They say the best thing you can do to stay healthy in the winter is to wash your hands, but add multiple washings to the effects of dry, cold weather and your hands can really take a beating! What can you do to survive the winter with all your extremities (including winter hands!) intact? Here are a few tips:

Switch your soap

The majority of liquid hand soaps sold now are antibacterial, containing the main ingredient triclosan. Studies have shown that plain soaps are just as effective at removing bacteria and preventing illness, without the irritation that triclosan can cause. Try Castile soap, or visit your local farmer’s market or health food store for local handmade soap. (Or do a search for handmade soaps at Indie Beauty Network–there are so many cool kinds of soap to choose from! Your skin will thank you.)

Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize

After you wash your hands, blot gently on a towel and apply a lotion or hand cream with skin-friendly ingredients like shea butter, jojoba oil, and aloe vera. If you have sensitive skin, find a good unscented version. (We have aloe vera lotion and silk protein hand cream, both paraben-free, non-greasy formulations available in a range of fragrances in gift sets.)

End the Chap

If your hands are still chapped despite your best efforts, they’ll need deeper moisturizing. Try rubbing on a bit of our Bare Balm at night, then covering with a pair of gloves before you go to bed. Almond oil, coconut oil, and avocado oil work to soften, condition, and smooth the skin, and their natural vitamins are believed to rejuvenate as well as protect. Shea butter is another great moisturizer, and cocoa butter and beeswax help to hold all these conditioners and moisturizers to the skin. Our Bare Balm contains all of these ingredients, plus extra Vitamin E, in a handy roll-up tube.

The good news is that even if the groundhog was right, spring is still just around the corner. Follow our tips and you’ll have banished “Winter Hands” long before the warm, green days we’re all longing for!