This $9 Hand Salve Is the Only Thing I’m Using To Keep My Dry and Rough Hands Soft in Freezing Temps

Winter may still technically be a few weeks away but the cold temperatures have already begun to wreak havoc on my skin, especially on my hands. Despite my best efforts of smothering my hands in body lotion every few hours and wearing gloves while washing the dishes, my hands always seem to feel uncomfortably dry and rough throughout the day. But thanks to one handy (pun totally intended) drugstore find, my hands are finally starting to get back their soft touch.

No, seriously—Burt’s Bee’s Hand Salve is the real deal. This all-natural hand solution you can find at the drugstore or Whole Foods is designed to help heal, moisturize and soothe rough and dry hands. And that it does, thanks to its rich formula of beeswax and botanical oils, including sweet almond oil, sunflower oil, and rosemary leaf oil. But really, it’s the addition of olive oil that helps make the formula soar. Olive oil naturally helps lock in moisture and contains several vitamins and antioxidants that can aid in healthier looking skin.

Burt's Bees Hand Salve — $9.00

Packed with a slew of botanical oils, this hand salve helps to soothe and revive dry hands for long periods of time.

That said, I decided to try out the hand salve for myself. And it did not disappoint my hands.

The first thing I noticed was the formula’s aromatic scent, which really comes through because of pointed ingredients like eucalyptus and lavender flower oil. So, the salve felt greasy when I first applied it—but once the solution fully absorbed into my skin, the greasiness disappeared and my hands felt instantly felt smoother and softer. I also liked the fact that I didn’t need to reapply the product often. For context, I usually have to reapply lotion to my hands every hour (like I said earlier!) to keep them hydrated. But with this product, I could go at least three hours without feeling the need to re-moisturize.

I’m not the only one who’s experienced the salve’s hydrating powers. One shopper noted how it saved their reptilian-like hands from excessive dryness. “My hands tend to get so dry that it starts to look like I’m turning into a reptile,” they wrote. “This product made my hands so soft and moisturized them so well that I will be keeping this product around. The only issue is it is a little greasy, but I tend to use it with moisturizing gloves or socks, so it isn’t a problem.”

Another shopper also noted how it’s one of the only solutions to bring long-term relief to their super parched hands. “In the winter and especially with washing my hands so much more often nowadays, my hands have gotten really dry,” they wrote. “I tried lotions, balms, you name it, but this stuff has seriously been the only thing that has worked to give my hands long-lasting relief and moisture—it’s especially helpful because it’s oil-based, and doesn’t sink in right away.”

Granted, this salve isn’t for everyone (we all have different needs and wants, after all)—but its ability to hydrate the skin is undeniable, IMO. So, no matter if you’re moisturizing your palms and knuckles, or softening up callous skin in between your fingers,  this may be the healing balm your winter skin-care cabinet needs. Bonus: It doesn’t even break the bank. Score.

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