Our favourite hand creams to soothe winter skin

For the hand cream hoarder

Why we love it: It’s thick and creamy (thanks to 20 percent shea butter), yet it absorbs quickly with a non-greasy finish. And the mild scent makes it suitable for both women and men. Shea Butter Hand Cream, $32, L’Occitane.

For irritated skin 

Why we love it: Dry, itchy and irritated skin is soothed by a rich combination of kelp and bayberry. The lotion is also packed with a high concentration of antioxidants (vitamin C, flavanoids and carotinoids) that act as an anti-inflammatory too. Perfect for sensitive skin. Sea Fennel & Bayberry Lotion, $18, Nova Scotia Fisherman.

For cracked knuckles

Why we love it: A fragrance-free blend, this Aveeno creation contains colloidal oatmeal, a dermatologist-recommended ingredient to repair your skin’s natural barrier. Bonus: It’ll last all-day, even through hand-washing. Aveeno Intense Relief Hand Cream, $8, Walmart.

For night time.

Why we love it: Super luxe and creamy, this ultra-moisturizing formula goes on at bedtime and boosts hydration while you sleep. Tony Moly Panda’s Dream Hand Cream, $15, The Bay.

For hard-working hands

Why we love it: Macadamia nut oil and shea butter give this cream a luxurious texture, but it holds up on active working hands thanks to moisturizing cermaides and myrrh. Gardners Ultra-Moisturising Hand Therapy, $26, Crabtree & Evelyn.

For all-over dryness

Why we love it: A cult favourite for 90 years (yes, since 1926), Skin Food’s uses extend way beyond your hands. Devotees use it on dry elbows and heels, chapped lips, as a makeup primer, to treat split ends and even to protect tattoos. Weleda Skin Food, $21, Well.ca.

For severely dry hands

Why we love it: You’ll feel a difference after only one application of this heavy-duty salve. Made with botanical oils and natural wax, the formula claims to draw moisture from the air and deliver it to your hands. Ultimate Strength Hand Salve, from $19, Kiehls.

For moisture on the go

Why we love it: The tall, slim packaging is sleek enough to fit in a clutch. What’s inside is pretty good too: a buttery, mildly scented cream with omega-rich seabuckthorn oil and vitamin E to soften and protect. Fresh Seaberry Nourishing Hand Cream, $32, Sephora.

For sensitive skin

Why we love it: After applying this gentle treatment, hands instantly feel soft. Another reason we love this one? It’s safe for gentle kid hands too. Atoderm Hands & Nails, $10, Bioderma 

Related:
5 nasty winter skin problems — and how to solve them
How to treat eczema this winter
The Beauty List 2015: this year’s top beauty products