hand cream for gardeners

[hawthorns]

can anyone recommend a good hand cream for gardeners. my hands are becoming a mess after being on the plot

[Florence Fennel]

Hi Hawthorns, have you had a look on the Recommendations thread, or done a bit of a search on here? I know Jeanied recommended one to me last year, but for the life of me I can't remember it's name. I've stuck with Vaseline Intensive Care for years now, good for the hands and the nails. If you're trying to get grime off use any old oil and some sugar, rinse well, apply lots of handcream and put on cotton gloves if you have them. If you can do this and leave them on overnight, you'll be amazed at the difference. Works for feet too!

[taff]

wear gloves when you're on the allotment [ I got some blue plastic ones, nitrile, from somewhere, they're good, and they keep my hands from being ripped, torn and stung - as long as the stuff ripping, tearing and stinging isn't blackberries ]. E45 cream is good.

[Glutton4...]

Personally, I prefer to wear gloves, despite the warmth in the summer. In some gardens you never know what you'll stick your hand in! At home, however, I go bare handed, so today my hands are like sandpaper.

A good wash with something like a facial exfoliator is useful, then apply hand-cream (I don't have a favourite, any big cheap pot will do!). If working in the wet, I have been known to wear surgical gloves under my gardening gloves, for extra warmth and to keep them dry and avoid chapped skin. My other tip, for the hard bit of skin on the inside of thumb and forefingers (for the hand-weeders among us) is to apply a good layer of lip-balm to these areas, before putting your gloves on.

[OverWyreGrower]

I use Body Shop Hemp handcream... not the nicest smelling, or the prettiest colour (green) but it gets rid of my horrid dry skin!

[MutantCabbager]

Hand creams can be a very difficult one as everyones skin is different. I myself have dermatitus which flairs up after ive done a good day in the garden. Most hand creams dont work for me as i sweat them back out in a matter of minutes of putting them on. Ive found one thats been working well for me at the minute, its from home and bargain and its a white tube called 'Pure coconut oil hand and nail cream'. Sometimes ive found hard foot creams to work well. But like i say its different for everybody.

[Claire72]

Avon do a dry skin sos, which I use, and it has always worked for me, not too expensive either, but be warned, a little goes a long way!!!

[Percy T]

I always wear gloves have been told that I am not a poper gardener as I dont like to get dirty nails, always scrub my hands with a nail brush and apply hand cream, I use Champneys its a bit expensive but works really well

[Percy T]

Ps hubby is a keen angler so hands suffer he uses nutragena think thats how you spell it

[Aberdeenplotter]

PercyT, your hubby has got it spot on. hands as soft as a baby's botty the day after use.

[Jelliebabe]

Nutrogena norwegan formula here too! Although my Mum finds it too heavy/greasy I love it!

[Aberdeenplotter]

Mind I use the unscented version. Get funny looks otherwise

[gillian62]

I use one from Aldi - my husband says it's better than the named brand, and cheaper obviously. Think it's the blue one that is best - he is always getting split ends on his fingers.

[zazen999]

Another vote for Norwegian Formula from Neutrogena.....great stuff.

[Glutton4...]

I use one from Aldi - my husband says it's better than the named brand, and cheaper obviously. Think it's the blue one that is best - he is always getting split ends on his fingers.

An old boy once told me the best cure for split skin in the winter is to pee on your hands and rub it in!

I haven't tried it.