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Winter is notoriously tough on hands. The cold, dry air can leave the skin feeling perpetually robbed of moisture and, as any hand cream obsessive knows, few formulas are powerful enough without being overly greasy. Below, three experts whose hands are integral to their work — the dermatologist Michelle Henry, the ceramist and furniture designer Simone Bodmer-Turner and the hand model Avisha Tewani — share how they protect their skin from the elements.
Michelle Henry, 43, dermatologist
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Our palms don’t have oil glands, so I moisturize my hands three or four times a day. I use a moisturizing hand wash from Dove and then apply Neutrogena’s Norwegian Formula Hand Cream — it has petroleum in it to prevent water loss, but not so much that it leaves hands oily and sticky.
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At night, I apply a hand mask. Aquaphor has a good one. I also love wearing gel-lined gloves to bed; they’re great for locking in moisture overnight. I’m brand agonistic, but you can find them on Amazon, and they’re easier than doing those hot paraffin-oil hand dips.
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If your hands are really cracked, you can soak them in a colloidal oat bath treatment, such as Aveeno’s, with lukewarm water for 10 minutes. Pat your skin dry, put on your hand cream or hand mask and slip on your gel gloves; that’s a perfect bedtime routine. For serious cases, a dermatologist can prescribe a topical steroid cream to bring down inflammation and a prescription dermal moisturizer like EpiCeram, which penetrates really deeply.
Simone Bodmer-Turner, 34, ceramist and furniture designer
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I work with clay, plaster and wood all day, since I’m restoring an old barn in Massachusetts right now. Afterward, I wash my hands with Saipua’s Cedarwood soap, which is non-stripping and moisturizing; the brand’s products are made by sheep farmers in New York and have the best herbaceous scents. I’m in the process of converting to dark hand towels to handle country life, and my friend recommended Mara Organic’s Waffle Towels in Midnight. They’re soft and nice for your hands.
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At night, I use Lauren’s All Purpose cream. If my hands are cracking, I’ll do a thick coat and put on white cotton gloves so that it doesn’t get everywhere while I sleep. My mom always used Bag Balm, in the green tin, which I’ll use when I visit home. The petroleum scent is very nostalgic.
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For daily maintenance, I love Marie Veronique’s Body Barrier Emulsion on my hands, arms and legs — it’s not greasy! — mixed with Lesse SPF, which is good protection if your hands are exposed to the sun.
Avisha Tewani, 34, hand model
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I usually have modeling jobs three or four days a week, so I get manicures every few days. I go to the salon Jin Soon in New York’s West Village, since the technicians there spend a lot of time really caring for your hands. I get the Essence of Soul manicure with lavender or rose oil. To keep my cuticles in good shape between appointments, I buy refillable brush pens on Amazon and fill them with vitamin E oil (I like the one from GuruNanda).
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After showering and again before bed, I mix body oil into my lotion, to seal in extra moisture, and apply it to my hands and body. I use Trader Joe’s Lemongrass Coconut Body Oil — it’s light and not greasy — mixed with Goldbond or any plain drugstore cream. And I always keep moisturizer in my bag, even if it’s just a travel-size one.
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That same vitamin E oil is also great if you need to fix cracks from extreme dryness or you have a scar or burn on your hands. Apply it twice a day and make sure it’s really rubbed into your skin to help speed healing. To maintain my hands, I’ve become more aware of the importance of gloves: I wear the proper kind for washing dishes, and at the gym I use padded weight lifting gloves when holding kettlebells or heavy weights to keep my skin soft and prevent calluses.
T Recommends
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Pai Heavy Mettle Hand Cream, $29
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Soft Services Theraplush “Hold” Overnight Repair Treatment, $62
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Hermès Les Mains Hermès Complete Hand Care, $74
These interviews have been edited and condensed.
The post It’s Dry Hands Season. Here’s What to Do. appeared first on New York Times.
