Hand cream hoopla – can’t get enough of them

Why the obsession? It’s the feeling of rough and taut skin I can’t handle. Plus it’s so obvious when I have dry hands because it shows up against my dark skin – they end up looking like crocodile skin. Besides, the say skin on hands takes the most battering because they are exposed to water, soaps, harsh detergents and the elements more often than any other part of our body, and can end up looking like they belong to someone else (older).

My staples

Any of my regular readers will know that I love this hand cream. I think I have mentioned it a few times just in the past month alone! L’Occitane shea butter hand cream is an award winner, and it is easy to see why. It has been my skin saviour this winter – easily absorbed, not greasy, indulgent and thick. Shea butter, honey, almond and coconut oil are key ingredients. A tube lasts all winter for me, and so the £19 price tag seems quite reasonable, given how bad my hands get in winter. The only downside is that it doesn’t contain SPF so isn’t one I use all that often in the summer.

Bliss high intensity hand cream is a handbag essential of mine – I have several tubes on the go (several handbags on the go!) and I won’t go anywhere without it. It’s another rich and creamy one that doesn’t leave a greasy film behind. And it smells divine. The macadamia nut and grapeseed extract combine to do a great job. And the best bit? The price…I buy my travel sized ones for £2.99 in TK Maxx vs £8.50 in the normal shops! Friends love it when I whip out this cream from my bag! Again, the only downside is that it doesn’t contain any SPF.

I’ve got a couple of Mary Kay’s satin hands tubes these strategically positioned throughout the house. Great for every day use and when I want something light that absorbs into skin really quickly. It literally melts into skin. I use the fragrance free version, and have for years. Vitamin E, glycerin and petrolatum are key ingredients, but no SPF sadly. I minimise the use of petrolatum in most products, but with hands I am less strict – they need the extra help because of the constant assault of water, soaps, detergents, etc, etc. This is a more reasonably priced hand cream at £8.50 for 85ml, and I haven’t found a hack for buying these any cheaper 😉

SPF loaded hand creams

I’ve struggled to find a good hand cream with SPF in it, that doesn’t feel completely gooey. I wish the ones I love made a version with SPF in it. Anyway, I’m going to give one of these a try in time for Summer (yes I am already thinking ahead to sunnier times – it’s hard not to now that we’re in January!).

The rosehip oil content of Body Shop’s wild rose hand cream is what has attracted me to it. It’s for mature skins (!) so I am thinking it will be highly moisturising, plus it helps reduce the appearance of brown spots (not got them yet, but know that I will soon enough). SPF15 is not a bad level of protection – it doesn’t say if it is broad spectrum, but as I am only looking for something to use everyday vs taking it on holiday, then I think it will be OK. £11 for 100ml is a good price too.

This hand cream from Eve Lom is one for a treat. At £22 for 50ml it is quite the investment for every day use. I can dream, of course. Maybe on one of my flush days 🙂 . Key ingredients of shea butter, edelweiss extract, vitamins A and E, jojoba oil, beeswax, salicylic acid and kokum butter work together to soften, smooth, moisturise and protect hands. SPF10 is low but it’s better than nothing. This is one for the wish list.

One easily found on the high street, and at a very reasonable £3.99, this Neutrogena Norwegian formula hand cream has an impressive SPF of 25. Definitely one to take on holiday, as well as have handy in the Summer. Key ingredients of shea butter, glycerin and a soy complex combine to moisturise and protect skin on hands, as well as reducing signs of ageing and brown spots.

I’m sure there are others, and I will keep my eyes peeled, but for now I will give one of these a try later this year. Do you have any hand creams with SPF you can recommend?