Hand Cream Hall of Fame

Swine Flu (ahem...H1N1 rather) isn’t just a threat to your health, it’s also hazardous to your hands.

With flu season officially here and especially ominous, people are taking extra precautions everywhere they go to protect themselves. For me, this means washing my hands after every encounter with a rogue door handle or suspicious public space.

Between trying to preemptively scrub away the flu with as much soap and water as I can handle AND drowning my mitts in the vats of hand sanitizer I’m constantly surrounded by, my poor hands have been suffering the ultimate seasonal setback: crippling beyond relief dryness. If your skin is anything like mine, once it senses any kind of dehydrating substance (water and sanitizers being the biggest culprits) on the skin, it screams out in discomfort. So as you can imagine, hand lotions are not only a necessity, they're a lifeline for my poor pores.

With that said, I do have a few favorites that allow me to cleanse to my liking and yet still moisturize my hands with a lasting, loving fervor.


-Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream-Fragrance Free ($4.29, drugstores)

One dime size drop of this potent hand cream/miracle tube and your skin will feel rejuvenated again but in no way greasy. I not only swear by this product, I pray for the day when I'll be able to order tub size version of it. I'll then get four or five at a time, at least.










-Yu-Be Moisturizing Skin Cream ($15.00, drugstore.com)

This glycerin-based salve is the number one selling medicated, vitamin-enriched skin cream in Japan. The Camphor scent fades after a few minutes only to reveal smooth, warm and healthy skin. It's so effective that it's even used by Japanese mountain climbers on their expeditions to the top of Mt. Everest.







-Clarins Hand & Nail Treatment Cream ($30.00, Sephora)

This luxurious lather softens dry hands and cuticles and preserves their youthful appearance. Devotees rave about how infrequently you need to reapply this solution (even after washing your hands) and how non-greasy it feels on. Bonus: the pricey tube now has a travel-size counterpart that's a third of the cost.








L'annine Hand and Body Cream ($16, thebeautymark.com)

This European brand boasts rich oils in Avocado, Jasmine and Mango (my favorite) scents along with glycerin to emulsify the skin. The yummy fragrances are long lasting and only add to the appeal of this incredibly lush skin softener.











Candlenut Hand and Body Balm ($25.00, skinstore.com)

There isn't one product in this line that doesn't smell heavenly (and that's an understatement). The balm contains candlenut oil, which not only smells like a tropical breeze but is revered in Indonesia for it's "supremely moisturizing properties and velvety touch". The natural cream is paraben-free and a great organic alternative.








Scoop up one of these treatments and you'll avoid the feeling of dry, dehydrated skin while you attend to more pressing matters, such as avoiding The Swine Flu!