As any mother will tell you, raising children and keeping a home is an incredibly "hands-on" job. Our hands can also be one of the first places to reveal our age; while they are terribly hard working, they tend to also be terribly neglected. While I would love to have weekly manicures, I don't have the luxury of time or money for that. Also, why spend all that time and effort putting polish on when it is just going to get chipped the minute I start prepping dinner! Instead, focus on these five tips for beautiful hands. Even without polish, your hands will not only look five years younger, but it will appear as if you are a "lady of leisure".

1. Always wear gloves when doing the dishes, cleaning the house, or working in the garden. Water combined with harsh products will dry out your skin.
2. Moisturise your hands throughout the day. I like to keep a mini-tube of hand cream in my handbag, as well as pump bottles of a cheap cream throughout the house. If the cream is inexpensive, you will not feel guilty about putting it on regularly. I have them by each sink in the house, as well as in a bedside drawer.
3. When out and about, especially driving in the car, put sunscreen on the back of your hands to help prevent against aging caused by UV exposure.
4. Give your hands a mini home spa treat and give them a quick exfoliation treatment, followed by a self-massage with a rich hand cream.
5. When your hands are in dire need of TLC, massage in a rich hand cream before bed and slip on some cotton gloves. The next morning, your hands will look like they have had a pricey paraffin hand treatment. If you don't have cotton gloves, slip your hands into a pair of cotton socks. It's not as comfortable, but it does the job in a pinch!

Some favourite products:

Sephora by OPI Daily Hand Moisturiser To Go ($5)

- this is a great hand cream in a neat little tube that's just the right size for your diaper bag or handbag. At this price, grab one to stash in your car's glove compartment.

Sephora Moisturising Gloves ($8)

- put these on overnight once a week – you won't believe the difference.

Lubriderm Daily UV Moisturising Lotion ($7.79)

- this is a bargain priced product that really delivers. The large 16oz pump bottle means that you can put enough on each day to protect your skin.

Crabtree & Evelyn La Source Hand Recovery Cream ($20)

- this exfoliating treatment has a delightfully fresh fragrance and is enriched with shea butter, sea salt and lavender oil

Sarah Vitsas used to be a beauty executive before becoming a SAHM to two under two! Now she writes about her journey towards being a Chic Mummy at her blog Chic Mummy.

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