Dry Hands in Winter? 3 Soothing Recipes To Keep Hands Soft + Supple

Try these three amazing hand care recipes that'll keep your dry hands healthy and happy, even in winter: a luxurious hand soak, nourishing cuticle oil, and moisturizing hand balm.

There's one part of the body that gets hit hard during the winter months: our hands! Cold weather can be brutal on our skin, leaving hands dry, cracked, and painfully chapped. Not to mention hot water, soap, and drying hand sanitizers that make matters worse.

But we've got the solution to dry hands in winter: 3 soothing recipes to slough away dry skin cells, replenish moisture, and nourish parched skin.

Jump to:

• 3 Recipes To Soothe Dry Hands in Winter
• Step 1 | Soothing Dry Hand Soak
• Step 2 | Nourishing Cuticle Oil
• Step 3 | Overnight Hydrating Hand Balm

3 Recipes To Soothe Dry Hands in Winter

The skin on our hands is thinner and more delicate than other parts of our body, making it more prone to dehydration and damage from the elements. And once that skin dries out, it takes a little more TLC to get your hands back to baseline.

I recommend using these recipes together as part of a 3-step process. Say goodbye to rough, itchy hands and hello to happy, hydrated ones!

Step 1 | Soothing Dry Hand Soak

I swear by this warm, soothing hand soak for leaving hands feeling soft, smooth, and nourished. Milk contains lactic acid, which helps to gently exfoliate dead skin cells, while grapeseed oil is rich in fatty acids that nourish and moisturize the skin. Together, they help hydrate and soften dry, rough hands.

Ingredients

• 3 cups warm water
• 1 cup organic whole milk
• 1 tablespoon NOW Solutions Grapeseed Oil

Instructions

1. Fill a large bowl with warm water. Add the whole milk and grapeseed oil and stir well.

2. Place your hands in the bowl and soak for 10-15 minutes.

3. When you're done, gently pat hands dry with a clean towel and apply a hydrating hand cream.

For an extra relaxing experience, add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to the soak. If you have particularly dry or rough hands, add a tablespoon of honey to the mixture for extra nourishment.

Step 2 | Nourishing Cuticle Oil

During the winter months, cold weather and dry indoor air can be particularly harsh on our skin, especially the delicate skin around our nails and cuticles. But a good cuticle oil helps to moisturize the skin, which can prevent cracking, peeling, and hangnails from happening in the first place.

In this cuticle oil blend, we use NOW Solutions Organic Jojoba Oil, known for its moisturizing and nourishing properties, and sweet almond oil, a vitamin-rich oil that helps to protect the nails and cuticles from damage. A few drops of bergamot essential oil add a fresh, citrusy scent.

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon NOW Solutions Organic Jojoba Oil
• 1 tablespoon NOW Solutions Sweet Almond Oil
• 20 drops NOW Organic Bergamot Essential Oil

Instructions

1. In a small glass dropper bottle, combine the jojoba, sweet almond and bergamot oils. Replace the cap and shake well to combine.

2. To use, apply a drop or two of the cuticle oil to each nail and massage gently into the cuticles and nail beds.

3. Repeat daily, or as needed, to keep your nails and cuticles healthy and hydrated.

Step 3 | Overnight Hydrating Hand Balm

This DIY overnight hand balm uses a mixture of shea butter, vitamin E, and lavender oil to soothe, nourish and protect. Shea butter has moisturizing properties perfect for hydrating dry, cracked skin.

Vitamin E contains antioxidants and helps moisturize and condition skin, and lavender essential oil is known for its calming properties.

Ingredients

• ¼ cup NOW Solutions Shea Butter, melted
• ½ teaspoon NOW Solutions Vitamin E Oil
• 50 drops NOW Organic Lavender Essential Oil

Instructions

1. Combine ingredients in a small bowl and whisk to combine. Pour the melted oils into a container and let cool for several hours. 

2. To use, start by washing your hands with a gentle cleanser and drying them thoroughly. Take a small amount of balm and rub it between your palms to warm it up. Massage the balm into your hands, paying special attention to any areas that are particularly dry or cracked.

3. If desired, put on a pair of soft, comfortable gloves to help seal in the moisture and protect your hands while you sleep. In the morning, remove the gloves and wash your hands with warm water to remove any remaining balm.

Now that your hands are super soft, give yourself an at-home manicure—with or without polish!

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