The Hand Creams to Nourish Winter Skin

Winter is prime time for dry hands. As I walk to school, I spend the coldest part of the morning outside with bare hands (always forgetting those damn gloves!), so my hand are often cracked and dry by 9:00am and in desperate need of hydrating. On top of that, my nails have been quite soft lately and have been breaking really easily for the past few months, so I’ve had to find a hand cream that suits all my needs. Some people, the lucky ones, don’t look for hydration in a hand cream, but more of a soft, silky to touch finish. I have everyone covered here, though! Here, I have three hand creams that each have their strong point, and am going to give you the rundown of the best uses for each. The three hand creams I’ll be rambling on about are as follows: Dove Derma Spa Goodness Hand Treatment, L’Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream & Clarins Hand and Nail Treatment Cream. Enjoy!

Best for hydration: L’Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream

This isn’t a hard decision: it’s the L’Occitane hand cream. This hand cream is meant for dry hands especially, and leaves the skin feeling nourished and hydrated after one quick application. It actually contains 20% shea butter, so it immediately helps rehydrate dry skin. The texture feels so soothing to apply, a thick cream that you really have to work into your hands. However, I find that for at least a few minutes after I apply this generously, my hands seem a bit slippery. It may take a while to sink it properly, but it solves my dry hands problem almost instantly and stays for a very long time (depending on the amount used). It really combats harsh winter weather and makes dry, rough hands as good as new with only one dollop.

Best for ‘protect & repair’: Clarins Hand and Nail Treatment Cream

I find the Clarins hand cream great for repairing and protecting tired, broken skin. It is a much lighter texture than the L’Occitane hand cream and sinks in much faster, although does not have the same hydrating effect. It does hydrate very well, just not as much. The real benefit of this hand cream is its ability to make my skin feel stronger and less worse for wear. It really is a treatment for the hands and nails, acting like a barrier from any tough winter conditions. It also makes my hands incredibly soft without being slippery, as my hands absorb the hydration and protection almost immediately.

Best for soft hands: Dove Derma Spa Goodness Hand Treatment

The hand cream I find best for soft hands is the cheapest of all 3: the Dove hand cream. If I’m entirely honest, this is not a great hydrating hand cream at all. But, saying that, I do find it gives the softest, silkiest finish, and my hands feel so luxurious once applied. The effect don’t last extremely long, but doesn’t go away quickly either. If you have rough, dry hands, this is not one to opt for as it won’t solve those problems. However, this is great if you already have healthy hands, but you’re looking for that luxurious, silky texture.

Overall, my favourite is probably a tie between the L’Occitane and the Clarins hand cream. The Dove hand cream could score higher on my list, but my hands are so worn from winter conditions that it didn’t quite make the cut this time. Maybe come spring…?

What’s your favourite hand cream?

Niamh x