Washing your hands too often? These nourishing hand creams are skin savers
Plus, a three-step routine you need to follow to keep your hands clean and protected
By Vanessa Chia -
Ever noticed how often you mindlessly touch your face throughout the day? In fact, our hands come into the most contact with other people and objects. Since Covid19 happened, in the bid to stop the spread of the virus, we’ve been constantly reminded to wash our hands (here are some top tips for washing hands so you don't fall sick), keep them clean and of course, to stop touching our faces.
Why is washing our hands so important? Healthcare professionals have said that soap and water are the most effective when it comes to combating germs and dirt. The soap binds together with the visible and invisible nasties on the skin and physically removes them when you place your soapy hands under running water.
Therein lies the problem. The increased frequency of our handwashing is now causing many of us to suffer from dry hands, or worse cracked skin too.
So why are our hands getting dry? It’s because soap and water not only rinses away the bacteria, but it also strips the skin of its natural protective oils, which in turn dries out the skin, leaving it red and raw at times too.
To ensure that your hands are kept clean and protected, follow these three steps:
Step 1: Wash with warm water (and soap, of course)
Hot water strips away even more of your skin’s natural oils, so lukewarm or room temperature is best. Don’t forget to wash for at least 20 seconds — sing Happy Birthday to yourself twice, and make sure you get the back of your hands, in-between the fingers, wrists and fingernails too.
Step 2: Blot, don’t rub
After washing your hands, it’s better to blot them dry with your towel, especially when they’re already feeling tender. Rubbing them roughly can result in micro-abrasions on the skin, which can allow bacteria to enter.
Step 3: Nourish and protect
Once hands are dry, apply a nourishing cream or lotion to replenish moisture back into the skin. Active ingredients that you can look for include ceramides that will protect the skin along with humectants like hyaluronic acid or glycerin that attract and retain moisture within to keep hands soft and supple.
To help keep your skin soft and supple, here are nine pampering hand creams and lotions to treat yourself to.
Each set comes with a Hand Cream and Hand Sanitiser, perfect for the times we’re in. The sanitiser keeps hands clean with its 75 per cent alcohol content yet doesn’t dry it out thanks to the use of aloe vera extract. Top with the hand cream for extra hydration.
Choose from your favourite Ange Gardien scent — Victoria, Charlotte, Louise, Elizabeth and Marie
Available at www.angegardienparis.com, www.tangs.com and www.robinsons.com.sg and when stores re-open at Tangs Vivocity, Robinsons The Heeren and Robinsons Raffles City.
Despite its rich balm-like texture, this hand cream packs a non-oily formula that’s enriched with rose butter, rosehip oil and rose flower essential wax to repair, soothe and intensely hydrate the skin.
Available at www.tangs.com and www.sephora.sg and when stores re-open, TANGS at Tang Plaza, Escentials and Sephora stores.
Softens and hydrates the skin using a blend of carefully selected emollients and potassium lactate. Its woody and subtle smoky scent is also comforting to the senses.
Available at www.aesop.com/sg and www.tangs.com and when stores re-open, Aesop stores and TANGS at Tang Plaza.
Infused with certified organic botanical extracts — evening primrose and olive oils, and rosewater, along with macadamia seed oil, it not only nourishes but also prevents signs of ageing. Also keeps nails and cuticles moisturised too.
Available at www.thann.com.sg and when stores re-open, at Thann Flagship #03-45 Paragon Shopping Centre.
Enriched with botanical extracts — Persian acacia, lindera, padina pavonica and buckwheat seed, together with a yeast and soy protein complex to combat the signs of ageing such as wrinkles, dark spots and even loss of plumpness. Hands are soft and youthful once more. Plus, it protects against damaging UV rays too.
Available at www.robinsons.com.sg and www.metro.com.sg and when stores re-open, at Robinsons Raffles City and Metro Paragon.
An anti-ageing hardworking lotion that contains green tea and rice phytic acid to brighten and protect the skin. Best bit? You can even use this on your face and body too, perfect when you’re feeling a little lazy.
Available at www.sephora.sg and when stores re-open, at Sephora stores.
Especially for parched hands, this heavy-duty hand cream provides a “glove-like” protection, locking in all the nutrients and moisture while protecting against further moisture loss at the same time. Contains a blend of botanical oils and an olive oil derived wax to soothe and repair.
Available at www.tangs.com and www.robinsons.com.sg and when stores re-open, at all Kiehl’s boutiques, TANGS at Tang Plaza and Robinsons Raffles City.
Contains the brand’s signature Gongjinbidan formula along with a blend of wild ginseng, cordyceps and sinensis, it instantly hydrates dry hands, leaving them soft and smooth. Also protects against UV rays at the same time.
Available at www.tangs.com and when stores re-open, TANGS at Tang Plaza, Tangs Vivocity and Takashimaya DS Beauty Hall.
A rich balm-like cream, it is packed with sweet almond oil together with UMF 15+ Manuka honey to nourish, comfort and hydrate dry hands. Also great for soothing dry and rough areas like the knees, elbows, heels and cuticles too.
Available at www.tangs.com and when stores re-open, TANGS at Tang Plaza and Tangs Vivocity.