Skin Saviours

Whether you’re suffering from dry hands, cracked heels or sunburn, we might just have the solution…

Help, my hands are really dry and sore!

First off, switch to a gentler soap. Look for a more natural one that doesn’t contain sodium lauryl sulphate. Generally, bars of soap tend to be kinder to skin than liquid ones. You may also want to swap your hand sanitiser for one with added botanicals. (It’ll still need to be at least 60% alcohol to work.) I like Bramley’s Hand Sanitiser Gel, which includes rosemary, spearmint and peppermint essential oils. It’s kinder to skin and smells gorgeous (£4, www. bramleyproducts.co.uk). It can be tempting to pile on the hand cream, but some lotions can end up irritating your skin even more. Look for an unscented cream designed for sensitive skin, or just reach for a natural seed or fruit oil. Almond oil is ideal, but olive oil will also do the job and we’re guessing you may already have a bottle in the kitchen. Just massage a few drops of it into your hands before bed.

I was aiming for bronzed goddess, but I got cooked lobster…

Ouch! Have a cool bath with a handful of porridge oats tied up in a thin cloth. The water will help to cool your skin and the oats will soothe irritation. Then apply aloe vera gel. It’s sticky, but effective. Don’t have any aloe vera or aftersun to hand? Use a gentle moisturiser, such as unscented baby lotion. Avoid Vaseline and other petroleum jelly, as it’ll lock the heat in. You’ll want to drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration and cover up outdoors until the burn has gone. When you’re ready to brave the sun again, arm yourself with a decent sunscreen and make sure you reapply it regularly, even if it’s waterresistant.

Sunscreen gives me spots

Sunscreens are often too rich for facial skin so can lead to breakouts, redness and irritation. Try switching to a lighter face cream with a high SPF. Hello Sunday’s The One That’s a Serum (£20, www.hellosundayspf.com) is SPF 45, lightweight, non-greasy and enriched with hyaluronic acid and vitamin C to boost hydration.

My cracked heels look awful in sandals

Soak your feet in warm water for fifteen minutes before gently exfoliating. You can use a loofah or a homemade foot scrub (mix a handful of brown sugar with a tablespoon of olive oil). Avoid any areas with open wounds. Rinse and pat dry, then apply a thick moisturiser or balm. Lyonsleaf’s Calendula and Marshmallow Balm (£10.95, www.lyonsleaf.co.uk) is a good choice, as it’s designed to soothe and repair dry, cracked and irritated skin. It can also help skin complaints such as eczema and psoriasis. Pull on some thin cotton or bamboo socks to keep the balm from greasing up your bed sheets. Do this every night and you should see an improvement pretty quickly.

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