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The colder seasons can only mean one thing – dry hands and tight fingertips. Invest in one of these nourishing hand products pronto before the weather does any more damage.
We’d bet our bottom dollar that there’s a hand and nail cream lurking in your bag. Or your bedside drawer. Or perhaps the glove compartment of your car.
Just like lip balms, hand creams fall into that ‘not sexy but absolutely essential’ category, especially if you don’t want said body parts to appear crusty, flaky and sore.
Hand creams have come a long way. Affordable options can still be picked up with your groceries, but if you want to show off what you’re slathering on, there are plenty of luxe versions available, too.
From cult classics to the latest incarnation of hand creams (read: hand balm/salve), if you’re looking for a new squeeze to get you through the next few months, direct your attention towards these beauties…
Best hand creams, balms and lotions to hydrate your skin
Garnier Ceramide Nourishing Hand Cream
Whether you’re experiencing rough skin on your hands or find they get dry quickly due to excessive hand washing, this formula is a quick saviour. It’s formulated with ceramides and cocoa to heavily hydrate and soften skin, even if you have to wash your hands soon after application.
Fenty Skin Hydra’Reset Intensive Recovery Glycerin Hand Mask
This balmy mask cocoons dry hands with its mammoth 40% glycerin formula, soothing panthenol and softening mango butter. Apply before bed and you’ll wake up to your softest skin yet.
Koba Touch Me Hand Cream
Aiming to restore the skin barrier and plump the skin to prevent winter from taking its toll on your hands, this is packed with proteins and fatty acids. It’s non greasy and will also be a treat for cuticles that are in need of some serious TLC.
L’Occitane Shea (Karité) Hand Cream
A soothing blend of shea butter (which takes up a whopping 20% of the formula), honey, almond extract and coconut oil, this creamy formula sinks into hands but doesn’t leave them slippy so you can still unscrew lids without calling for back-up. It’s one of our favourites, and such a popular product that one tube is sold every three seconds.
The Body Shop Hemp Hand Protector
Packed with hemp seed oil, this hand cream will help to heal rough patches and reduce redness so you can go forth without gloves once the warmer weather arrives. It has an ultra-thick formula that sinks into skin with zero greasiness, lending itself to a nice moment for a little hand massage, too.
Nursem Caring Hand Cream
Recognising the impact that frequent hand washing has on the skin of nurses and midwives, Nursem created a heavy-duty hand cream that cares for skin. It hydrates, reduces discomfort and absorbs quickly. Plus, for every product sold, Nursem donates a month’s worth of free Nursem products to a nurse or midwife. And if you buy it from Space NK, they’ll double that, so you can feel extra good about your purchase.
Heath Hand Salve
Ignore that this is from a men’s grooming range. All that means is it comes with a non-greasy guarantee and works extra hard to meet the needs of ‘hands-on’ gents (note how it’s called a salve, not a cream). It also looks dapper and smells fresh – lavender and mint. However, the thing that really lured us in was the presence of pollustop on the ingredients list. A yeast ferment that creates a breathable film on the skin, it stops pigmentation-prompting pollutants from attacking your hands and causing dark spots.
La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Soothing Hand Cream
Whether it’s the cold weather, harsh heating, house chores and even the type of water in your area, there are so many factors that can lead to dry, sore and tight skin on your hands. This La Roche-Posay formula provides instant relief, thanks to a power trio of glycerine, niacinamide and thermal spring water. Once it’s applied, skin feels immediately softer, smoother and soothed.
Eucerin UreaRepair Plus 5% Urea Hand Cream
Eucerin’s Urea range is a cult beauty favourite, thanks to its ability to repair and nourish skin while simultaneously bolstering the skin’s barrier. This hand cream is no different. Formulated with urea and ceramides, it works hard to restore irritated, dry hands and leave them feeling refreshed.
Lanolips Coconutter Hand Cream Intense
This cult hand cream has the addition of coconut oil, meaning that the thin, vulnerable skin on your hands is kept plump and hydrated – and it also smells a bit like sun cream. The small squeezy tube is brilliantly user-friendly and means you can eke out every last bit. It’s also just the right size for pockets.
Salt & Stone Hand Cream in Bergamot & Hinoki
Proving hand creams can look achingly cool, Californian brand Salt & Stone tops the chart. Containing squalane, snow mushroom and seaweed extracts that help to moisturise and soothe the skin, the bergamot and hinoki scent is addictive too (there are also four others). A good all-rounder, and it looks designer.
Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Visibly Renew Hand Cream
Hand cream with SPF is harder to find than you might think, which is annoying as your hands are as exposed to the elements as your face. This affordable option has been keeping hands protected for years, and if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Keep one in the car because UV rays get through windows too, and your hands still need protecting when they’re stuck to the steering wheel.
Dr Organic Manuka Honey Hand Cream
We’ve long known about the benefits of manuka honey for colds and coughs, but it’s a saviour for skin too. This clever hand cream utilises the ingredient, letting it penetrate deep through the skin’s epidermal layer to heal and hydrate dry skin. As a bonus, it can be used on any dry areas, including your knees and elbows.
Images: courtesy of brands
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