15 January 2024 , 16:15
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After a fairly mild Christmas we're now well into the depths of winter. Most regions across the UK have woken up to frosty ground and a freezing chill in the air.
It's bad enough at the best of times, but for people who suffer with dry hands it can be really uncomfortable. Having two dogs means I have to spend a hefty chunk of time outside each day, come rain or shine, but it does no favours for my skin, with prolonged exposure to the cold often leaving my hands feeling a bit cracked and lacking moisture.
While it probably seems quite trivial to non-sufferers, it can be really quite painful and leave you in frequent discomfort. But one product has been an absolute game-changer.
I first tried O'Keefe's Working Hands a couple of years ago and was so impressed with the results, and how quickly it started to ease the discomfort. The product says it works by instantly boosting moisture levels and creating a protective layer on the skin which makes a difference "within days". It's something I certainly found to be true last winter and it's made a big impact this year, my hands felt better after just a couple of days.
Many users who've left reviews on Amazon seem to have had similar experiences. The cream has a 4.7 star rating from 84,000 reviews, with 80% of users awarding five stars.
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One said: "O'Keefe's Working Hands Cream is a true hand-saving miracle in a jar. As someone who frequently deals with dry, cracked skin due to constant handwashing and exposure to harsh weather, this cream has been a game-changer. Its non-greasy, quick-absorbing formula means you can apply it and get back to work without leaving a residue on everything you touch. The results are impressive – within days, my hands felt noticeably softer, smoother, and more nourished."
Cold weather can lead to itchy hands (Getty Images/iStockphoto)Another added: "My partner swears by this stuff. He has tried a lot of moisturisers as he has very dry hands. He showers a lot after exercise and does weightlifting so he uses this after each session and it's helped so much.
"It seems pricey for what it is but it's just good and it does the job."
A small downside I've found is it can leave your hands feeling a bit greasy after you apply it and in my experience it hasn't completely solved the problem 100%, but the difference after using it has been staggering. It definitely makes a few minutes of greasy palms worth it, you'll just probably want to avoid touching your phone or anything shiny straight after applying the cream or it might leave a couple of smudges.
It's something I think you come to expect whenever you apply a hand cream. Just 1% of reviews on Amazon have given it 1 star, with a small number of people also bemoaning the greasy texture, or saying they didn't like the feeling.
A standard 96g jar is priced at £6.49 on Amazon, or you can get it at Superdrug where it's £8.49.
Another brand that gets plenty of positive ratings on Amazon is Gloves In A Bottle Shielding Lotion. It says it forms an instant protective shield that lasts four to 12 hours. I haven't tried it personally but it has lots of excellent ratings, with 4.3 stars on average.
It's priced at £9.90 per bottle on Amazon. A much cheaper option is Nivea Soft Moisturising cream which is on offer at Amazon and priced at £2 for a 75ml tube.
Tips for sore hands over the colder months
If you suffer with sore hands then then the NHS has a number of tips including:
- Avoiding exposure to irritants like soap
- Wear gloves for cleaning work
- Wear gloves in cold weather
- Dry your hands with a clean towel and dry between the fingers
- Don’t apply hair dye with your bare hands
- Avoid direct contact with various polishes.
- It's also advised that people take steps like using a soap substitute and a moisturiser.
People are also advised to speak to a pharmacist for advice and to see a GP if you have persistent, recurrent or severe symptoms.
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