I have had dozens of emails in the last two months about dry, cracked, even bleeding hands. I can think of no reason why this winter should be worse than any other, but the in-out-in cycle of bitter cold and central heating always plays havoc with hands to the point where one can feel pretty miserable about their appearance and discomfort.
In harsh conditions, a regular hand cream barely touches the sides, so it’s necessary to up the ante to a more hardcore preparation. I have long-standing favourites for the job – Hand Chemistry Heel Hydration Complex (£12.74) and La Roche-Posay’s Cicaplast Hands (£4.33) are my go-tos when extreme measures are required – but I’m always intrigued by lesser-known products I’ve yet to try.
It was an NHS nurse caring for my son who recommended O’Keeffe’s Working Hands (£5.86) – she told me she and colleagues swear by it for maintaining skin necessarily washed dozens of times a day. This thick, waxy cream is extremely effective at healing cracks and soreness in a couple of nights. The manufacturer recommends using it more frequently, but the requisite amount of rubbing in and waiting before the hands feel unsticky isn’t always practical. I apply plenty before bed and, if nothing more interesting is happening, pop a pair of cotton socks over my hands and incubate overnight (experts recommend cotton gloves, but really, does anyone apart from the Queen and snooker referees own these in 2017?).
Prevention is as important as cure, of course, and this begins with washing. Sulphates, while not proven to damage the skin, are more likely to dry it through the stripping of natural oils, so it’s worth investing in a handwash that still cleans thoroughly without them. I like Soaper Duper’s Real, Fresh Zesty Lemon Hand Wash (£6), but sensitive types should be careful with citrus oils, and try instead one of Roots & Wings’ sulphate-free washes: these are lovely and vegan-friendly, and I particularly like the Coconut (£6.99), a natural foaming agent.
If, however, you fear hand cream texture, or are lucky enough to have winter hands that don’t appear wrapped in parma ham and need only moderate help, I love Neutrogena’s Fast-Absorbing Hand Cream (£4.19), though that’s not to be confused with their classic, concentrated formula, the presence of which is, at least for me, impossible either to forget or ignore.
