That papery, parched feeling of dry hands is pretty high on my list of things I hate. With the colder season and the pandemic (and consequently washing my hands all the time), I’m in desperate need of some TLC for my dry hands in winter. Deciem’s The Chemistry Brand sounds comfortingly science-y and as if they know stuff, but honestly? Their hand creams and lotions might not be what the doctor ordered.
The best hand cream for dry skin?
Right now, my hands are super dry, and my cuticles look horrible. I’m looking for a very moisturising hand cream that smells bearable and which doesn’t make me leave greasy fingerprints everywhere for the next 30 minutes.
Previous favourites (they still work, I just want to try something new)
The Body Shop Hemp Hard-Working Hand Protector
Things that didn’t work
All of L’Occitane’s hand creams are too fragrant and too light in texture.
Cerave’s Hand Cream is also not moisturising enough.
Clarins’ famed Hand and Nail Treatment Cream? Does nothing for me.
Why are my hands so dry?!
(Please be aware that this post doesn’t cover the needs of medical staff – do read Labmuffin’s post here if you’re a medical professional and want to know how to save your hands.)
The skin on the back of our hands is especially thin and doesn’t have a lot of sebaceous glands that provide skin with sebum and moisture-binding components. Also, our hands are our main working equipment and we’re HARSH on them. Cooking, washing, carrying stuff, working out – yup, hands take a beating.
Generally, hand cream requirements aren’t that different from your regular moisturiser. Look out for humectants, emollients and occlusives. If your hands are cracking and bleeding (contact a doctor!) be diligent not to use formulas that include fragrance and alcohol.
“The best-known humectant is maybe hyaluronic acid: an ingredient that’s able to grab onto moisture from your surroundings and draw it into the skin. Urea, panthenol and sorbitol, but also ethylene and propylene glycol are examples for this as well.”
Skincare Basics: Moisturisers
But also look for ingredients like ceramides that strengthen your skin barrier. Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) can help soothing irritated skin.
The Chemistry Brand: hand cream review
HA3 Hand Hydrator
Unlike traditional creams that offer merely surface hydration, this triple-function hydrator offers multi-depth hydration while forming an invisible protection “glove” to help prevent moisture loss. Contains both low- and high-molecular-weight forms of nature-like hyaluronic acid for instant and longer-term hydration in a base of liquid mango butter, Brazilian Açaí and Inca Inchi oil.
Deciem
Extreme Hydration Concentrate
Ultra-concentrated hydration complex contains five hydration active technologies from marine and plant sources that provide lasting hydration to the skin, offering dramatic visible textural improvements. Expect results immediately, in 24 hours and in 10 days with continued use.
Deciem
What’s it supposed to do
Ingredients
Yes, both products are fragranced (I personally can live with both, it’s not heavily perfumed but ymmv). It has to be noted that the Extreme Hydration Concentrate is oil-free but chock-full of silicones. It feels like a face primer when you apply it. The HA3 Hand Hydrator has a more regular hand cream formula that combines oils with with hyaluronic acid and skin soothing ingredients like allantoin, squalane, urea and tocopherol. Included is also potentially sensitising fragrance (limonene, citronellol and limonene).
The Extreme Hydration Concentrate has not a lot going on but silicones, yeast extract and Tremella Extract that’s supposed to have greater water-holding capacities that hyaluronic acid. On top, there’re some goodies like Panthenol and various amino acids.
What it does
HA3 SHOULD tick all my boxes from what it’s supposed to do: it moisturises, it doesn’t feel greasy and I can stand the smell. Alas, it’s not moisturising enough for my hands right now. For summer it could be a whole other ball game. I’m not against it; the price isn’t too bad, although I wouldn’t buy it for its regular price. (November is traditionally the month when Deciem discounts all their products for a nice 23% instead of doing Black Friday deals.)
The Extreme Hydration Concentrate is just WEIRD. I guess the silicones build up some protection and form a layer that helps skin not to dry out over time. The thing is, my hands say NOPE very loudly whenever I use it: my skin starts to tighten uncomfortably and hurt. I’ve tried using HA3 under it and use it mainly as an occlusive, but still I feel my hands protesting.
I know of people who react to Hyaluronic Acid like that: instead of retaining water, it makes skin drier and drier. I feel like this whenever I use Extreme Hydration Concentrate. Maybe Tremella Extract isn’t for me?
Extremely dry hands: buy it?
I can’t recommend The Chemistry Brand’s hand creams wholeheartedly. While I like HA3 and think I can use it come summer, the amount of sensitising fragrance is off-putting. Extreme Hydration Concentrate is supposed to be a ‘protective hydration glove’ but in reality, didn’t work for me as one, instead drying my hands out further. I can imagine it working for others who’re looking for a very non-greasy, silky texture in their hand creams, but it didn’t work for me – big time.
HA3 Hand Hydrator 60ml for 8€ (Deciem website)
Extreme Hydration Concentrate 100ml for 20€ (Deciem website)
Please note that this post is not sponsored in any way. We buy products ourselves, with our own money, and don’t accept exchanging goods or money for reviews. We are completely independent, and our reviews reflect that.
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