Do your hands get dry and chapped during the long winter months? Cold weather is tough on skin, especially those areas that spend much of their time exposed to the elements. You may be tempted to visit a spa or purchase expensive lotions to heal your palms, but an effective alternative can be found right in your kitchen. Relaxing oatmeal treatments can soften and repair peeling, sore hands and make that dark season a bit more bearable.
Instructions
1. Pour the oatmeal into the food processor fitted with the chopping blade. Pulse the oats until they are ground into a fine powder. Transfer the oatmeal to a bowl or basin large enough to hold about 6 cups of liquid.
2. Scrub your hands for about a minute with the oatmeal powder, gently sloughing off the driest skin.
3. Add warm water to the oatmeal a teaspoon at a time, stirring until a thick paste forms. Apply a moderately thin layer of the paste to your hands, paying special attention to the driest areas. There should be leftover paste in the bowl. Wait about 10 minutes, then rinse the paste from your hands with warm water. Do not use soap, as it will dry out your hands further.
4. Pour about 3 cups of warm water into the bowl with the remaining paste. Mix until the water appears silky and the paste has dissolved. You may need to add up to an additional cup of water, depending on the amount of paste left in the bowl. Soak your hands in the bowl for about 20 minutes, or until the water cools.
5. Dry your hands thoroughly. Apply a few drops of almond oil to each palm, and massage the oil into your hands. Add a bit more if necessary, but be careful not to use more than a few drops at a time so the oil can be absorbed by your skin.
Tags: your hands, warm water, about cups, about minutes, until water