other contributing factors, can cause even the healthiest feet to become sore. Also, walking or standing on hard surfaces, such as concrete, can stress your feet. This can be a problem for those who stand all day at work or are generally on their feet for long periods of time.

BUY ARCH SUPPORTS!

Try a pair of over-the-counter arch supports for your shoes. Arch supports will help decrease the shock that your feet experience with every step. The heel & ball of the foot are especially prone to soreness & full-length arch supports will help cushion these areas. If your problem still bothers you, see a podiatrist & discuss custom-made orthotics.

CONSIDER ACUPUNCTURE:

Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine practice that can be of benefit for foot pain.

Acupuncture has very few side effects, so it may be worth a try if you're having trouble controlling pain with traditional methods.