A hand cream is chosen on one decisive test — how it behaves a minute after it goes on. A good everyday formula absorbs quickly and leaves no greasy film: hands do not slide off the keyboard or shine. The hydration is built on composition rather than on heaviness: birch sap, the base of one well-known Korean formula, is naturally rich in amino acids and hyaluronic acid — the same substances that make up the skin's own moisturising factor. Apply a little at a time, working it into the palms, fingers and the skin around the nails.
When cream is not enough — skin gone rough, catching on fabric — a hand mask steps in: non-woven gloves soaked in essence. The maker makes a point of the essence not dripping; the gloves stay on for fifteen to twenty minutes, and inside are shea butter, sunflower and avocado oils, hyaluronic acid and aloe. The same intensive principle applies to cream: at night the advice is to put on a thicker layer — it has hours to sink in.
This category runs on a seasonal rhythm: in winter hands ask for care far more often than in summer — cold outside and heating indoors dry skin faster than any chore. The practical cold-months routine: a light cream during the day after every wash, and a thick layer or mask gloves in the evening.
