I Use These Hand Masks to Soothe My Dry, Overly Washed Hands
Target
This article originally appeared on AllRecipes.com.
The current pandemic has me washing my hands more frequently than ever—when I return from the grocery store, when I get the mail, when I come in from picking up takeout. Combine that with the fact that I'm cooking at home more than I have in years, which means I have more dishes to wash than ever. All that lathering, scrubbing, rinsing, and drying has left my hands dry, dry, dry.
Several years ago, my dermatologist diagnosed a red, itchy rash on my hands as irritant contact dermatitis, the direct result of my vigorous hand-washing. And that was before a virus was spreading like wildfire through our country, one that can be avoided by regular hand-washing.
So imagine how my hands look now that I've got a vitally important reason to wash and scrub my hands—and do so, multiple times a day. They're red, parched, and angry, to say the least.
My usual moisturizer hasn't been cutting it. The only thing that has helped soothe the skin and reduce the irritation is the Holler and Glow Avo Good Day Nourishing and Hydrating Hand Mask.
For the best treatment, wear the gloves, which are pre-filled with hydrating oils and hyaluronic acid, for 15 to 20 minutes once a week. Avocado oil, grape extract, and olive fruit extract are deeply enriching and nourishing and penetrate your skin while the masks are in place. After the 20-minute window, remove the gloves and rub the remaining moisturizer.
Immediately after the mask, your hands may not feel a bit more moisturized, but give it an hour, and you'll see the magic the masks can do. My dry, parched skin is calmed. The irritated, itchy spots on my hands are soothed. The next morning, the results are even better, as my hands feel buttery and silky.
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The hands masks are like mini facials for your hands. The gloves are touch-screen friendly, so you could still scroll while you mask. You could even do chores, hang clothes, cook. There's a tab that can tighten the gloves around your wrists to hold them in place. But I like to think of the masks as a mini spa moment once a week, a chance to sit down, relax, and put my phone aside for a bit.
"I absolutely love this product! Both the hand and foot masks are excellent! Work well and look cute," writes one reviewer. "The foot mask improved the dry skin on my feet after 1 use! I tried this product on a whim and now I'm hooked! I already ordered more and plan to continue using for a long time. Highly recommend!"
I've also added a few of the Holler and Glow Purrfect Skin Hand Mask to my Target cart (I'm very into the cat print), as they are equally top-ranked and adored by reviewers. "I noticed that my hands were more rough than others and thank god I found these. After first two uses I felt my skin getting gradually softer and brighter," a reviewer wrote.
You could do one of these hand masks daily, if you wish. Certainly when I first began using them, my hands were recovering from a great deal of abuse, so I was tempted to, but I've found once a week is enough. Of course, when winter comes and my skin dries out again, I may keep a few extra on hand for immediate relief.
