7 Best Moisturizing Tips For Dry Hands • love beauty thrive

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Together, we’re now living in different times.

In the times of COVID-19, we’re social distancing, safely caring for our neighbours and those in need (from a distance), protecting our communities, countries, and frontline/essential workers – and washing our hands more than ever.

All this hand washing leaves our hands very clean (one of the best ways to protect ourselves and our families from the coronavirus), but also dry – sometimes even extra dry, chapped, and cracked.

Do you have dry hands from all that washing? We’ve put together a list of the 7 best tips for intensive, moisturizing relief to rehydrate and treat your dry (clean) hands.

Wash your hands, stay safe and healthy.

USE THE RIGHT SOAP

The right soap makes all the difference (especially if your hands are already dry or sensitive). Use soap designed for hands (or for skin, like a body wash) – they have more moisturizing properties. Mild soaps for sensitive skin, and natural/plant-based or unscented formulas can also help prevent dryness.

Our favourite? Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Liquid Hand Soap is a gentle, hardworking, and aromatherapeutic hand soap, made with olive oil, aloe vera and essential oils. Packaged in an attractive (and reusable/recyclable) pump bottle, it is plant-derived with no harsh chemicals, leaving your hands clean, beautifully scented, and softened.

Get Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Liquid Hand Soap (Lemon Verbena) from Amazon.

Get Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Liquid Hand Soap (Lavender) from Amazon.

WASH HANDS PROPERLY

On a side note (after choosing the right soap), let’s first be sure that we’re all washing our hands properly to begin with – the right way, for the right amount of time (20-30 seconds). Check out CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta as he demonstrates the correct way to wash our hands.

NO HAND SOAP?

If you have hand soap, use it (it’s more moisturizing). But if you don’t, you still have other options to properly wash your hands – they’re just not most ideal for preventing dry skin.

Next best bet? Other soaps designed for skin (e.g., body wash, shower gels, body bars, etc.). Liquid dish soaps can clean your hands, but may leave them feeling dry given they’re generally not designed for skin (keep these as your last resort).

No soap at all? Don’t forget your hand sanitizer. Repeated use might dry out your hands, but they will be clean (and safe).

DON’T BE HARSH

Keep your hands as clean as possible, but try to be gentle (especially if your skin is already dry or sensitive). Wash your hands properly and thoroughly, but very hot water, abrasive over-scrubbing, or using excessive amounts of harsh soaps or other cleaners are not necessary (and can damage/harm your skin).

THE BEST MOISTURIZERS

Ready for relief? The right moisturizer will leave you with softer, smoother skin. Soothe (and save) your hands from the drying effects of all that necessary washing with these best-selling, recommended hand creams.

Get O’Keeffe’s Working Hands Hand Cream from Amazon (#1 Best Seller in Hand Creams & Lotions).

Get Aveeno Intense Relief Hand Cream from Amazon.

Get Glysomed Hand Cream from Amazon.

HYALURONIC ACID

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a natural skincare ingredient that rehydrates extra dry skin, leaving it soft after just a few uses. Effectively improving skin’s moisture barrier, it replenishes skin by absorbing 1000x its weight in water. A powerful “moisture magnet” (a sponge for dry skin), HA hand creams and gels leave your skin ultra-hydrated.

Get Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hyaluronic Acid Hand Gel Cream from Amazon.

Get CeraVe Therapeutic Hand Cream (Hyaluronic Acid) from Amazon (Amazon’s Choice).

Interested in the other amazing skincare benefits of hyaluronic acid (and why you need it in your beauty routine)? Check out our post on reasons to rehydrate your dry skin with skin-quenching hyaluronic acid and serums.

NEXT LEVEL CARE

Still dry? Sometimes you need next level care (especially for chapped, cracked, red or uncomfortable/sore hands). Vaseline (petroleum jelly) is well known for effectively soothing extra dry, chapped skin. Consider wearing clean, cotton gloves over moisturized hands (even overnight), or in more severe cases, seek professional advice from your doctor or dermatologist.

Get Vaseline Petroleum Jelly from Amazon.