Top Ten Tuesday – Winter Skin Care for Hands & Feet
They say if you really want to gauge a woman’s age, look at her hands. Between sun exposure and lack of moisture, it’s one major area a lot of women neglect. Though hands are just as exposed to the elements as the face so, as the cold winter months quickly approach, it’s time to stock up on heavy duty lotions and potions to keep them in tip top shape.
That’s why, as the Top Ten Tuesday bloggers discuss winter skin savers, I’m focusing on the hands and feet. The skin in those areas takes a beating all year long but the dry air and intense temperatures of winter are especially ravaging. See which hand, nail and foot treatments made it into my Top Ten.
Top Ten Treatments for Hands, Nails, Feet and Cuticles
1. Aveda Hand Relief ($22.50) – While most women can tolerate a little hand lotion residue, men can’t stand it which is why Aveda Hand Relief is a favorite of my boyfriend. He’s been using it religiously for years and is never without a tube in his desk. For someone who handles paper all day then gets rough in hockey gloves at night, his hands are buttery soft.
2. Dermelect Timeless Anti-Aging Daily Hand Treatment ($22) – If you are a constant hand-washer, this lotion is for you. It has a unique technology wherein the lotion re-activates itself in water. As if that isn’t reason enough, it dries powdery smooth while peptides plump up and hydrate the skin.
3. Feet by OPI Callus Therapy ($14.95) – You normally think of calluses as being a summer concern but dry, cracked heels can occur in winter as well. Given that I spend a lot of my day barefoot on hardwood floors, it’s always a problem for me. That’s when I turn to Feet by OPI. This citrus-scented lotion contains fruit acids to help gently exfoliate dead skin cells.
4. Qtica Overnight Intense Foot Repair Balm 
5. Qtica Solid Gold Cuticle Gel
6. CND Solar Oil
7. Sephora Brush-On Nourishing Cuticle Oil ($12) – I’ve been raving about these genius little pens for years and I’m not about to stop now. A cross between and balm and an oil, the gel-like treatment that comes out of the brush is perfect for when you’re on the go. It’s grease-free and TSA friendly.
8. China Glaze Calcium Gel Fortifier ($6.99) – To avoid brittle, breaking nails, schedule yourself a regular “naicial.” Remove your polish and wear this gel-based strengthener to bed, for an intense nail bed treatment. I find that it doesn’t wear well under polish so I don it on naked nails.
9. Nail Tek Citra 3 ($15) – Nail Tek is known for their top notch formulas but the Citra line is unique in that it’s Formaldehyde-Free. I’m a fan of Citra 3 for brittle, peeling nails and you can definitely use it as a base coat.
10. Essie Millionails ($10) – Essie revamped their treatment products this past year and I have to say that Millionails won me over. Fortified with iron, amino acids and kevlar (yes, as in bulletproof vests), this strengthener is no joke. I’ve been using it, almost exclusively, as a base coat and I can really see the difference in my nail health and it doesn’t stunt my wear time.
Do you turn to any of my Top Ten when the cold weather season hits? What are your proven products for keeping your hands and feet hydrated?
Disclosure: Product samples were provided by reps for Dermelect. While I received samples from Aveda, China Glaze, CND, Essie, Nail Tek, OPI and Qtica I have purchased those same items, multiple times, since. Affiliate links appear in this post. When you purchase through an affiliate link, you help support this site. For more info view my Disclosure Policy.
Lisa N.
Ms Meatballhead
Birdie
Spa pediccure chairs
I’m so glad you did this one, because I always mean to ask what you recommend for hand/nail care during the winter! The Aveda Hand Relief is one of my favorites, too!
I am really loving the original formula, or the German formula, of Nivea Creme for my hands, and ever some dry patches on my face. And I absolutely love the Gena Pedi Cure lotion for my feet – it keeps my toes flip flop ready all year long, which is perfect since I live in Southern California and am pretty much in flip flops around the year.
I’m a sucker for hand & nail treatments. I’m adding Dermelect Timeless Anti-Aging Daily Hand Treatment
and China Glaze Calcium Gel Fortifier to my shopping cart! Awesome List!
Burt’s Bees Coconut Foot Creme. The ONLY creme that’s ever helped my poor feet. Between working as a nurse and being barefoot whenever I can in the summer, my feet need major help. http://www.burtsbees.com/natural-products/body-foot-care/coconut-foot-cream.html
I have a bunch of Burt’s Bees products but I can’t get into Coconut scents so I’ve never tried that one. So glad you like it.
I NEED to try that Solar oil!
What a great idea to do your hands. I feel bad that I didn’t put in Hand Perfection hand cream now in mine. I’m in the market for some foot help so this is very helpful to me.
I absolutely adore Aveda’s Hand Relief!!! Must pick up more of that soon!!! Seriously, one of my all-time favorite hand creams…plus, I love the scent!
I agree, the scent is divine. I’ve been going to an Aveda salon since high school so I’m partial to their scents in general.
Aveda Hand Relief is on my night stand! It’s so good. Great list. It reminds me that I need some Solar Oil before my cuticles get any worse.
Get on it!
This is a great post! My hands are already showing signs of dryness, I have to take the dog out several times a day. I live the aveda lotion and solar oil as well. I’m going to give the dermelect a try! I also swear by kiehls cuticle treatment.
Thanks for the Kiehl’s rec. I didn’t realize they had a cuticle treatment.
Great list, my feet get so dry during the winter, I need to try some of these.
I need to try the Qtica Solid Gold Cuticle Gel! I’ve never seen that before, I need to get on it!
You do!
Ooh I need that Dermelect lotion. I work in healthcare and that, compared with having 3 dogs, means I wash my hands a million times a day. It seems as soon as I put on hand lotion something happens where I need to wash my hands again soon after, so I can never seem to keep them moisturized.
You should definitely give it a try. I’m a perpetual hand washer myself and it really helps.
This is great info. I love the Sephora Brush-on Cuticle Oil and the Feet by OPI cream. I get my hands/feet done every 2 weeks (yes, pedicures all Winter long)and these products help me keep them in good shape. However, I’m about to remove my acrylic nails in 2 weeks for the first time in many years, and would like to know what products you recommend to help nurse my natural nails back to health. I plan to try gel nail polish as well. Thanks!
I love that you treat yourself all winter long. Good for you! I would wait after removing the acrylics to try gel polish. You have no idea what the state of your nails will be and I’m sure they would appreciate the break. I’ve only had acrylics once and my nails were like paper after. Just awful. I would suggest a strengther like the ones from NailTek or Nailtiques. They’re really good and have different formulas depending on your needs.
Thank you! Will do. I’m also going to try some of the things on this list that I haven’t tried yet.
Millionails is now FANTASTIC. I swear, my nails feel so smooth when I put it on. I have noticable ridges (especially on my thumbnails) from years of acrylic usages and when I put this on, YOU CANNOT SEE THE RIDGES. Love it. Do you use a base coat in addition to this product, or in lieu of?
Hi! I use it as my base coat. I’ve never been one to stack treatment products with base coats. I’m not sure I get that point of that. If the base coat is meant to adhere the polish to the nail but you have a treatment product on, won’t that inhibit it?
I am going to have to look into the Dermelect. Peptides are awsome anti-agers!!
If you try it, let me know what you think
You have shared a great information here! I love every products that you have included in your list. I think I should try some of them soon.
Love Aveda! I also have a soft spot (see what I did there?) for Carmex’s lotion. Absorbs well, doesn’t feel greasy, and the scent is light but pleasant.
I definitely get the peeling nails if I let them get too long. I’ve added the Nail Tek to my shopping list!
I like Dermelect Timeless Anti-Aging Daily Hand Treatment . It has a unique technology.
Must try the Aveda hand relief! I work with paper all day and my hands are always dry. Drives me crazy.