I looked down at my hands with sorrow.

“You don’t deserve this,” I whispered to them quietly. I should have taken better care of you.

I sighed, knowing that this could have been prevented if I had only remembered to moisturize before the cold and dry winter months had arrived. My delicate hands were deprived of moisture and sunshine... The winter months in New York are far too brutal for me, and my hands tend to suffer the most. 

With skin as sensitive as mine, I have to be incredibly careful with any products I use, otherwise, it will irritate my skin further. The cracking is the worst part because my skin stings and burns whenever I wash my hands or attempt to use a cream with even a faint of fragrance. It has taken me some time and lots of trips to the dermatologist to find products and routines that are right for me and helpful for my dry skin. Thankfully, after a few rough winters, I finally figured out the solution to painfully dry (and sensitive) winter hands...

When my skin has already begun to crack and turn bright pink, I always follow my emergency protocol to salvage my poor hands. All it takes is one freezing cold day to send my hands over the edge… 

First, I immediately apply a recovery balm. I re-apply this as many times as I need throughout the day until my skin heals. Don’t forget to apply after washing your hands or showering. You want to ensure that your hands are moisturized 24/7 until the cracking heals and the redness subsides.

Once the skin is stable (it may take you 24 hours or even up to a week), I can then begin applying my favorite cream. This product leaves my skin feeling silky and buttery. Never greasy, only smooth and soft to the touch… I always carry one in my purse. 

Take a moment to remember all the parts of yourself that need some extra love this winter… maybe it’s your hands, maybe it’s your heart. Believe it or not, a rich, buttery cream might mend both.

xoxo

VS Girl

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