With cooler temps comes the all-important practice of washing your hands regularly. It wards off diseases like colds and flu, for sure. But with frequent handwashing comes a new problem: dry, cracked and itchy hands. Enter: hand creams that restore moisture.
How often should you wash your hands?
Per the CDC, you should wash your hands frequently, even in cooler temps. Wash before, during and after preparing meals, when touching a wound and after touching a pet. And never touch your face with unwashed hands as this spreads germs and bacteria that could make you sick.
What causes dry hands?
You know how your skin tends to get dry and itchy in the winter months? Well, the same thing happens to your hands when you’re excessively washing them. By exposing your hands to warm water, harsh anti-bacterial soaps and sanitisers, you’re essentially stripping your hands of its natural moisture.
Occlusive ingredients are key
So, while it’s great that we’re doing our best to prevent the spread of colds and flu, it’s important that we’re not damaging our skin in the process. That’s why you need to be using hand cream after every hand wash and sanitise. You want a hand cream that acts as an occlusive — these are ingredients that keep moisture in while also acting as a protective barrier.
Occlusives ingredients include:
- Shea Butter
- Beeswax
- Petrolatum
- Paraffin
- Oil
If you’re in the market for hand cream (and you should be), try out one of these top picks. All of them contain ingredients that will help your hands retain moisture and soothe dry, itchy skin.
Burt’s Bees Almond & Milk Hand Cream
A cult favourite, this formula is quick-absorbing so you can get to whatever you were doing – fast.
The Body Shop Hemp Hand Protector
Community-trade hemp seed oil and organically sourced beeswax help to protect skin while injecting hands with moisture.
Clarins Super Restorative Age-Control Hand Cream
This hand cream moisturises and fights against the signs of ageing, like wrinkles and spots.
Lulu & Marula Soothing Hand & Foot Balm
Avocado, coconut and sweet almond oils blend together to form a luxurious treatment for dry hands.
Oh-Lief Natural Aqueous Cream
Beeswax, natural clay and coconut oil takes care of sensitive skin and feeds thirsty hands.
Simply Bee Hand Cream
Made with a blend of propolis, beeswax and plant oils this cream will protect and nourish your skin.
Eucerin UreaRepair PLUS Hand Cream
Urea is an ingredient that helps to attract and maintain moisture. It’s combined here with ceramides to treat very dry, rough skin.
L’Occitane Shea Butter Intensive Hand Balm
Made with intensively nourishing ingredients like shea butter, coconut oil and glycerin, this will have your hands moisturised and looking good.
Sorbet Firming Hand And Nail Cream
Apply this formula to your hands and massage into the nail bed for stronger, healthier hands and nails.
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