How does your skin feel after a summer of gardening and other outdoor activities? It could probably use a little TLC. As a gardener (or farmer), you spend plenty of time with your hands in the soil and your face in the sun and wind. Dry hands, rough cuticles, and skin that feels tight after washing are familiar companions.
Here are some simple ways to care for garden-worn skin, with a few favorites from our own farm routine.
Protect Your Skin Before Heading Outside
Start with sunscreen, a wide-brimmed hat, and clothing that covers exposed skin. Follow your sunscreenās directions for application and reapplication. I like to wear a light, long-sleeved shirt to cover my arms while I work. Gardening gloves also help limit contact with soil and scratchy plants.
If insects are a concern, choose a repellent suited to your needs and follow its label directions. Our NoSkeeto is a DEET-free option made with essential oils.
Gently Cleanse Garden-Worn Hands
Use a good soap that leaves your hands feeling comfortable, not tight and dry. We use shea butter in our soaps.
A sugar scrub can help lift stubborn dirt and plant resins from intact skin. I always use a scrub after picking calendula. Keep the pressure gentle, and skip exfoliation if your skin is irritated, sunburned, cracked, or broken.
Care for Dry Hands and Cuticles
After washing, give dry fingers and cuticles some attention. Knuckle Balm is our gardenerās balm, made with calendula and plantain, for softening and moisturizing rough, dry skin.
Does your skin get irritated when working with tomatoes or hops? Gloves and long sleeves can help reduce direct contact. Wash gently afterward, and avoid putting fragranced products on already irritated skin. Persistent irritation deserves advice from a health care professional rather than another layer of product.
Moisturize After Time Outdoors
At the end of a gardening day, gently cleanse your face and follow with a moisturizer. Springtide Gold Face Cream combines botanical extracts with ingredients such as vitamin C and peptides in a moisturizing formula. Think softer-feeling skin and replenished moisture, not a replacement for sunscreen or a way to undo sun damage.
Remember your hands, too. Applying moisturizer after washing can help reduce moisture loss and keep them feeling comfortable for the next dayās work.
Refresh With Farm-Distilled Mists
A face and body mist is a lovely way to refresh after gardening. Our mists are distilled from herbs we grow on our farm and have a light botanical aroma. For a cooling spritz, I like to keep one in the refrigerator.
Mist onto your skin for a little refreshment, and to cool the skin. Then follow with moisturizer if your skin feels dry. It is a simple ritual that can refresh a tired spirit, too.
Make Time to Rest After Gardening
All that bending and pulling is a good reason to take breaks and vary your tasks. If Joint Jam is part of your after-gardening routine, use it according to its label directions. It contains arnica, comfrey, essential oils, and menthol.
Keep Gardening, and Keep Your Routine Simple
Gardening gives us movement, time with plants, and the satisfaction of watching something grow. And if you grow vegetables, you have the pleasure of bringing fresh food straight from the garden to your table. You can read more about the health benefits of gardening here.
Choose a few products that suit your skin rather than making your routine another chore. Explore our soaps, hand balm, moisturizers, and farm-distilled mists for yourself or as gifts for a gardener you love. Let us know what works for you. And keep gardening, itās well worth the effort.