The summer is usually the best time for my nails and hands, but as I get older I still have a few nail and hand challenges even in the warm weather.
Blaine Labs RevitaDerm 40
In the warm weather, my peculiar skin problem, exfoliative keratolysis, comes back. We often think about skin having problems in winter, but most people who have this skin condition report it during warm weather from May through September. This year, it is just starting for me now. It’s characterized by the peeling of the top layer of skin. What I experience is very dry, cracked and bleeding skin that peels off on my thumbs. There’s nothing that cures it, but I’ve had the best luck minimizing it with an over the counter product, RevitaDerm 40 from Blaine Labs with 40% urea (my original post that describes in detail here).
RevitaDerm40 both soothes my peeling skin and lessens the amount of peeling. 4.0 fl. oz. for about $21
Aveda Hand Relief
While I use RevitaDerm 40 on my thumbs, I keep the skin on the rest of my hands from looking and feeling dry with hand cream. So far, the best hand cream I’ve found for very dry hands like mine is Aveda Hand Relief Moisturizing Creme.
On the tube, it says “intensely moisturizes for soft, supple skin”, and that it does. If you have desert dry skin like I do, this is a terrific, rich hand cream for year round use. But if you have normal skin, you’ll love Aveda Hand Relief Moisturizing Creme for winter. 
My hands have lost volume as I’ve gotten older, and Aveda coats my skin and helps my hands look a little plumper too. Great stuff! almost fragrance-free, 4.2 fl. oz. for $24
Natrol Biotin Tablets 5000mcg
Also year round, I take biotin tablets. The ones I like most are the delicious strawberry flavor melting tabs, Natrol Biotin 5000mcg.
I take two tabs or a total of 10,000mcg/day. (They also come in 10K mcg tabs.) My hair and my nails grow very quickly as a result! In the summer, my nails respond to the warm weather and the biotin, and they grow very long if I don’t keep on top of them. Natural Biotin 5000mcg contains 250 tablets and lasts me around 3 months. I can sometimes find it at Costco for about $10.
Mont Bleu Glass Nail File
To keep my rapidly growing nails from getting out of control, I use my Mont Bleu Glass Nail File with the beautiful Swarovski crystals. I couldn’t love this gorgeous nail file more. It does such a great job filing my nails with no damage to the nail. It’s perfect! You can find it in a set of 2 or 3 glass nail files with or without crystals on Amazon at absolutely amazingly affordable prices.
Zoya Naked Manicure
Because I work in my garden a lot during the spring and summer, I actually seem to polish my nails less often. But I still want them to look neat. That’s where Zoya Naked Manicure products come in. I thought these products were relatively new, but I learned that they were actually launched in 2015. There are 9 different polishes in the collection, and I was sent 4 to try out. The Naked Mani polishes instantly enhance the look of nails by filling in pits, smoothing ridges, and neutralizing discoloration. Zoya explains that the results are achieved “through the use of optical diffusers, keratin fillers, micronized reflective color pigments and micro-thin film”. The polishes contain vitamins, sulfur amino acids, proteins, and botanicals that with long-term use make for healthier, more flexible, less brittle nails. I can tell you my nails look and feel so much smoother, more even and just healthier even after use for just a couple of weeks.
I received Perfectors in Pink, Lavender and Mauve. Below you’ll see that the Pink Perfector tints my nails a bit pink/peach.
So far, the Lavender is my favorite because the pale lavender really brightens my nails.
I also have been using the Satin Seal Topcoat that gives my nails a lovely natural satin, rather than glossy, finish.
0.5 oz. Perfectors are priced at $10 and the Satin Seal Topcoat at $12. You can also buy them in Women’s and Men’s Starter Kits.
So here are some of the products I’m using now to take care of my hands and nails. What are you using that you love?
