Using a lightweight lotion every day can help to keep your skin hydrated and looking its best. For minor dryness (or to help prevent dry hands altogether), a mild body cream such as the aloe vera-infused Deluxe Hand & Body Lotion may be enough to keep skin soft. After showering, apply a generous amount to your hands and body while your skin is still damp and allow it to absorb.

For extra hydration, particularly if you wash your hands often or live in a colder climate, we recommend a thicker formula, such as Richly Hydrating Scented Hand Cream. This creamy hand lotion features shea butter and vitamin E to lock in moisture for soft, smooth hands. You can use it following a shower, after washing your hands, or anytime your skin feels tight or dry. Aim to use it at least once per day to keep your skin soft, smooth, and well-hydrated.

As winter approaches and the weather starts to dip, you’ll likely experience some degree of hand dryness within the coming months. Using a hand lotion for dry hands can help restore lost moisture and instantly smooth and soften hands. Our bestselling Ultimate Strength Hand Salve is a heavy-duty moisture treatment for severely dry hands that can help keep hands looking and feeling healthy. The thick, rich formula contains a blend of softening botanical oils and squalane to soften skin and form a “glove-like” protective barrier against moisture loss without feeling greasy.

You can use it as a daily treatment to soothe scaly skin or as an effective overnight treatment for dry hands. Before hitting the sheets, apply a generous layer of the rich salve and slip on a pair of breathable cotton gloves. The gloves will help lock in moisture (and keep the treatment from rubbing off on your sheets) for super-soft, smooth, hydrated hands.

Like most things in skincare, prevention and protection are easier to accomplish than repair and correction. But even if you take near-perfect care of your hands, you might still deal with extreme dryness every once in a while, especially in the winter. To correct severe dryness—think cracking, peeling, itching, and scaling—reach for a heavy-duty hand treatment with hydrating ingredients, like Intensive Treatment and Moisturizer for Dry or Callused Areas. This soothing, ultra-thick formula contains shea butter, cocoa butter, and avocado oil to restore the most parched, damaged skin. Apply it whenever your hands need serious TLC.