The winter chill is here, and if you’re anything like this writer, you’re desperately running and hiding from the evil cracked skin and static monster that comes with the cold territory. In an effort to maintain our manis throughout the winter (along with our sanity) we tested out two hand creams that promise smooth and young-looking skin, resistant to dryness and cracking throughout the winter to see which one was worth skipping our daily latte for.
The Contenders: Avon Moisture Therapy Intensive Healing & Repair Hand Cream ($6, avon.ca) and Aveeno Positively Ageless Skin Strengthening Hand Cream ($10, available at mass drugstores nationwide)
The Control: Moisturizing into clean, dry hands for three consecutive days as needed, waiting two days in between brands.
Observations:
Avon Moisture Therapy Intensive Healing & Repair Hand Cream
Pros:
- An intense dose of hydration you can feel”this thick cream soaks into skin nicely and feels soothed almost instantly
- Long-lasting hydration (we only needed to reapply a couple times during the day)
- Good for sensitive skin, it’s hypoallergenic and fragrance-free (because we don’t like when the scent of our hand cream battles our fragrance du jour)
- A little goes a long way with this cream, which means the purse-happy price goes even further (especially with a 125ml bottle)
Cons:
- You are left with the slightest of greasy feelings on your hands after applications, but it does go away after awhile
- If you’re going the green route, it does have parabens, even though it boasts the hypoallergenic title
Aveeno Positively Ageless Skin Strengthening Hand Cream
Pros:
- Since hands are one of the first areas to show signs of aging, any cream that helps prevent that is an automatic plus
- No greasy hands here!
- Actually makes your skin look a little brighter after you apply (thanks to the mushroom stem extract), which instantly makes them look more hydrated and healthy
- Small enough to fit in basically any purse (because you’re not going to sacrifice your book/planner/phone/bag of lipsticks for the size of your hand cream)
Cons:
- While the instant soothing was awesome, we needed to reapply a few times over the course of the day
- You need about the same pea-sized amount as the Avon each time you apply, but because you have to apply more frequently, it goes a lot quicker
The Verdict: While the Aveeno was certainly a good contender, for those trying to scrimp might want to give the Avon a second look. If you have really dry skin in the winter time, the Avon Moisture Therapy Intensive Healing & Repair Hand Cream is absolutely your go-to, but for everyday (even in the summer) the Aveeno is still a great option.
