How can I make my hands look younger?

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Our hands age faster than our faces, but they are often overlooked. Frequent hand washing, exposure to disinfectants and chemicals, and sun exposure take their toll. I, for one, am not going to raise my hands without a fight. From home kits to professional treatments, here’s my guide to turning back time.

First, you need to up your sun protection game. Most of the time, daily sunscreens for the face and body are too sticky or greasy for your hands. Supergoop! SPF40 hand screen (£19.95 for 30ml) protects against excess melanin production which can cause age and liver spots, and is rich in natural antioxidants such as sea buckthorn fruit extract and argan oil, providing hydration without greasy feeling.

Apply a few drops of vitamin C to the back of your hands to combat age spots (or lentigo) that often appear as small, speckled freckles and over time grow and cluster. Wait 30 seconds for it to dry before applying hand cream. Try a supercharged formula like Ole Henriksen Banana Bright Vitamin C Serum (£58 for 30ml). When layered under SPF, the anti-wrinkle and sun defense properties of vitamin C are amplified.

Layered under SPF, the sun defense and anti-wrinkle properties of vitamin C are amplified.

To help avoid wrinkles, look for hand products with retinol. The backs of our hands do not have the fatty, padded tissue of our palms or fingertips, and as elastin and collagen are lost over time, the skin thins and takes on an almost translucent quality. There are also not as many sebaceous glands, which means that the local skin cannot produce as much oil to stay soft and supple. But dry skin is fertile ground for wrinkles. Chantecaille Retinol Hand Cream (£74 for 75ml) has a great blend of calming rose, softening vitamin E, botanically derived vitamin A and retinol.

I also recommend a super rich and nutritious night treatment. Bioeffect EGF Hand Serum (£39 for 40ml) is my go-to companion. It contains epidermal growth factors, which have long been used by doctors for wound healing and cell regulation, and are a welcome ingredient for overworked hands. Meanwhile, niacinamide evens out brown spots; hyaluronic acid hydrates; and ceramide hydrates.

Sagging skin or advanced hyperpigmentation? Follow the serum with Caudalie Vinoperfect Spot Correcting Hand Cream (€13 for 50ml); Its patented ingredient Viniferine (derived from vine sap) is excellent for correcting dark spots.

Don’t forget to de-stress your hands. Stress releases cortisol, which breaks down collagen in the skin, causing wrinkles and sagging. Massage in The Ritual of Jing Hand Mask by Rituals (£12.90 for 70ml) Once a week: Its sandalwood and lavender fragrance helps clear the mind, reduce stress and improve sleep quality. Microbiome-friendly active ingredients also strengthen the skin barrier and are excellent for softening nail cuticles.

If you are really concerned about volume loss, fillers can be helpful. Dr. Ash Soni, founder of The Soni clinic, states that patients “are starting to pay attention to their hands. For years they have focused more on face and neck treatments, so the disparity between the face and hands is becoming difficult to ignore.” His preferred injectable is Galderma’s Restylane Vital Light. To increase collagen and elastin, try injections of tissue-regenerative polynucleotides, derived from salmon DNA. “More of a time-release injectable than an instant filler, polynucleotides are great for those looking to initiate preventative rejuvenation at the cellular level.”

Lastly, it goes without saying, but make applying hand cream a daily ritual. A favorite is Acqua di Parma Sublime Hand Cream (£38 for 30ml). Jojoba oil and vitamin E offer protection against environmental stressors such as cold, heat and air conditioning. And the aroma of magnolia and Sicilian lemon is delicious. Another is Byredo Mojave Ghost Hand Cream (£35 for 30ml), which has a warm woody scent. I apply them immediately after washing my hands, to lock in moisture.