With the last few months delivering us wall to wall sunshine I imagine, if you’re anything like me, you took full advantage of the weather and spent hours working in your garden. But whether you were weeding, planting or re-potting chances are all that hard work has taken its toll on your hands.

While spending time amongst the flowers is great for your mental health it’s important to ensure you protect the skin on your hands to avoid damaging those green fingers. Because your hands are exposed to the elements while you’re enjoying the great outdoors, dirt becomes ingrained, skin becomes dehydrated and conditions, such as eczema and dermatitis, can become exacerbated.

Always ensure you wear gloves to not only protect from cuts and scratches but also to keep hands from drying out. You can even apply cream before putting them on for a more intensive treatment. Try my Vanilla Pod Hand Cream, which is super nourishing to protect skin while you toil in the soil. Because digging about in the dirt can make nails brittle, you can use this to protect them too.

Clean your hands thoroughly with a wash that won’t strip essential moisture. My Afternoon Tea Hand Wash boasts a wonderful blend of organic jasmine, grapefruit and white tea with a hint of light citrus and rose (I wanted to create a scent that echoed an English garden).

Always ensure you follow with a rich moisturising cream, like my Afternoon Tea Hand Cream to instantly boost moisture levels and leave skin feeling soft and supple. I have added pure essential Indian sandalwood oil – a renowned anti-viral – to my Afternoon Tea range because it is much kinder on your skin.

For more handcare tips, click here.