Autumn brings us many things: beautiful foliage, Halloween, the chance to dig out knitwear again and, due to chillier weather, dry skin. Most of us by now have moisturiser as part of our daily grooming regime but that’s not the only bit of skin exposed to the elements. Your hands actually have quite a tough time of it, especially if you are a regular cyclist, gardener or sportsman. And in a sociable world where a handshake is part of your first impression, it makes sense that you lavish a bit of attention on those palms and fingers. Add a hand cream to your arsenal of skin care products and say goodbye to rough paws. Here are some of our favourites.
Byredo Suede Hand Cream
We’re suckers for Byredo, what with its minimal packaging, unusual fragrances and quirky nomenclature, and we especially love this hand cream. Despite its name, it doesn’t smell of leather but rather of bergamot, violet and musk and the subtle aroma lingers through the day whilst your hands feel as soft as… well… suede itself.
L:A Bruket Angelica Hand Cream
With its fresh green aroma of aniseed, celery and lavender, this L:A Bruket hand cream has a relaxing and detoxifying effect. Not only does it moisturise but it is rich in antioxidants that boost collagen production so can reduce the appearance of wrinkles and minimise dark spots. And as part of the CleanSea initiative, for every tube bought, seven plastic bottles are removed from the waters surrounding Sweden.
Nuori Vital Hand Cream
Grape seed and almond oils in this product nourish dry hands whilst shea butter leaves them feeling nice and soft. The cream also has preventative properties with white tea extract and vitamin E helping protect the skin from further damage. It’s a good price for the quality too.
Aesop Resurrection Aromatique Hand Balm
Promising resurrection is quite a bold statement but this is possibly our favourite of the bunch so we will forgive the hyperbole. The cream is super soothing and rich but not greasy and we love the fresh, herby smell that includes rosemary leaf, mandarin and cedar. The tube also crumples up in a very attractive manner!
Woods Repairing Hand Balm
If you are looking for a vegan option, this hand cream from Woods is the perfect choice. Easily absorbable and made from organic ingredients such as shea butter, blueberry seed oil and cloudberry oil, it not only protects your hands but also nourishes nails. The aroma is very light too so won’t compete with your aftershave.
& Other Stories Arabesque Wood Hand Cream
A very affordable option that comes in a small tube that fits into your jacket pocket for on-the-go application. It has a good feel to it with macadamia nut and almond oils and the smell has a little citrus touch that makes it feel fresh and light.
