Between the constant hand washing thanks to COVID, to the winter weather and dry air, the skin on your hands can very quickly become dry and cracked. Not only can it be uncomfortable to have your hands so dry and rough, but it doesn’t look good either.
And nothing is worse than when your hands are so dry that your rough skin catches on clothing and it feels so awful. That is almost as bad as nails down a chalkboard for me. CRINGE! I despise that feeling!
Sometimes, your hands can get so raw that they actually hurt, crack or bleed! I’ve had this happen before on winter getaways and not taking better care of my hands while traveling.
Keeping your hands soft and smooth, especially in the winter, just requires a few great products and maybe a few new habits. These tips work all year round too if you have dry hands in general so be sure to save this post for when you need a little moisture boost!
How To Keep Your Hands Soft And Smooth
Wear Gloves When Doing Dishes
While this may not be very cute, it sure does make a huge difference if you cook often. Washing dishes and pans in the sink over time will make your hands so dry. Wearing dishwashing gloves is a super easy and effective way to ensure your hands stay soft and smooth no matter how many times you have to do the dishes.
Wear Gloves Whenever You’re Outside
For those cold, dry months, wearing gloves anytime you’re outside will help to keep that dry weather and wind off your hands. Add a moisturizer before putting on your gloves for added protection when you’re outside.
I keep gloves in my winter coats, just those super cheap gloves, so I’m never forgetting this simple step. For those who live in colder climates and wear gloves all the time, investing in quality leather or suede gloves will help to keep out even more dry weather and lock in that moisture.
Wash Your Hands In Warm, Not Hot, Water
We wash our hands a lot and the simple act alone can strip your hands of their natural moisture which dries out your hands over time. By lowering the temperature of the water, you can help maintain more moisture in your skin.
Hot water may feel nicer, but it’s actually damaging the keratin on your skin that protects your outermost skin layer. Aim for lukewarm water for all your handwashing. Bonus points for using a hand soap that has glycerin as this is an ingredient that will hydrate while you wash.
Follow Up Immediately With Moisturizer
If you’ve washed your hands, instantly moisturize afterward with a good hand cream. This is key to rehydrating your skin after you strip it of oils and moisture from soap. I keep small hand lotions at all my sinks in my home to make sure I’m reapplying often.
Use Vaseline or Aquaphor, But Follow This One Trick
Using Vaseline and Aquaphor are super popular. But many are forgetting one little trick. If you want to protect your hands, great. These two products will do just that. However, if you want to bring moisture BACK into your skin, you need to layer with something else first.
I recommend either a hyaluronic acid serum prior to putting on your protective layer, or any rich lotion. Let it dry a bit before putting on the Vaseline. This will lock that moisturizer in.
So if you’re heading to bed, try using this hyaluronic body serum followed by a moisturizer. Then when you head to bed, put on some Vaseline or Aquaphor to lock that all in overnight.
Superhero Ingredients
Just like your face, you want to seek out ingredients that are designed for hydration and protection. The same goes for your hands. I look for glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and fatty acids that help to nourish the skin.
A few other great ingredients to help your hands are peptides, niacinamide and shea butter. All of these ingredients will help protect, nourish, condition and hydrate your skin.
And I’m not opposed to using the Necessaire body serum on my hands first and then layering on nourishing hand cream. Just like our face, a serum can help to inject high-potency of ingredients into your skin.
My Favorite Hand Creams & Moisturizers
I have a few hand moisturizers that I have around my house that I love. These three are on repeat. Plus, get 10% off at Necessaire with code INDIGO.
