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Hands. I’ve been thinking about mine a lot lately.
I dream of smooth, unblemished hands with pretty, long, painted nails—like the hands on the models in the O.P.I. magazine ads. Hands like those look great holding fancy pens, like the special ones I reserve for autographing copies of my books at signings. Hands like that show off sparkly rings and bracelets with enviable elegance. Hands like that… Well, they’re a far cry from my hands right now. I look at my dry, parched fingers and short, split nails and sigh with despair.
I guess I shouldn’t be surprised at the state of my hands. This wintery time of year—and yes, it does get cold in Florida!—wreaks havoc on everyone’s skin. I also demand a lot from my hands as I wash dishes, do laundry, houseclean, garden, drive, grocery shop, prepare food for my family, care for my kitty, exercise, and write on my computer.
To pamper my hands, I avoid liquid and bar soaps with Sodium Laureth Sulfate; this seems especially hard on my skin. I also slather on hand cream whenever possible. I read about special gloves to wear at night after your hands have been slathered with lotion, but that doesn’t appeal to me. In fact, it sounds slightly icky. :(
What do you use on your hands in the winter months? Do you have a special remedy or favorite beauty product that you use when your hands are lizard-scaly-dry?
I’m eager to hear what you have to say—and my poor hands will thank you. I’ll gift a Kindle or Nook eBook copy of my award-winning medieval romance Dance of Desire to one person who leaves a comment. To learn more about this book as well as my other medieval romances, please visit my website.
Filed in: Catherine Kean,Jaunty Post
Jan 14th
2012
6:55 am
Shana Galen Said:
I hear you, Catherine. My hands have been a mess ever since I had a baby. I had to wash them so much, which really dried them out. I also keep my nails short now so I don’t scratch her when changing her clothes or buckling her in her car seat. I have found a balm for hands, which really softens and heals cracked dry skin. It’s called The Naked Bee Hand and Cuticle Healing Salve. You can get it on Amazon. A lot of little boutique shops carry it as well. I like the Orange Blossom Honey scent. Try it. you will not be disappointed.
http://www.amazon.com/Naked-Bee-Cuticle-Healing-Sunflower/dp/B0015IYNR2/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1326542053&sr=8-6
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Jan 14th
2012
7:24 am
Laurie G Said:
I use Cetaphil Moisterizing Lotion. I buy it at Target or Publix. It usually runs around $9.00 for 16 ounces. It was recommended by a dermatologist that my daughter went to see.
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Jan 14th
2012
10:30 am
Yvette Klepinger Said:
avoid any lotion with mineral oil in it mineral oil is a comediogenic material . What that means is it clogs the pores and does not allow for any thing else to get in or out,so your skin gets dryer while it’s on you. I also use a really good exfoliant,bath and body works has one called ” one minute manicure ” or something like that and it’s great it smooths your hands and leaves them looking amazing you’ll love it.Follow with your lotion,preferably mineral oil free and you’ll be amazed at how your hands look and feel.Good Luck!!
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Jan 14th
2012
10:51 am
wendy p Said:
My hands and feet (I never wear socks if I can help it, but wintertime requires socks and slippers, so my feet dry out something horrible) are like sandpaper in the winter unless I apply Eucerin cream to them. My father-in-laws doctor actually recommended it for him when his feet were all dry and cracked, and it works wonders! Its a bit on the greasy side, but it soaks in really well. I put it on before I go to bed and it really does soften my skin.
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Jan 14th
2012
11:11 am
Elise Rome Said:
With the girls I don’t even pay attention to my hands unless they’re so dry they’re cracking. Fortunately, when I lotion the girls after their baths I get some on my hands, too.
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Jan 14th
2012
11:16 am
Connie Said:
I wash my hands a lot, and they get dry easily. In the past, whenever I forgot to wear gloves on a windy fall/winter day, my hands became so dry that they cracked! When I mentioned this to my brother (a physician) a few years ago, he asked me to try the Aquaphor healing ointment. I’ve been using this and it really works.
I’d consider this a “heavy-duty” treatment would only use it once or twice a day when the weather is cold/dry:
1. In the morning before putting on my gloves when I leaving the house, and
2. At night, before putting on my regular white cotton gloves that I bought from a drug store (NOT the special gloves you mentioned in the post).
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Jan 14th
2012
11:41 am
Quilt Lady Said:
My hands are worse then yours I am sure because I don’t take care of them. Cleaning things are really hard on them. I never think to put lotion on them until they start pealing. I have tons of lotions but just don’t think to put it on. When they get real bad I use Avon mosture therpy and it works pretty good. I even keep a bottle of lotion by my bed and still don’t think to put it on half the time. I look at my hands right now and realize the palms are pealing, must go put lotion on.
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Jan 14th
2012
11:48 am
Gail Said:
I have switched to many of the Philosophy brand products. I especially like a product called, “hope in a jar.” It is a moisturizer/face creme, but I was using it on my hands as well. Then, for Christmas, my daughter bought me “hands of hope,” also by Philosophy. It has some shea butter and other natural oils in it; and I would highly recommend it. I’ve only used it for three weeks, but I can definitely see the difference. (Grin. . . . sounds like I am doing my own Philosophy commercial!)
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Jan 14th
2012
12:48 pm
Rebekah E. Said:
I can’t wait to read everyones advice. My hand are horrible from all of the cleaning in the house. I hope to someday find a way to aviod all of the dry and cracked pain they give me all of the time.
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Jan 14th
2012
1:13 pm
RebeLovesBooks Said:
I agree with the Eucerin cream (it has to be the cream, not the lotion!) suggestion. The dermatologist recommended it to me, and it works great. Aquaphor is also a good one. The problem with both is that they leave your hands REALLY sticky, so I only use them at night. Just before bedtime, I’ve started putting on Aquaphor, sliding on nighttime gloves, reading for a bit, then removing the gloves. Seems to work! Also, the dermatologist suggested using Cetaphil gentle cleanser to wash my hands in the winter instead of harsh antibacterial soaps. Hope this helps!
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Jan 14th
2012
1:23 pm
Barbara Elness Said:
I don’t have too much trouble with my hands, feet are a different story. I just make sure I put lotion on hands and feet, I don’t use anything special, mostly lotion from Bath & Body Works, so they smell good too.
I do wash my hands a lot and I try to put lotion on them after washing. Good luck, I see that there is a lot of advice in the comments so hopefully that will help.
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Jan 14th
2012
2:28 pm
Janette Kenny Said:
I suffer with dry skin in the winter, Catherine. Over the years I’ve tried a zillion lotions, creams, salves. I’ve found if I let my hands get really damaged, the only thing that helps is udder cream and/or corn hustlers lotion. I’ve used the night time gloves then too and was so glad to have them! For regular use I use Gardener’s Hand Repair which is loaded with shea butter and oatmeal. I also use a body wash with shea butter to keep my arms and legs from drying out so badly.
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Jan 14th
2012
2:44 pm
ChrisS Said:
Now this is a subject I know a great deal about personally. The winter months are worse. In addition to always washing my hands because of all the colds etc going around, the cold weather is also brutal to my skin and. My hands used to get so dry the skin would sometimes split. In the past I have tried numerous remedies including special soaps, expensive moisturizers and I have to admit, the gloves you wear at night. I have FINALLY found somethng that helps. It’s Avon’s Moisture Therapy Hand Cream for extra dry skin and it’s very reasonable. I use it at night right before turning off the light. I noticed a dramatic difference in the condition of my hands within just a couple of days of use. It’s really worth trying.
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Jan 14th
2012
3:21 pm
CateS Said:
Well, I’m lucky that my hands don’t get terribly dry — but my nails are total ICK.. split and thin…
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Jan 14th
2012
3:24 pm
Laine Said:
I second the udder cream suggestion. Udderly Smooth Udder Cream. It was invented for cow udders but lots of embroiderers use it as it doesn’t leave the hands greasy.
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Jan 14th
2012
3:55 pm
Linda Henderson Said:
I use a knock off Eucerin cream on mine. My skin gets horrible in the winter. Right now I can rub my hands together and they sound like sandpaper.
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Jan 14th
2012
6:05 pm
StacieD Said:
I do use the moisturizing gloves at night sometimes. I use the cotton ones that can be thrown in the washer. I just use Cetaphil moisturizing lotion or the thicker hand cream. My dermatologist recommended it.
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Jan 14th
2012
6:50 pm
Terri Brisbin Said:
As someone who washes her hands an ungodly number of times (dental hygienist here!) — I highly recommend Glove ‘n Care hand lotion or cream. It is, in a word, WONDERFUL! I use it a couple times a day at work and then reapply at bedtime. My hands are so much better than before I began using it.
It may only be available through office suppliers but it’s worth its weight in gold….
Good luck!
Terri
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Jan 14th
2012
8:34 pm
Catherine Kean Said:
What great suggestions! Thank you all soooo much! Shana, I’m going to have to try The Naked Bee hand product just for the name. Naked Bee? Too cute!
Sounds like I will be loading up my car with udder cream (!), Cetaphil, Aquaphor, Philosophy, Glove ‘n Care, Eucerin, Avon, and Bath & Body Works lotion, to start. My hands are going to look and smell amazing!
Please keep the suggestions coming! I’ll draw the winner of DANCE OF DESIRE tomorrow (Sunday, Jan. 15).
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Jan 15th
2012
5:53 am
Laine Said:
Thinking it over I think what you need is to make treating your hands easy. Keep a pot of cream near the sink so you can use it after washing up and another in the bathroom. Have pots with a plunger type dispensers to make it quick and easy. Have another one where you sit to watch tv – gives you time to massage it in well. Then another by the bed – a really nice smelling one. Finally a sun protection one in the car. Hands show age faster than faces. if you only have one cream it’s easy to forget to go and get it. Having it everywhere makes it easy to remember. Good luck.
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Jan 16th
2012
6:54 pm
Barb Said:
I have a neighbor who is a dermotologist as I was was advised and use Eucerin dry skin therapy lotion now my husband a big skier and fisherman swears by the old Vaseline intensive care lotion and my teen daughter likes bath and body works purely silk body lotion. I personally think the Eucerin lotion works best but I think it is also personal choice. I love your books Catherine Kean btw what a wonderful story teller you are Dance of desire was the first one of your books I ever read and I loved it btw been reading your books ever since which was also a signed copy which I got from my bookseller friend! Hope some of my advise helps.
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