Is expensive handwash just money down the drain?

[sandytooth]

I get really dry hands every winter. I have discovered O'Keefes working hand cream both day and night versions. But would an expensive handwash help? At the moment I'm just using dove which is nice but are there any fancy handcrafts which would help? Basically after O'keefes working hands in a hand wash haha.

That should be handwash not handcrafts.

DD has E45 wash which she needs in winter and I use it when my hands are dry and cracked. Seems to do the trick.

I find that l'occitane helps mine. When Covid first hit my hands were red raw and despite the claims of cheaper handwashes to be moisturising it was l'occitane that stopped them feeling 'tight'.

Liz Earle hand-wash is lovely and not drying but yes, it's expensive! I generally find soap less drying than hand-wash. Neste Dante soap is really nice.

Basically, yes. As is expensive cleanser. You can look for specific emollients (wrt handwash) but if you do compare ingredients you'll find that beyond essential oils for the scent, most ££££ handwashes have no more skin friendly ingredients than own brand supermarket ones.

Agree that bar soap is definitely better.
PS best handcream ever (and I've tried O'Keefes) is Neutrogena

Rather than an expensive handwash, a handwash without SLS would be beneficial.

SLS is what makes it foam - it is also what strips all the oils off your skin making them dry, and then you have to buy another product - handcream.

Handwashes of all price points come with and without SLS - for very expensive you are paying for fragrance and branding.

The E45 handwash (and most other medicinal looking ones) basically don't have SLS in.

If you want something a bit less pharmacy looking, I like Neals Yard Bee Lovely hand wash.

O'Keefes is AMAZING but expensive handwash is a waste of money. A good old bar of soap is what you need - I vary between Dettol soap and Pears :)

Honestly - just use soap! And not Dove, which isn’t actually soap. Think of all the processes that are required to produce and preserve hand wash - why would they be good for your skin?

I avoid liquid hand washes and shower gel - the latter makes my skin itch terribly. Try Faith in Nature brand, or any of the natural olive oil soaps.

You don’t mention your occupation or domestic duties - but obviously you’d be well advised to wear protective gloves whenever you’re using cleaning products.

Also, it might be helpful to take a more holistic approach - review your diet, (plenty of fruit and vegetables and protein so you’re consuming sufficient vitamins, etc,) hormones, general health. There’s sure to be a reason for your dry hands.

Liquid soap/handwashes causes me terrible dry skin and makes eczema flare. I switched to using bars of soap and my skin is so much better. As noted above it's often the sls which causes the problems

Try shower oil as handwash

Sanex do a reasonably cheap one

DS uses Dermol. I've just discovered that putting a bit of Aveeno on after every hand wash really helps. I used Palmers Coco butter for years but Aveeno seems even better.

We have gone back to using soap. It's better for the environment and cheaper - even the nice ones are cheaper. Same for shower gel. Supermarket own in plain white is fine.

Ok thank you! I shall save my money then!

I shall see if they do aveeno handwash coz that shouldn't be too pricey

Tbh I think its the handwash!

Aveeno do a nice baby wash in a pump bottle which would be suitable. I use bars of soap though.

The only handwash I can use is Carex Advance with Macadamia oil
So that maybe worth a try

Another vote here for real soap. Goats milk soap or Grumm.

I gave up on carex and all "antibacterial" hand wash. It's too harsh.

How does everyone stop their soap bars from going soggy?

Buy decent soap and use a slatted wooden soap dish? The soap doesn’t need to be expensive. Buy in bulk or try TK Maxx.

This link might suggest some new brands to you:

www.littlegreenspace.org.uk/reviews/Mobile-Natural-soaps.html

Hand soap is far better on hands than hand wash

Ok thanks I'll get a soap dish and some goat soap

I think so yes, the ingredients are often the same. What you need is something emollient like dermol or nursem. Recently I've been decanting some Sanex Atopicare bath and shower oil into the handwash dispenser and it's good. It's not really as described (an oil) more of a standard wash that foams but is oil based.

What helps me most is making sure to moisturise any time I've washed my hands or they've got wet and any time prior to leaving the house in cold weather. I use Eucerins 10% urea body lotion which has practically done away with the eczema and soreness on my hands entirely.