With the hands, as with almost everything else in the strife toward
beauty culture, cleanliness is the first great essential. You cannot
keep your hands smooth and pretty without an occasional hard scrubbing.
Unless the hands are unusually moist naturally, hot water should not be
used. Have the bath tepid--just warm enough to be cleansing. Say a fond
farewell to all highly-scented soaps and bring yourself down to a
steady and constant faith in the pure white imported castile. I doubt
very much if there is a soap manufactured which can equal this for its
harmlessness and purity. The best way is to buy a large bar, letting it
dry thoroughly, and cutting off small slices as they are needed.
Never fail to let the soapy water out of the basin and fill again with
a clear rinsing bath. When drying be sure that the towel is not coarse
or rough, and that it absorbs every particle of moisture. Very gently
press back the cuticle around the nail. A little orange-wood stick or a
piece of ivory will assist you when the skin is inclined to stick close
to the nail. Let the hands have their most cleansing bath just before
you go to bed, and then is the time to apply your cold cream or
cosmetic jelly, which--in nearly all cases--is all that is needed to
keep the hands soft and nice.
Wearing gloves at night is very uncomfortable and quite unnecessary.
Lotions can be put on an hour or so before one goes to bed, and by that
time they are usually pretty well absorbed into the cuticle.
If the hands are red use lemon juice, applying cold cream as soon as
the juice is dry. For callous spots rub with pumice stone.