Combat Stress With This Relaxing DIY Nail and Hand Treatment

Treat Yourself With A Sugar Scrub

2020 has been a challenging year so far.  Most of us have been living a very different life to what we are used to. Quarantined to the house, forced to stay away from work and friends, sharing the same 4 walls with the same 4 people... Day in... Day out.... This has caused many problems, but none so widespread as Stress. 

Stress has funny ways of presenting itself.  You may be aware of how it affects your skin, your mood, your gut or your relationship; but you may be forgetting one part of your body that you can physically see the effects of stress: The hands and fingernails.   

Most of us haven't seen the doors to a nail salon in many months, and some of us haven't applied a single drop of cuticle oil for the entirety of lockdown.  So now that we're seeing some of the restrictions being lifted and facemasks becoming the norm, (how will we show our emotion now if not with our hand gestures) it's more important than ever to have your hands and nails looking presentable.

If your nails are looking a bit ragged and tired, this is the perfect treatment that you can do at home to relieve stress and give your hands and nails the hydration boost they desperately crave.  You can even get your partner to join in and give each other a little pamper. (After annoying one another every day for the past 3 months it's the least you can do.)  Your nails and hands will be left looking clean and tidy, feeling fresh and hydrated, and ready to take on this new and strange world. 

I have been using this recipe for years both at home and in the salon.  I use the term "recipe" lightly because it only has 2 ingredients. (3 if you want to get fancy) You can use any kind of oil like olive,  grapeseed or almond but I have found the best results with coconut.

The best DIY hand and nail scrub 

1/2 cup coconut oil

1 cup white sugar. 

10 drops of essential oil 

Melt the coconut oil either on the stove or in the microwave (45sec) Add the sugar and essential oil of your choice and stir until combined. Store in an airtight container for up to 6 months. 

Time to scrub

Using the scrub is as simple as washing your hands.  Coconut Oil has traditionally been used for its antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral agent for the treatment of dermal infections so it is great for daily use. Apply a tablespoon of the scrub to your hands and begin massaging it gently into your skin and nails.

If the exfoliation is too harsh, you can add a small amount of warm water to your hands, this will dissolve some of the sugar and make the experience more enjoyable. Rinse with warm water and pat dry.  Finish off with a moisturising lotion to lock everything in, and a nice cuticle oil.

This relaxing treatment will leave your hands so soft you won't want to stop touching them.  

 For an extra bit of pampering, you can set up a romantic spa manicure station with a bowl of warm water, some towels, and even rose petals if you're really fancy. This sugar scrub is safe to use on your entire body, just be sure to clean the bathtub or shower after rinsing as it will leave it really slippery!