The Best Hand Creams For Dry Sensitive Skin

Regardless of the season I always suffer with dry and often sore hands thanks to my sensitive skin. As a result, over the years I have tried dozens of different hand creams that have promised to be the answer to my dreams and smooth away the horrible dry skin that plagues me. Unfortunately, whilst many have helped to some degree, long term relief and improvement usually doesn’t happen.

Having spent years and plenty of money purchasing every new ‘Miracle’ product released I have eventually found a combination of products that actually help keep my hands soft and supple. Obviously, everyone’s skin is different and what works for someone isn’t a ‘one size fits all’ solution, but I wanted to share my favourite hand care products in the hope that it may give those facing the same issue of dry hands an insight into what works for me.

Lush’s Self Preserving Dream Cream | Hand & Body Lotion 240g £14.95

I discovered this product when out of desperation I stumbled into Lush to ask if they had anything to help with my hands during a particularly harsh winter. Having already tried their Helping Hands product with no real success the salesperson suggested trying Dream Cream and sent me away with a sample. Always sceptical when trying a new product, I was amazed after a couple of days when my skin had improved ten-fold. Needless to say, I trotted back down to the shop immediately and purchased a full-size pot.

The cream itself is wonderfully thick and smells amazing with its mixture of lavender and rose scents. Despite being a thick consistency, it’s easily absorbed into the skin and feels wonderfully cooling when applied thanks to a mixture of oat milk and chamomile, which is perfect for those days where my skin is unbearably dry and sore to touch. When applied my skin feels instantly soothed and softer, it really lives up to its Dream Cream name!

I tend to use this cream in the evening before bed as I like to apply plenty and leave it to soak in overnight – I quite often used white cotton gloves overnight to help keep the moisture in which is extremely effective. Dream Cream is available to buy in a variety of sizes, but I find the 240g pot lasts ages even when used generously.

The Body Shop | Hemp Hand Cream 100ml £12

I have been using this cream for many years and for me it’s one of the very best on the market. Being from The Body Shop this cream is importantly cruelty-free plus uses ethically sourced Community Trade Hemp seed oil from France. I find this cream amazingly moisturising and you only need the smallest amount as it goes such a long way.

I first discovered Hemp as a teenager when a friend of the family who was a keen gardener suggested I give it a try after medicated creams failed to work for me. They themselves regularly used it with excellent results even after working outdoors with their hands in mud and water for hours on end. I’ve used this product for years now and it’s never let me down. It’s great to have always have nearby to use as and when needed at any time of the day, making an instant difference to the moisture in my hands every time. It’s dermatologically tested making it ideal for even my sensitive skin.

Balade En Provence | Apple Hand Cream 30ml £12.50*

This is a relatively new addition to my trio of hand care products and I use this one as a day cream thanks to its lightness. This vegan hand cream contains 20% shea butter which helps it give a really nourishing, hydrated effect on the skin. It’s presented in a quirky apple shaped pot which I just love as it’s nice and handy to pop into your handbag for on the go.

Being such a light formula means it absorbs instantly into the skin leaving it feeling soft and smooth. Its apple scented too and smells absolutely divine – almost good enough to eat! – and its long-lasting too meaning my only problem is trying not to sniff my hands too much!

Again, my sceptical mind didn’t have high hopes when I initially tried it thinking its packaging may be too gimmicky and the product wouldn’t live up to expectation. I hold my hands up, I couldn’t have been more wrong and this hand cream has become a firm favourite and a handbag staple for me.

Using these three products in combination together have made such a marked difference to the condition of my hands where medicated creams didn’t. If like me you do suffer with dry hands, I would highly recommend trying several of the creams on the market to find out what works best for your skin, even if that means using a few different products together like me.