With government advice extolling the virtues of hand hygiene, it’s little wonder that Google searches for hand wash are currently up more than 1,000 per cent.
But while you’re stocking up on sanitiser and counting the seconds at the sink, spare a thought for the salve, too. Certainly, it might not top the list of concerns about coronavirus, but dry, cracked hands are an inevitable side-effect. Here’s how to give them a helping hand.
The one made by the experts
No one knows the importance of good hand cream more than a nurse. On average, nurses wash their hands 55 times a day — a fact paediatric nurse Antonia Philip knows all too well when, after she was forced to take a week off work to heal her sore, cracked and bleeding hands, she decided to take action. Seven years of research later, Nursem was born — a non-greasy, fast- absorbing formula designed to be used little and often throughout the day. But it’s more than just an effective, naturally protective cream for hard-working hands. For every product sold, the brand has promised to give an entire month’s worth of free Nursem hand cream to a nurse or midwife. The Caring Hand Cream (£9.99) is an everyday hero, while the Caring Hand Fix (£14.99) offers intensive relief for irritated knuckles and fingertips. Plus there’s the ultra-mild, soap-free Caring Hand Wash to boot (£9.99). (nursem.co.uk).
The ace base
You’ve got the lotion, but have you got the serum? Just like our complexions, hand serums can help to work in harmony with your moisturiser to deliver lightweight, youth-imbuing nourishment deep to where it’s needed most. Aveda’s Hand Relief Night Renewal Serum (£27, aveda.co.uk) works to improve the texture of hands and smooth fine lines while you sleep. Verso’s Hand Serum (£50, spacenk.com) is loaded with collagen-boosting Retinol 8 and anti-oxidising turmeric along with plumping hyaluronic acid, while Neal’s Yard Remedies’ Frankincense Intense Hand Treatment Serum (£30, nealsyardremedies.com) is powered by reviving narcissus extract and provitamin A-rich rosehip seed oil for an extra hydrating hit that does good while smelling great.
The once-a-week treat
Sheet-mask expert Patchology has an ingenious solution in the form of its Perfect Ten Self-Warming Hand Mask (£10, patchology.co.uk). Using the same insulation technology as space blankets, the mitts work by locking in your body heat to allow the intensively nourishing coconut-infused formula — rich in shea butter, macadamia and rosehip oils — to penetrate the skin deeply in 10 minutes. Starskin’s Nourishing Double-Layer Hand Mask Gloves (£8.58, lookfantastic.com) also produce a “sauna effect” to nourish and repair, while the splurge-worthy, reusable Youth Revealed Restorative Techstile Hand Masque by Nannette de Gaspé (£71, revolve.com) works via a high-tech, waterless infusion system for deep, dry hydration.
The extra muscle
If extra TLC is required, reach for Chemistry Brand’s Extreme Hydration Concentrate (£19, chemistrybrand.com). It boasts five hydration-active technologies from marine and plant sources to provide instant and long-lasting results. Kiehl’s Ultimate Strength Hand Salve (£22, kiehls.co.uk) also promises to supply a “glove-like” protective barrier against moisture loss and is loved by those who suffer from extreme dryness. The Intensive Hand Treatment from rough skin saviour Ameliorate (£15, ameliorate.com) has also been clinically proven to moisturise for up to 12 hours, while Aesop’s Resurrection Aromatique Hand Balm (£21, Aesop.com) is decadently rich and dreamily scented with a grease-free finish.
The support network
If you want to give your sanitiser a boost, try Buly 1803’s Double Pommade Concrète hand cream (£45, selfridges.com) — it’s laced with natural anti-bacterial ingredients such as tea tree, manuka and eucalyptus to help protect and purify. Alternatively, for an extra layer of hydration, Margaret Dabbs has a Hand Protection Spray (£22, margaretdabbs.co.uk) that forms a thin, breathable film shield designed to be used on top of your hand lotion to help lock in moisture.
