In these trying times, one thing we can do to make ourselves feel better about being trapped at home on Scary Island with no friends is to take care of ourselves. And I hope that means you are washing your hands A LOT right now. But the downside of that, (besides singing Happy Birthday to yourself 40 times a day, is that your hands are probs super dry. Plus it’s winter, so they were probably dry to start with. Lucky for you, I’m obsessed with skincare and I’m constantly exfoliating/scrubbing/moisturizing myself. In these circumstances, it pays to know what the absolute best products are so you don’t waste your money. I’ve tried probably any and everything at this point, and I know what works. Look at the bright side: you already have a ton of latex gloves from coronavirus panic! Slather on some of these hand lotions and put on some gloves for 20 minutes a day, and you’ll have baby-smooth hands by the time we’re allowed to go out in the world again. Here are my favorite hand creams to get you through all this aggressive hand-washing:
DR. ROEBUCK’S CUSHIE VITAMIN RICH HAND CREAM
This first of these hand creams actually comes recommended by Candace Marino, Kourtney Kardashian’s facialist, and if it will make my hands half as smooth as Kourtney’s face, I’ll take it. Marino says, “Cushie is an intensely nourishing and reparative hand cream featuring oatmeal, plant-based keratin, and antioxidants to moisturize and heal dry, over-washed hands.” And if you’ve been doing it right, your hands should be over-washed tbh. Another heavy-hitting favorite of hers is the Restorsea PRO Hand treatment 10x, which she says is “more than a hand cream, it’s a treatment” since it’s “packed with nourishing ingredients plus a proprietary blend of enzymes that help to lighten and brighten pigmentation.” So you’ll have the most moisturized and the prettiest hands on the block.
LUSH’S HELPING HANDS
I am soooo obsessed with Lush everything. All of their moisturizers in particular are awesome. They smell amazing and are thick and just work super well. But I particularly love their hand cream. Now, this isn’t like the hand cream to throw in your purse and use all the time; it’s more like what to put on while you’re sitting at home under your gloves or before bed. That’s because it’s really thick and takes a bit of time to absorb. But these kinds of creams work way better to save your dry, cracking skin! Also, a little goes a long way so don’t flinch at the price tag. I also just saw they have a hot hand mask now that I am alllll about trying!
BAG BALM SKIN MOISTURIZER
This is not your relaxing spa-day kind of moisturizer. It’s supposed to be unscented but it smells kind of weird. However, this is the best hand and foot (and really anything) moisturizer on the market. It was recommended to me by my doctor and OMG, does it work. It is the superhero of dry skin, and there is really no amount of dryness it can’t fix basically overnight. BTW? My doctor told me that when you’re really in desperate need to save dry/cracked skin, always buy lotions in a tub instead of a tube. If it comes in a tub, it means they’re too thick for a tube and will trap more moisture. So buy this to have on hand for skin emergencies and then buy a fun scented one to use daily when the situation isn’t so dire.
BURT’S BEES ALMOND & MILK HAND CREAM
Burt’s Bees makes great products, period. But I really love their hand and foot cream! I usually alternate buying this or Lush’s. It smells amazing and is really thick and moisturizing. Plus, it’s super affordable. Since you’re trapped at home anyway, consider buying a sample pack of a few of their products and give yourself a spa day while you work from home. Your skin is going to be so awesome when you’re finally allowed back in the office!
AMLACTIN
If you need something that you can use everywhere to save your skin, get some AmLactin. It’s dermatologist recommended and actually exfoliates your sad, dead skin and moisturizes at the same time. It’s not greasy either, so you can just slather it on your dry hands (or anywhere else) and continue about your day without feeling coated in goo. If you aren’t sure which one to buy, they have an awesome travel set of three so you can see what type fits your needs best.
BATH & BODY WORKS HAND CREAM
Say what you want, but I love Bath & Body Works A LOT. I always buy their seasonal scents and I particularly hoard their candles, soaps, and hand sanitizers. Which, btw, everyone thought I was crazy for my hand soap and sanitizer collection, but who’s laughing now?
What I like about B&BW’s hand cream is that it pretty much instantly absorbs. So you can wash your hands, put it on, and pretty immediately go back to online shopping and checking Instagram without smearing lotion or oils all over your phone and laptop. When we were allowed to leave the house, this was my favorite lotion to keep in my purse. *Sigh* good times. Also, they have so many scents. You should probably just buy their whole Stress Relief line to get you through the next few weeks.
This article was originally published on betches.com.
