If you constantly feel like your hands are dry, you’re not alone. At some point or another, everyone deals with dry hands. It could be caused by your environment or over-washing or even just simply biology. The severity of the dryness depends on a few different factors, but redness, dryness, chapping, and cracking are all possible side effects of dry hands.

While one obvious solution is to apply lotion or a hand cream, there are a few other things you can do to help protect your hands and prevent dryness. Keep reading to learn how to keep your hands soft and smooth all year round.

Tip #1: Use a deeply moisturizing hand cream

First things first: You need a moisturizing hand cream. 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. The thick, rich formula provides all-day care and protection with a blend of botanical oils — Sesame Seed, Avocado, and Eucalyptus — plus a natural wax derived from Olive Oil. It allows skin to actually draw water from the air and form a “glove-like” protective barrier against moisture loss as it comforts chapped hands.

Tip #2: Be careful when you wash

One of the biggest causes of dry hands is something you do every day, multiple times a day: wash your hands. Hot water and harsh soap dehydrate the skin and strip it of its natural oils. Protect your hands by turning down the temperature and using a non-drying hand soap. Our Liquid Hand Soap, formulated with Aloe Vera, Vitamin E, and Chamomile, gently cleanses without over-drying skin. Also, don’t forget to apply hand lotion every time after you wash. It might seem excessive, but it’s the best way to ensure you are replacing that lost moisture.

Tip #3: Create an overnight pampering treatment

Speaking of gloves, you can give yourself a spa-worthy treat while you sleep with nothing more than a pair of loose cotton gloves and your hand cream. Apply a generous amount of hand cream at bedtime, slip on your gloves and head to bed. While you sleep, the gloves help prevent the hand cream from wiping off on your sheets and allows the lotion to trap moisture into the skin. You’ll wake up to baby soft, hydrated hands

Tip #4: Don’t forget the sunscreen

It might not seem like an obvious one, but the sun is also a culprit for dry hands. Just as it can dry out your face, sun exposure can take moisture away from your hands — not to mention cause premature wrinkles and hyperpigmentation. To help protect your hands, always apply sunscreen to the back of hands when you plan to be out in the sun. You’ll help stop sun-induced moisture loss and keep hands looking youthful.

Tip #5: Don’t wait

Like most things in skincare, prevention and protection are easier to accomplish than repair and correction. Don’t wait until your hands are already cracked and raw to start moisturizing them. Everyone should be applying hand cream at least once, ideally twice daily to help replace the moisture you naturally lose throughout the day. By maintaining those moisture levels, you’ll have a better chance of keeping hands smooth, soft, and protected from the damage that can cause extreme dryness.