Buying Guide: The Best Hand Care
Saying that you should take better care of your hands would be an understatement. Taking care of the skin on your hands is just as essential as taking care of the skin on your face. Some might even argue that hands need better care since they’re more exposed to dirt, grime, water, and generic antibacterial soaps. That's why we created this complete guide to selecting the right hand care products.
Benefits of Hand Care
These are the essential benefits you should look for when looking for the ideal hand care products. They are all equally important, and the cream, lotion, or mask you buy should offer all three of them.
Moisturization
Dryness from regular washing is one of the biggest threats to the skin on your hands, and it only gets worse with time. Using hand care products is the only effective way to counter this issue. In other words, look for products that moisturize your hands with each application.
Some of them require you to apply them after each wash, while others can protect your hands from dryness for an entire day without any issues. Both of these choices are equally viable, and you should choose one based on your own preference.
Just make sure that the moisturization abilities of the hand care product you buy do not cause issues like oiliness or leave behind an intense fragrance.
Healing
Even if the skin on your hands is perfectly fine right now, you should start using proper hand care products for future prevention. Many people discover hand care after their hands have been dry and cracked for some time. This is where the healing abilities of hand care products come into play.
The cream, lotion, or mask you buy should start healing the damage that’s already there. This includes moisturizing the skin and getting rid of cracking without leaving a single scar. Also, make sure that this healing ability is backed by natural ingredients with hypoallergenic properties.
Nourishment
A good hand care product will bring your hand back to how it was before the dryness or moisture level issues. A great product, on the other hand, will provide nourishment and make your hands feel smooth and soft. These nourishing benefits are mostly found in hand care options with ingredients like natural oils.
You might think that this is optional. But if you want to see your hands’ skin in the best shape possible, look for hand care options with nourishing abilities and components.
Types of Hand Care
There are three main types of hand care products on the market. None of them is definitively better than the other, and the choice between them comes down to your needs and preferences.
Hand wash
This is the most basic form of hand care and requires the least amount of effort. All you have to do is replace your general soap or hand wash with one that prevents dryness. These hand moisture-locking washes are partially effective in winter when the air is completely dry.
You can wash your hands as many times as you want with these without worrying about drying out your skin. That said, the effectiveness of these hand washes is fairly limited, and they won’t have many benefits for hands that are already dry.
Creams and lotion
Creams and lotions are a proper hand care option that should be an essential part of your skin care routine. The benefits of these creams vary from one option to the other, so you can choose the one that fits your situation.
Generally, these hand care lotions can improve moisture levels, heal dried and cracked skin, and provide further nourishment for soft and smooth hands. The only downside of using these is that some of them can make your hands a bit oily.
Hand masks
Hand care masks are the most advanced solution on this list, and it is exceptional in every way. For starters, it works without creating any mess or oiliness. Just wear the glove for 10 to 20 minutes and remove it when done. You don’t even have to wash your hands afterward.
As great as hand care masks are, they can be quite an expensive option. If you factor efficiency into the equation as well, these are still worth your consideration.
Check the Ingredients
It doesn’t matter if you’re buying a handwash, cream, or hand mask—always check the ingredients. Look at the individual components to ensure that you’re not allergic to any of them since skin-based allergies can be tough to deal with.
Also, choose a hand care product with natural ingredients over ones made entirely from synthetic chemicals. This increases the chances of that product being safe for sensitive skin and lowers the risk of unintended side effects.
