February may
be over and the first day of Spring may be three and a half weeks away, but you
wouldn’t know it due to the amount of snowfall and below zero temperatures
we’ve been experiencing across the States. I live in an area that typically
doesn’t see much snowfall, but we got hit with substantial amounts of the white
stuff two weeks in a row.
The cold,
dry winter weather was really starting to take its toll on my hands and
cuticles. Even though I was constantly applying hand cream throughout the day,
especially after washing my hands, by the end of the day my hands were so dry
it was almost painful. And my cuticles! My cuticles looked like they’ve never
come across a moisturizer! They were dry, peeling and borderline unsightly. I
needed products that would really penetrate my skin and keep my hands from
getting dried out as quickly, especially since I wash my hands a lot.
These four
products together have really done a number on my hands. My cuticles are
pristine and nourished and my hands don’t get nearly as dry throughout the
entire day. My hands have NEVER been this soft before. I kid you not; my skin
feels at least a few years younger.
LUSH Helping Hands Hand Cream. I went looking for a product for nighttime use before bed and
settled on this. This cream is thick and rather greasy, but that’s what I was
looking for and because this is a thicker cream, a little goes a long way. I
don’t mind heavier products at night because I’m usually just lounging in bed
reading and don’t mind if I get a few fingerprints on things. I use a generous
pea-sized amount and really take the time to massage this in. It doesn’t have
much of a scent, but I faintly detect the scent of donuts (wishful thinking…).
When I wake up in the morning my hands are unnaturally soft and moisturized,
even after a few washes. I credit this hand cream for keeping my hands
nourished throughout the entire day. This may be the best hand cream I’ve come
across thus far.
Christian Dior Abricot Nail Cream. This is another new product to me. I stumbled across it on the Internet
and became curious. It has a plethora of rave reviews, so I figured, why not? I
was looking for a product that would save my cuticles and this sounded like it
would do the job. I was previously using the Qtica Intense Cuticle Repair Balm,
but it wasn’t doing the job for me. I was applying it as a night treatment for
my cuticles, but I still felt like my cuticles were lacking something. I like
the Qtica Cuticle Balm, but my cuticles needed something more. The Dior Abricot
Cream is my “something more.” It’s thick, gooey and emollient. It will make
your hands feel greasy, which is why it’s instructed for nighttime use. The
first couple of nights I used this, I woke up and my cuticles looked good, but
the more I use this, the better my cuticles look and remain. They don’t dry out
as badly and I found that when it’s time for my next manicure, I don’t have to
work so hard to get my cuticles back in tip-top shape. This combined with
Helping Hands is a dynamite duo. Two things to keep in mind about the Abricot
Cream: It smells so weird to me. I don’t care for the scent; like fake apricots
and something akin to earwax. However, I’m so pleased with the results I could
care less. Also, this product does contain mineral oil, which some people are
completely against. This doesn’t really bother me because again, I’m getting
the results I want.
Crabtree & Evelyn Ultra-Moisturizing Hand
Cream. This is a great product. It’s
lightweight, doesn’t feel greasy on the skin, absorbs quickly and moisturizes
well. This is the product I use during the day. I was using it at night, but it
wasn’t heavy enough. This comes in a variety of scents, so almost everyone will
find something they like. I keep one tube by my bed, one tube in my handbag,
and a spare in my drawer of goodies. This is one of the better hand creams I’ve
tried, though it comes with a hefty price tag. A 3.5-ounce tube retails for
$20. However, keep your eyes peeled at TJ Maxx. I was able to find my tubes
there for $7 each. Whenever I see them at TJ Maxx in a scent I like, I snatch
them up!
Burt’s Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream. This is a staple product for me. I started using this in 2011 and
when I run out, I purchase another. It smells lovely, like tart, fresh lemons.
It has more of a balm-like texture than that of a cream. This is lightweight
and non-greasy, so it’s great for daytime use. I use this with the Crabtree
& Evelyn hand cream and keep it in my handbag to keep my cuticles hydrated,
especially throughout the workday. When I apply this immediately after washing
my hands, it prevents my cuticles from getting dry beyond repair and you don’t
need to use a lot of product either, so one tin should last you a while. For
$5-6 a tin, it’s a quality product to incorporate into your hand and nail care
routine.
What are
your favorite products to keep your hands, nails and cuticles in prime
condition during the brutal winter months?
- Alana
