To ask what handcream works!?

[MrsChaffinch]

My hands are horrendously dry and cracked. The skin feels so tight and it’s split on my knuckle. I’ve tried loads (Aldi, Nivea, Neutrogena, Vaseline) and a more expensive Aveda one which worked brilliantly for a while but the magic didn’t seem to last.

Is there a perfect one out there before my hands turn to dust?

Greasy old aqueous cream on prescription from GP plus Neutrogena Norwegian formula.

How often are you using it? Once a day is pointless, a little amount regularly after each wash will help.

Snowfire is fantastic. You get it on amazon.

I know a lot of farmers who are evangelical about dermashield (I think it might be a mousse) but we haven't tried it yet as it seems pricey. I think it's more a barrier to them drying out in the first place rather than a moisturiser,

We (also farming household) tend to use a combination of O'Keefes working hands, body shop hemp hand cream or udder cream (it's for dairy cows but surprisingly effective on humans!) all work pretty effectively.

We also switched to a moisturising handwash rather than an antibacterial one.

Finally during lambing time or if doing a lot of outside work in wet weather we use nitrile gloves under our other gloves to trey and keep the damp away from the skin as much as possible.

Almond and milk hand cream by Burt's Bees has been brilliant for keeping my cracked hands at bay. It smells divine. Not cheap though.

I got one from Holland and barret after my hands were the same and then went away for a few days using hotel bar soap.

So I think both things helped and my hands are so much better already.

https://www.hollandandbarrett.com/shop/product/dr-organic-manuka-honey-rescue-cream-60083586?skuid=083586&brandId=333

Lush Dream Cream Self-Preserving trumps even hemp from Body Shop IMO. Also every now and again use Claudalie hand cream to strengthen nails, maybe twice a week. Also put on cream every time after you have washed your hands. Also Burts Bees Banana and Beeswax.

Aveeno hand cream especially the one with the dark blue lid. It's really nice and non greasy as well.

O’Keeffe’s is the business! Their body cream is wonderful too.

O keefes working hands if my hands are really battered.

Body shop honey and almond hand cream after every hand wash.

Or cutan hand cream if you can find it

NHS hand wash and alcohol gel. Nuff said.

Another vote for my trusty sunflower, based on sunflower oil which is great for skin.

Weleda Skin Food is incredible.
I find though, that the two main solutions to my very dry skin is by not letting my hands come into contact with Fairy Liquid, and eating no refined sugar. I only realised the latter when giving it up for a month, even in winter my skin was glowing, never happened before!

Clarins Total Restorative hand cream is amazing. It smells divine (all Clarins products do), you only need a small amount and it sinks into your skin without being greasy. It fixed my dry, cracked hands this winter.

It's expensive though

L’ Occitane shea hand cream.

My hands were terrible a while back, the skin looked swollen and cracked, very painful. I tried a few hand creams and the two that worked were O'keefes and Hemp hand cream by body shop.

I have discovered Essie's many many mani which I absolutely love . It doesn't leave my hands greasy and sticky, soaks in super quick and lasts for ages.

If like me you find that many hand creams actually irritate your dry, cracked skin then I can't recommend Flexitol hand balm enough. I've tried loads of the ones recommended here but unfortunately after a day or two using them my hands become badly irritated. I get it in boots though no doubt it's stocked elsewhere too. It's excellent and not at all expensive.

If you can bear bar soap rather than liquid soap, switch to that - and then try Cetraben.

You can get it in Boots but it's cheaper on amazon. Great stuff, better than e45.

O keefes - best hand cream ever. It works.

You might find a petroleum free cream is better.

Petroleum based stuff makes things worse for the dc and i. Initially feels better, then dries out worse. Much like that feel when you spill petrol on your skin.

Best one i’ve found so far is burts bees shea butter. Smell is a bit odd, nowhere near as lovely as the almond and milk one pp mentioned. But it is a thick cream which melts to nothing when you rub it in, so no greasy residue or feel.

Wow thank you all so much! I’m going to make a brew and read all these recommendations now

cocoa butter
its saved my -granny hands

Badger Balm

I'm a farmer and body shop hemp hand cream is awesome

O'Keefs.