(NC) - Do your hands look older than you feel? It's not
surprising when you think of how much we use and abuse them -
exposing them to the drying effects of the sun, winter winds
and the harsh chemicals found in many cleaning products. You
may be surprised to learn that just five minutes of hand care
each day can make a difference. Try these handy ways to keep
yours looking beautiful: 
- Protect your hands by wearing sunscreen every day and gloves
when doing work that might damage them, such as cleaning,
gardening or shoveling. This is the first and most important
step to minimizing the signs of aging. 
- Slough off dead skin cells and give your hands a smoother and
healthier appearance. Mix together some sea salt and lemon
juice. Brush it into your hands with an old toothbrush a couple
of times a week and then rinse. It's rejuvenating. 
- Soften your hands while you do the dishes. Add a little
almond oil (about a teaspoon) to your dishwater. The water will
reduce roughness, while the oil seals the moisture into your
skin. 
- Strengthen fragile nails by heating a cup of milk in the
microwave for about 30 seconds (or until warm). Then soak your
hands in the milk for about five minutes. Its high calcium
content works to strengthen brittle nails. 
- Moisturize your hands while you're washing them. Did you know
that the average woman washes her hands five to six times each
day? This can be very drying over time. Try switching to hand
soap that contains a moisturizing ingredient for clean hands
that stay soft and supple. 
- Alleviate dry, cracked hands using leftovers. Create a mask
with warm mashed potatoes (that contain milk or olive oil) and
apply it to your hands. Leave it on for about 15 minutes and
then rinse with cool water. 
- Lighten age spots that appear on your hands due to sun
exposure (hint: they look like large freckles). Simply dab a
cotton ball into freshly squeezed lemon juice and apply to the
spots twice a day until you get the desired results (usually in
about six to eight weeks). 
- Brighten dull nails with a little bit of castor oil. Massage
a drop onto each nail and then buff using a tissue. Your nails
will have a natural, beautiful shine. 
- Foster healthy hands with this simple exercise. Clench your
fists tightly for a second and them throw them open so that
your fingers are spread as wide as possible. Repeat this
steadily 10 times. It will help improve circulation and loosen
your finger joints.