The best hand creams are made from plant-based biodegradable ingredients. To protect hands, wear gloves for tasks and drink plenty of water and stay out of strong sunlight. UpCircle Hand Cream is made with upcycled hibiscus flowers (not for pregnancy) that contain 45% alpha-hydroxy acids to eliminate pollutants and stimulate cell renewal. It also contains shea butter and marshmallow root.
Avoid essential oils for pregnancy/nursing and affected medical conditions (asthma, epilepsy, high blood pressure etc).
Like rhino horn, our nails are made from keratin (don’t use toxic liquid for nail-biting, it can harm babies and pets if licked – some say giving up gluten has stopped nail-biting overnight, due to blocking vitamins that cause anxiety?) This plant-based bristle nail brush is made with sisal fibres on a FSC-certified beechwood base, ideal to clean gardening hands, and biodegrades at end of life (air-dry away from damp sinks to prevent mould).
Sienna Glass Nail File is an everlasting nail file that never goes blunt, with a finger grit than emery boards, so you can file in both directions without worry of splitting or peeling (file in one direction, for best results). Or use a Swedish sandstone reusable nail file (orsa sandstone is millions of years old, and so resistant to abrasion, it’s used for millstones). Also wear Fair Trade rubber gloves for washing-up, cleaning and gardening.
how to prevent & treat nail infections
Avoid contact as most fungal infections are contagious and reduce alcohol, refined grains and sugar (including fruit juice). You could try using a cotton bud to ‘paint’ nails with coconut oil then cover with plaster, continues until healed or nails grow out. Most podiatrists do not recommend tea tree oil as it could cause contact dermatitis. Also switch to a natural nail polish.
