Wash your hands. Dry your hands. Get on with the next thing.
Then notice they feel tight again.
If you have dry hands from washing, the useful next step is moisturising after the rinse. Choose a product that suits your skin and keep it somewhere you’ll actually remember to use it.
Because the hand cream at the bottom of your handbag has been enjoying a very long holiday.
Why do my hands feel dry after washing?
Frequent washing can leave hands dry and uncomfortable. Soap, water and repeated washing all play a part, especially when your skin is already feeling sensitive.
The answer is to keep washing when you need to and give moisturising a place in the routine.
The American Academy of Dermatology recommends lukewarm water and applying hand cream or ointment while skin is still slightly damp.
Your hands are doing the dishes, wiping the bench, washing off whatever that was and starting again.
A little attention after the rinse is fair enough.
What should I look for in a moisturiser for dry hands?
Start with something comfortable enough to use regularly.
For dry, sensitive-feeling hands, a fragrance-free option is a sensible place to begin. A richer cream or ointment may also suit you better than a light lotion.
Texture matters, too. You need something that works with your day. If you dislike the finish, that jar will quietly become bathroom decor.
Salt Coast Bare is our fragrance-free tallow balm, made with purified grass-fed tallow and organic jojoba oil. It has a dense, custard-like texture that spreads into a rich moisturising layer.
A small dab is a good starting point.
Can you use tallow balm on your hands?
Yes. Bare can be used on your hands as well as your face and body.
We make it for the parts of your everyday routine where you want skin to feel softer and moisturised. Hands included.
Tallow balm is richer than a water-based lotion. If you’re used to dispensing a generous pump of hand cream, start with considerably less balm and adjust from there.
Curious about the ingredient itself? Our guide to why people use tallow for skin covers the basics.
How to use tallow balm after washing your hands
1. Wash and rinse as usual. Use lukewarm water.
2. Pat your hands with a clean towel. Leave the skin slightly damp.
3. Take a small dab of balm. Use clean, dry fingertips to take it from the jar, keeping water out.
4. Warm and spread it. Smooth it over the backs of your hands, knuckles and any dry-feeling areas.
5. Adjust the amount. If your hands feel too coated, use less next time.
Keep the jar within reach, away from splashes. You’re much more likely to use it when it’s right there.
Why are my hands dry again after moisturising?
Another wash can mean another application. One morning dab won’t necessarily cover a day of dishes, cleaning and handwashing.
You might also prefer a richer product, or find that the soap you’re using leaves your hands feeling particularly dry.
Try making moisturising part of the washing routine. Before bed is another convenient time to apply it, when your hands finally get a break from the sink.
Persistent itching, painful cracks, bleeding or dryness that isn’t improving deserve advice from a GP or dermatologist. A cosmetic balm isn’t a treatment for hand eczema.
Does tallow balm make your hands greasy?
It can feel too rich if you apply more than you need. The formula and your skin also affect the finish.
Start small, spread it well and see how it feels before adding more. You can give the backs of your hands extra attention without coating your palms in a thick layer.
Your phone screen will appreciate the restraint.
The jar beside the sink
Some days, looking after yourself needs to fit between everything else.
Wash. Pat dry. A small dab. Carry on.
Meet Bare, our fragrance-free tallow balm for face, hands and body.
For hands with better things to do.
