TLC for Dry Winter Hands

I don’t know about you, but at this point in the winter season, my hands have pretty much had it.

Cooler temperatures, windy conditions, indoor heating and a lot of contact with dishwater is the perfect recipe for dry, cracked and inflamed hands. So today, I’m sharing two of my all-time favorite products for giving those weary winter hands a little TLC.

First up: Weleda Skin Food.

Weleda Skin Food has been around since 1926 and its formulation hasn’t changed since then. That should tell you something: This is a product that works.

Made with lanolin, peanut oil, sweet almond oil, beeswax and calendula, Skin Food does a great job of both moisturizing and soothing dry skin. It has a very thick, almost waxy, texture. (I squeeze a little from the tube and rub it between my hands before applying it so that it goes on a little easier.) Because there’s a good amount of lanolin in it, it’s going to feel a little greasy when you first apply it. But, if you wait a few minutes, your skin will literally “drink” it in.

The thing I love about Skin Food is you don’t have to keep applying it throughout the day. Once in the morning and once at night is usually enough to keep my hands comfortable. If I want to really condition my hands, I slather on the Skin Food and cover my hands with cotton socks before turning in for the night.

Skin Food is a great multitasker to have in your makeup bag. You can use it as a lip balm, a facial moisturizer, a treatment for dry feet and elbows — even a diaper cream for your baby. As a night cream, it does a great job eliminating the tight, dry feeling I get after washing my face.

It runs about $15 for 2.5 ounces, but the recyclable aluminium packaging ensures you squeeze every drop from the tube, so nothing is wasted. It’s worth every penny, but if you want to try it out before plunking down a chunk of change, look for the trial size which will only set you back a buck or two.

The second product that I use religiously once the weather turns cold is Burt’s Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Creme.

My cuticles are horrible in the winter. I’ve tried oils. I’ve tried lotions. Nothing prevented the barrage of hangnails that I was getting.

That is, until I tried this.

I swear, if it was edible, I’d eat it with a spoon. It smells unbelievably good. Like some mouthwatering lemon desert.

Made with sweet almond oil, beeswax and a good helping of Vitamin E, it isn’t really a “cream,” but more “waxy” in texture. Massage it daily into the cuticle and nail bed, and you’ll see it not only prevents hangnails and softens cuticles, it also strengthens and nourishes nails in the process.

This is another product that will feel a little greasy when you first apply it (making it ideal for nighttime application), but after a few minutes it completely absorbs into your skin. The key is to apply it regularly. I’ve noticed if I stop applying it for a few days my cuticles inevitably take a turn for the worse.

Burt’s Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Creme runs about $6 for 0.6 ounces. That doesn’t sound like a lot of product for the money, but one tin will most likely last you through the winter.

Together, these two products are my hands’ first line of defense against the cold winter elements.

What are your favorite winter skincare products?