S.O.S. for Dry Winter Hands

For the past several weeks I’ve been on a desperate search for something to hydrate my daughter’s dry, chapped hands.

My daughter Jillian struggles with eczema and chronically dry skin. Those issues, combined with the winter months and regular school hand washing with harsh antibacterial soaps take a serious toll on her skin.

When I picked Jillian up from school on Friday, the poor child was near tears. The skin on the top of her hands felt like tissue paper — fragile, thin and crispy. Her knuckles had several areas that were bleeding. It was enough to make me want to cry.

See, none of the “all natural” moisturizers that I’ve been using on myself this winter (with much success, I might add) have been one bit of help for Jillian. On Friday, I realized that I needed to try something different. So my mom suggested Look Ma, New Hands Softening Hand Lotion from Bath & Body Works.

Now, I’ve got to be honest with you. I’m very picky when it comes to moisturizers (and believe me, as a mom who has dealt with eczema issues, I’ve tried a majority of them). I’m not big on petroleum-based moisturizers or lotions with a bunch of synthetic chemicals in them. But, at my mom’s insistence, I gave this one a try.

Y’all.

It transformed my daughter’s hands in two days. In fact, the first time I used it on her, I noticed an immediate difference. Her hands felt softer and — for the first time — hydrated. What’s more, they stayed that way, something other petroleum-based lotions have failed to do in the past. We continued to apply the lotion a few times a day over the weekend and by Monday, her hands were looking 100% better. Practically healed.

The lotion itself is very thick and feels somewhat greasy going on, but absorbs quickly into the skin (within about a minute). It also has a lovely citrus smell. According to the tube, it’s the paraffin that helps lock in moisture and protect the skin while olive, avocado and apricot oils help to moisturize.

As for the rest of the ingredient list? Well, there’s a bunch of stuff in there that I tend to typically shy away from. In fact, other than water, mineral oil (that’s the paraffin), shea butter, and the oils I mentioned above, I can’t pronounce the rest of the ingredients. So, an all natural product it definitely is not.

Given the ingredient list, it won’t become a lotion I use regularly. However, I will continue to use it occassionally on my daughter’s hands to get her through the winter. It’s the only lotion I’ve found that works for her. And, green beauty issues aside, it does a darn good job.

If your hands need some super hydration and healing, this is the product for you.

The 2.5 ounce tube is currently on special for $6. If you buy two of them, you get the same amount of lotion as the larger 5 ounce size, for only $12. (The 5 ounce size is currently priced at $18.50.) Look Ma, New Hands is part of Bath & Body Works’ True Blue Spa line and can be purchased online or at retail stores nationwide.