Beauty: the best heavy-duty hand creams | Sali Hughes

I apply plenty before bed and, if nothing more interesting is happening, pop cotton socks over my hands and incubate overnight

I have had dozens of emails in the last two months about dry, cracked, even bleeding hands. I can think of no reason why this winter should be worse than any other, but the in-out-in cycle of bitter cold and central heating always plays havoc with hands to the point where one can feel pretty miserable about their appearance and discomfort.

In harsh conditions, a regular hand cream barely touches the sides, so it’s necessary to up the ante to a more hardcore preparation. I have long-standing favourites for the job – Hand Chemistry Heel Hydration Complex (£12.74) and La Roche-Posay’s Cicaplast Hands (£4.33) are my go-tos when extreme measures are required – but I’m always intrigued by lesser-known products I’ve yet to try.

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