The longer, darker – and certainly colder – winter months can be hard, and they can often be hard on your hands, too. Particularly at this time of year, where for many months our hands are exposed to the harsh elements as well as the usual wear and tear of everyday, with bitter coldness and dry air leading to chapped skin and a lack of moisture. It’s important to pay the same attention to our hand care as we would to the rest of our body, providing our hardworking hands with the TLC they deserve.
Our hands experience more vulnerability to moisture loss than other parts of the body due to fewer oil-producing sebaceous glands, and can be more prone to dryness and signs of ageing if not properly cared for. This considered, carefully selecting a hand cream with nourishing ingredients that can be easily absorbed is the key to unlocking all-round soft and supple hands this season and beyond. We explore the myriad of benefits to some of our favourite all-natural ingredients to look out for in your hand cream, uncovering their moisturising and protective properties.
Aloe Vera
This gel-like ingredient harbours numerous skin-loving benefits essential to combatting winter dryness. Aloe vera is water-dense and acts as a natural moisturiser, providing a cooling and soothing sensation that can help to alleviate the discomfort associated with dry, chapped and irritated hands. With its anti-inflammatory compounds, redness and abrasions are minimised with regular application of this medicinal ingredient.
Enriched with antioxidants like vitamins C and E, and beta-carotene in abundance, Aloe Vera also has the power to protect hands from free radicals, aiding the day-to-day resilience of the skin. Aloe Vera’s lightweight and non-greasy texture also facilitates quick absorption so that your hands can reap the benefits without a leaving behind a residue, instead leaving them wonderfully hydrated.
Glycerine
Glycerine is a versatile ingredient used widely across the beauty industry and is one of our all-time favourites – for good reason, too. Also known as Glycerol, Glycerine is a natural humectant, meaning it effectively attracts and retains moisture, offering several benefits for our hands. Whether out and about in the unforgiving cold or bundled up at home with the central heating on full blast, changing temperatures can contribute to hand dryness. Glycerine draws water from the air and deeper layers of the skin, all whilst creating a protective film to seal in moisture and hydration throughout the day.
What’s more, Glycerine is highly compatible with sensitive skin and far less likely to cause irritation than many other ingredients, ensuring skin remains soothed and supported. Glycerine’s all-round versatility, working hand-in-hand (pardon the pun) with other moisturising agents makes it an incredible powerhouse of an ingredient.
Argan Oil
Argan oil, derived from the kernels of the argan tree, is as rich in nourishing properties as it is in nutrients, offering deep moisturisation with fatty acids like oleic and linoleic acids which are invaluable when it comes to maintaining skin moisture. Argan oil is also a potent source of vitamin E, helping to support our skin’s elasticity, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles on the hands, an area of the body that often first shows signs of ageing.
It’s also important to pay mind to our nails when it comes to hand health, particularly as they can become more susceptible to breakage during this time of year. When massaged into the nails and cuticles, argan oil can prevent breakage and help to protect against damage, supporting the entirety of your hands to ensure all-round nourishment.
Shea Butter
For deep hydration, Shea butter is rich in vitamins and fatty acids, preventing moisture loss. It forms a protective barrier on the skin, helping to keep your hands feeling soft throughout those long winter months, and contains anti-inflammatories like cinnamic acid for a soothing, healing effect on minor cuts and cracks.
By fortifying hands with a moisturising barrier, Shea butter helps to prevent water loss from the skin, reducing flakiness and dryness. When winter’s harsh conditions strip the skin of its natural oils (often on those chillier days when you’ve forgotten your gloves) Shea butter forms a protective layer on the skin, acting as a barrier against turbulent winds and dropping temperatures.
Paying proper attention to our hand care is essential to avoiding roughness and cracked skin, particularly during the drying winter months. As we, thankfully ease into spring, and our gloves are soon to be discarded into our winter woollies drawer until the coldness rolls round once again, now is a fantastic time to invest in our hands. Selecting a hand cream with protective, moisture-locking ingredients is the sure answer to softness and suppleness, helping to incorporate a feeling of luxury into the day-to-day.
