It’s probably a safe bet to say your hands are feeling drier than normal these days. All that hand washing you’ve been doing can do a serious number on your hands’ delicate skin, not to mention the impacts of dry, cool weather.

“The most common thing that can dry out your hands is frequent hand washing,” says dermatologist Dr. Peterson Pierre. “The constant wet-dry cycle of frequent hand washing can really strip the skin of its natural moisture and disrupt the protective barrier.”

That’s why Pierre says it’s important to follow up every handwashing session with a generous application of hand cream. The good news is, you can find a high-quality hand cream right at the drugstore, meaning you don’t have to shell out much money to keep your hands soft and smooth. “You want a product that focuses on replenishing moisture with ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, shea butter, coconut oil, and glycerin,” says Dr. Pierre. “Equally important are ingredients that help repair the moisture barrier, such as ceramides, squalane, and essential fatty acids.”

Read the full story here: