If you’re anything like us, keeping your nails and hands looking great may feel a little like mission impossible. Everyday wear and tear, sun damage and our love affair with dehydrating hand sanitizers can all contribute to our hands looking…well, old.

“Filed nails and regular conditioning are the key to younger-looking hands,” says Melissa Forrest, a nail expert for Sally Hansen Canada. “You wouldn’t go to the salon, get a fabulous haircut and then never use conditioner. A beautiful manicure won’t last without proper care, either.” According to Forrest, nail maintenance takes only minutes a day. Her simple DIY routine consists of filing nails to help prevent breakage and tearing, exfoliating hands to eliminate dry skin and calluses, and applying moisturizer to both skin and cuticles for a soft touch and to keep annoying hangnails at bay. And don’t be lazy: Remove chipped nail polish at the first sign of wear and replace it with a fresh coat of lacquer.

For summer, nail polish hues of  tangerine, pink, lavender, ruby red, mint green and every shade of blue, from turquoise to midnight, are hot-hot-hot. Pick your favourite shade and perk up your polish status stat!