The routine in brief: a fuller layer of Hydrating Hand Cream first thing in the morning, one press of the pump after every hand wash during the day, and a generous layer last thing at night. In between, two bottles, one by the kitchen sink and one at your desk, do most of the work. That is enough to keep hands that are washed often feeling soft and comfortable from morning to bedtime.
Our Hydrating Hand Cream with Kalahari Oil is light and silky, built on Kalahari melon seed oil with aloe, glycerin and a blend of plant oils, and it sinks in to a soft-touch finish with no grease. Because it absorbs so quickly, it fits into the day at almost any moment. Here is how that day looks, step by step.
Morning: after the shower
Start with the rest of your skin. While you are still slightly damp from the shower, smooth our Rejuvenating Body Cream with Kalahari Oil over arms, legs, elbows and heels. It shares the hand cream's base of Kalahari melon seed oil, aloe and glycerin, and comes in the same four scents, so the two layer into one.
Hands come last, after you have finished with the body cream and washed your hands. Take one press of hand cream, warm it between your palms, and work it over the backs of your hands, between your fingers, into the cuticles and around the wrists. If you are heading out on a bright day, sunscreen goes on the backs of your hands once the cream has sunk in.
During the day: after every wash
This is the step that matters most. Each wash takes a little moisture with it, and the cream puts comfort back.
- Wash with a gentle soap. Our Hydrating Hand Wash with Kalahari Oil is a castile-style liquid soap that leaves hands comfortable rather than tight, in scents that match the cream.
- Shake off the water and pat once, leaving your hands faintly damp.
- Apply one press of cream and work it in. It takes twenty to thirty seconds.
Keep the cream beside the soap. If it is in your eyeline while your hands are still damp, the habit takes care of itself.
At your desk
Keep a second bottle where you work. Paper, keyboards and dry office air all take their toll, and a hand cream you have to go and find is one you skip. Because this cream sinks in within a minute and leaves no film, you can apply it mid-task and get straight back to the page or the screen.
If you are out all day, decant a little into a small travel container for your bag.
In the kitchen
The kitchen sink sees more washing than any other. Dishes, chopping, squeezing lemons and wiping counters all leave hands feeling dry. After you finish and wash up, apply the cream right there at the sink, taking a little extra time over the knuckles and the skin around your nails.
Heading outside in the cold
Cold, wind and dry air are hard on the backs of the hands. Before you go out, apply a layer, give it a minute to sink in, then pull on your gloves. Take the cream an inch or two past the wrist, too: the thin skin on the inside of the wrist and lower forearm is often exposed between glove and sleeve.
Evening: the last layer of the day
At night your hands go hours without a wash, so this is the time for a more generous application.
If your arms and elbows feel dry, smooth a few drops of Imperial Jade Body Oil over them first. It shares two of the hand cream's oils, Kalahari melon seed and argan. Then finish with the hand cream as the last layer, worked in slowly over hands, cuticles and wrists. There is no need for cotton gloves; the cream is light enough that it does not transfer much.
The routine at a glance
- Morning: body cream after the shower, then hand cream; sunscreen on the backs of the hands if you are going out.
- Each wash: hand wash, faintly damp hands, one press of cream.
- Desk and kitchen: a bottle within reach at each.
- Outdoors: a layer before gloves.
- Night: body oil on arms if needed, then a generous layer of hand cream.
Questions about a daily hand cream routine
How many times a day should I use hand cream?
After every wash, plus once in the morning and once before bed. In fall and winter that often means several more applications than in summer.
Does body oil go on before or after hand cream?
Before. Smooth body oil over your arms first, then finish with the hand cream as the last layer on your hands.
Can I take the hand cream with me when I travel?
Yes. Decant a little from the 16 fl oz bottle into a small travel container for your bag.
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