Hand care in winter: routine, gloves and the right hand cream
Hand care in winter is more than the occasional dab of cream. Between frost outside, dry heating air indoors and frequent hand washing, hands feel tight more quickly, turn rough and sometimes crack at the knuckles. The good news: with a few fixed habits, your skin stays supple even in the cold season. In this guide you'll find a simple daily routine, tips on washing and gloves, what to look for in a hand cream for winter – and when you should seek medical advice instead.
Contents10
- Why hands suffer so much in winter
- Hand care in winter: a simple daily routine
- Washing properly: less is more
- Gloves: three areas of use
- The right hand cream for winter
- Hand care in winter after the sauna
- Common mistakes in hand care in winter
- When you should seek medical advice
- Conclusion
- Frequently asked questions
Why hands suffer so much in winter
In winter, the skin on your hands is exposed to several stresses at once:
- Little natural protection: The back of the hand has relatively few sebaceous glands and therefore produces hardly any oil of its own.
- Cold: At low temperatures the blood vessels in the skin constrict, the skin is less well supplied and produces less sebum.
- Heating air: Dry indoor air draws moisture from the skin's surface.
- Washing and disinfecting: Soap, hot water and disinfectants dissolve lipids from the skin – and during cold season people wash their hands more often.
- Temperature changes: Constantly switching between cold air outside and warm rooms puts additional strain on the skin.
Many people know the result: hands feel tight after washing, the skin on knuckles and fingertips gets rough, and cuticles tear more easily.
Hand care in winter: a simple daily routine
When it comes to hand care in winter, regularity matters more than a particularly expensive product. This routine fits easily into everyday life:
| Situation | What you do |
|---|---|
| In the morning | After showering, a small amount of hand cream before you leave the house |
| After every hand wash | Dry thoroughly, including between the fingers, then apply a little cream |
| Outdoors | Wear gloves, even in light frost |
| Cleaning and washing up | Wear household gloves, don't use water that's too hot |
| In the evening | Apply a bit more cream, don't forget the cuticles |
| After the sauna or swimming pool | Dry your hands well and apply cream before heading out into the cold |
A practical trick: put a hand cream where you need it – by the sink, on your desk, in your coat pocket. What's within reach gets used.
Washing properly: less is more
Hand washing is simply part of hand care in winter – but it can be gentler:
- Lukewarm instead of hot: Hot water removes more oil from the skin.
- Mild hand wash: A small amount is enough. Products that foam a lot aren't automatically more thorough.
- Rinse well: Soap residue on the skin can dry it out further.
- Dry carefully: Especially between the fingers. Damp skin that goes out into the cold gets rough faster.
- Apply cream: Ideally straight afterwards, while the skin is still slightly damp.
If you have to disinfect often, for example in healthcare, you can look for disinfectants with re-greasing additives and schedule hand care into your breaks.
Gloves: three areas of use
Gloves are the simplest form of hand care in winter, because they keep cold, wind and cleaning agents away from the skin in the first place.
Outdoors
Warm gloves protect against wind and cold. Models with a soft lining are the most comfortable, so nothing chafes. Put them on before your hands get cold – not once they're already red.
In the household
Washing-up liquid and cleaning agents strip a lot of oil from the skin. Household gloves help. If you sweat quickly in them, you can wear thin cotton gloves underneath.
Overnight
For very dry hands, the "glove treatment" is a tried-and-tested classic: apply a generous layer of hand cream in the evening and pull thin cotton gloves over it. That way the cream stays on your hands instead of on your pillow.
The right hand cream for winter
For hand care in winter, your hand cream can be richer than in summer. Typical ingredients you'll find in the INCI list of rich hand creams are plant butters such as shea or mango butter, plant oils such as avocado or macadamia oil, glycerin as a humectant, and panthenol. If you tend to have sensitive skin, also check for fragrances.
We stock two hand creams from VEGAN FOX, both vegan, each 120 ml and €10.90:
| Hand cream | Key ingredients according to the product page | Natural origin | A good fit if … |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shea butter & macadamia (Nourishing) | Shea butter, macadamia oil, avocado oil, aloe vera, panthenol | 98 % | your hands feel tight in winter and you like it rich |
| Mango butter & avocado oil (Protective) | Mango butter, avocado oil, calendula, chamomile, panthenol | 99 % | you're looking for a rich cream for dry, stressed hands in everyday life |
According to the manufacturer, the shea butter version is the richest of our hand care products. Both contain parfum. The product pages recommend storing the creams in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight – in winter that also means: not directly on the radiator.
How to apply hand cream properly
- Put a roughly pea-sized amount on the back of one hand.
- Rub the backs of your hands together – that's usually where the skin is driest.
- Massage in between the fingers, on the knuckles and on the cuticles.
- Finally, spread the rest over your palms.
If you'd like to take a few more minutes, our article on hand massage has a guide that turns applying cream into a small ritual.
Hand care in winter after the sauna
Especially in the cold season, many people love going to the sauna. After the last session and the shower, it's worth not forgetting your hands: dry them thoroughly, put a small amount of hand cream on hands and cuticles and massage it in – just as the product descriptions of our hand creams recommend. Then ideally put on gloves before heading back out into the cold. A hand cream in your sauna bag is a good idea for this.
Common mistakes in hand care in winter
- Only applying cream in the evening: During the day, after washing, the skin needs care just as much.
- Damp into the cold: Only half-drying your hands after washing and then going out makes the skin rough.
- Rinsing too hot: Hot water when washing up without gloves strips a lot of oil.
- Pulling at tears: Don't pick at torn cuticles – care for them and trim carefully if needed.
- Storing cream on the radiator: Heat can change the consistency. Better keep it in a cool, dry place.
When you should seek medical advice
Hand cream is care, not treatment. If, despite regular care, the skin cracks deeply, bleeds, weeps, itches badly, becomes inflamed or blisters form, you should have it checked by a doctor – for example at a dermatology practice. It could also be eczema or an intolerance that needs targeted treatment.
Related reading: Hand massage with hand cream: a five-minute guide · Dry skin in winter: how to shower and care for your skin · Facial care in winter: cleansing and caring in the cold
Conclusion
Good hand care in winter consists of a few but regular steps: wash lukewarm and mild, dry thoroughly, apply cream right away, wear gloves outdoors and for housework, and treat yourself to a bit more cream in the evening. A rich hand cream with plant butters and oils suits the cold season well – whether with shea butter and macadamia or with mango butter and avocado oil is a matter of taste. And if the skin cracks or becomes inflamed despite care, it belongs in a doctor's hands.
Frequently asked questions
How often should I apply cream to my hands in winter?
For hand care in winter: ideally after every hand wash, plus in the morning and evening. Small amounts spread over the day make more sense than one thick layer.
Which hand cream is good in winter?
A rich cream with plant butter such as shea or mango butter and plant oils. If you have sensitive skin, check the INCI list for fragrances.
Does wearing gloves overnight help?
Many people find the glove treatment pleasant: apply cream generously in the evening and pull thin cotton gloves over it. That way the cream stays on your hands overnight.
Why do my knuckles crack in winter?
The skin on the knuckles is stretched a lot when you bend your fingers and gets the brunt of cold and water. Applying cream regularly and wearing gloves help keep the skin supple. Deep or bleeding cracks should be looked at by a doctor.
Should I put cream on my hands after the sauna?
Yes, after the last sauna session and the shower is a good moment: dry your hands well, massage in a small amount of hand cream and then put on gloves if it's cold outside.
To the VEGAN FOX care products
Personally written by Martin – founder of BeachAndSteam and sauna operator at Lake Kulkwitz for more than 18 years.