When the cold unpleasant weather creeps in, our skin can often be the first to know.
The chilly weather can really take its toll on our skin, and there's nothing more uncomfortable than rough, cracked hands. Whether we're washing our hands more than normal or feeling the bite of the cold air on on our skin, a good thick hand cream can be essential in keeping our skin soft and supple.
Usually, the best kind of hand creams are the ones that soak into our skin quickly and efficiently. It can also be a bonus if the hand cream smells pleasant too, as many can have that clinical, often boring scent.
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There are so many different brands that offer hand creams for a range of different prices. The handbag staple is a must for this time of year, but which brand does it best? We compared hand creams from Marks & Spencer, Boots, and Lush to see which one is worth your money. Here's how we got on.
Marks & Spencer Fragrance Society Hand & Nail Cream 30ml
I'm guilty of being very lazy when it comes to hand cream, and usually only use it when I feel like my hands are in desperate need instead of regularly applying. I recently received a multipack of Fragrance Society hand creams as a Christmas gift and I've honestly not looked back since.
One scent that really stood out to me was the Poppy, Peony and Pearl Barley hand cream in a 30ml tube. One I'd gotten over the adorable pastel pink packaging, it was the fresh floral scent that really blew me away.
I rubbed the thick cream into my hands and it absorbed within seconds, leaving my skin feeling ridiculously soft. Not only did my hands feel quickly nourished, but they smelt incredible too.
I've been using this hand cream for around a week now and my hands feel like they belong to a different person! I've definitely learnt that a little goes a long way, and a lovely smelling cream can really make you feel pampered. Although the multipack is currently sold out, you can keep your eye out for it to come back here.
Price: £7.50 as part of a multipack
Rating: 5/5
Where to buy: Online (currently sold out) or at your local store
Garnier Intensive 7 Days Shea Butter Hand Cream Dry Chapped Skin 100ml
I tend to get dry and chapped hands, particularly in the winter months. Over the years, I've tried many different hand creams from a variety of brands, but didn't find one that I liked enough to use on an every day basis.
That was until I tried the Garnier Intensive 7 Days hand cream, which is honestly the best hand cream I've tried. I've noticed a real difference since I started using it, and find it helps to keep my hands soft and smooth during the colder months. Some hand creams can be greasy and feel really heavy on the skin, but you don't get that with this product - which absorbs quickly into the skin and feels nice and moisturising.
The hand cream contains shea butter, so it comes with the added bonus of having a pleasant smell. I use this product every day and can't ever see myself purchasing anything else. It's great value for money and does exactly what it promises to.
Price: £3.29
Rating: 5/5
Where to buy: Boots stores or online.
Lush Sweet Wild Orange Hand Balm
I don't tend to suffer with dry, chapped hands too often thankfully, but I still like to use the odd bit of hand cream to keep my skin soft. I'm a sucker for a nice smelling product and a bit fussy too so it can take me a while to find a hand cream I really like.
I find a lot have an overly floral 'nana' type smell, but I prefer something a bit more citrussy or herbal. With that in mind, I was sold by the name of Lush's Sweet Wild Orange Hand Balm - it sounded right up my street, and being Lush I knew its scent would pack a punch.
The hand balm is an orange and aloe based formula, which is designed to 'refresh and cool the hands', with nut oils and other ingredients I'd never heard of that soften and lightly hydrate. For the last couple of years I've been trying to move to more natural cosmetics so Lush is always a good place to turn to, but their products don't come all that cheap and a standard 100g sized pot of this hand balm is £12, which isn't going to suit everyone's budget.
It comes in a pot with a screw top lid and you scoop out what you want to use, which I liked because I often find you can never get every last bit out of a squeezy tube. Word of warning, you only need a tiny amount, so despite that £12 price tag, a pot will last you a long time.
The balm goes on quite wet to start with, but after around 30 seconds of rubbing it had all absorbed, leaving my hands feeling soft, moisturised and covered in the most delicious scent. The orange notes are bright and almost mouth-watering, without being overpowering. I absolutely loved the smell and have to say the balm kept my hands feeling hydrated for a good while, though I was tempted to apply again before needed just to get another hit of that beautiful fragrance.
Price: £12 for a 100g pot
Rating: 4/5
Where to buy: Lush stores or online
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