With the cold, dry, winter air, it’s common to deal with dry, cracked hands. Luckily, you don’t have to suffer! There are ways to ensure your hands lock in the most moisture possible. So if you’re ready to kiss cracked, dry, and tender hands goodbye this winter, follow the tips below!
Choose the Right Cream
Have you ever applied a hand cream that instantly burns or stings your skin? While fragrance is a lovely component to have in your hand cream, it can also be highly irritating to some skin types. Instead, choose a hand cream that’s formulated with ceramides to repair your skin barrier and glycerin to lock in moisture for the long run. In addition, ensure that your cream is free of alcohol and other drying components.
Our Pick: Atopalm MLE Moisturizing Hand Treatment ($21, shop here)
Keep Hand Cream Everywhere
Now that you’ve found your favorite hand cream, buy multiples of them. It will come in handy to have a hand cream in your purse, car, desk, etc. You’ll never be left in a pinch with dry hands.
Layer With an Occlusive
If your hand cream needs help, try layering it with an occlusive (such as Vaseline, shea butter, squalane, glycerin, or castor oil), which will mimic your skin’s barrier to prevent dehydration.
Our Pick: L’Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream ($12, shop here)
Purchase a Nourishing Hand Soap
Did you know your hand soap can make your hands even drier? Many brands of hand soap have harsh ingredients that hurt the skin over time. So look for one formulated with glycerin, an occlusive that will lock in moisture and create a hydrating barrier for your hands. If possible, avoid soaps with fragrance and essential oils. While your hands will smell pleasant, these ingredients can dry out your skin and cause cracks.
Our Pick: Clearly Natural Unscented Glycerin Hand Soap ($10.49, shop here)
Try a Hand Mask
Incorporating a hand mask into your routine a few nights a week will ensure your hands absorb all the nutrients and hydration you need. There are multiple varieties of hand masks – some have a sheet glove to slip over your palms, while others are thicker creams similar to wash-off face masks.
Our Pick: Fenty Skin Hydra’Reset Intensive Recovery Glycerin Hand Mask ($22, shop here)
Swipe On Cuticle Oil
The skin around your nails is delicate and can dry out easily – and cracked, dry cuticles can increase your risk of infection. So if you want to go the extra step, massage a few drops of cuticle oil onto your cuticles each night before you go to sleep.
Our Pick: Cuccio Naturale Milk and Honey Cuticle Revitalizing Oil ($13.98, shop here)
Sleep With Soft Gloves
So you’ve layered on all of your rejuvenating and hydrating hand products…now what? You don’t want those products to transfer onto your sheets! The best way to solve this problem is to invest in soft sleeping gloves. Once you apply all your hand products, slide on your gloves and wear them overnight. This will help the product absorb into your skin as well.
Our Pick: Earth Therapeutics Moisturizing Hand Gloves ($10, shop here)