Hand Care

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I have a confession to make: luxury soaps and hand washes are my guilty pleasure, and they have been for a long time. My bathroom cabinet is heaving with a selection of different hand creams and lotions, and I spend far too long thinking about which hand care products would be best in the en suite vs. the bathroom vs. the downstairs loo. A little sad perhaps, but we all have a thing, don't we?

We expect a lot from our hands, and the current combination of increased hand washing and colder weather means that it doesn't take long before the skin starts to become dry and sore. Both Mr MM and I are prone to getting cracks on our knuckles in the colder winter months, so we've tried a lot of different products between us over the years.

In light of our current situation, I thought it might be useful to share some recommendations with you all. I've included a few of my tried and tested ones for you below, with exclusive offers and discounts too! Hand washing will always be important, so let's do what we can to replace some of those natural oils and keep our hands lovely and hydrated.

L'Occitane Lavande Hand Cream, 75ml - £14.85 (10% off), John Lewis*

This is one of my all time favourite hand creams. Mama Maggie May popped it in my stocking last Christmas, and I cannot get over how beautiful the scent is. I put it on when I go to bed, and I find the lavender is soothing and helps to prepare me for sleep. It's very smooth, with a silky texture, and a little bit goes a long way.

Neal's Yard Remedies Garden Mint & Bergamot Hand Wash, 200ml - £12.50, Feelunique*

I bought this a few months ago to have by the kitchen sink, and it's really lovely for everyday use. It has a strong scent which is great if you're cooking and want to get rid of foody smells, and I haven't found it at all drying. Again, you only need a small amount to lather up. The Bee Lovely* is also a beautiful scent - much softer than the mint, so you might prefer this if you want something less intense.

Lavender Hand Wash, 500ml - £5, Marks and Spencer*

The M&S Floral Collection is a classic for a reason, and I love to buy the talcum powder and miniature guest soap sets as treats for myself from time to time. They are not over-powering, but have a soft, subtle scent. I've chosen lavender again as this is one of my faves, but they have a wide range including magnolia, lily of the valley and rose.

Hand Cream, 50ml - £3.20 (20% off), Cath Kidston*

I have lots of these little hand creams dotted around, such as on my desk and in my bag. Although they're not quite as thick and heavy duty as other hand creams, they're brilliant for a quick burst of moisture when you're out and about - and with 20% off at the moment, they're a steal!

L'Occitane Shea Hand Cream, 150ml - £21.50, Marks and Spencer*

Another L'Occitane product because they're excellent! This is the one I have in our en suite, next to my toothbrush so it's easy to grab in the mornings and evenings. It is a lot thicker and grainier than the previously mentioned L'Occitane one, so I tend to use this for a couple of days when my hands are feeling extra dry.

Cowshed Signature Hand Care Caddy - £29.75 (15% off), lookfantastic*

We've just run out of our Cowshed hand wash, and I need to replenish our stock because I love the smell of their hand wash. It was in our downstairs loo, and guests often used to comment on how gorgeous it was! This caddy is a lovely treat if you're looking for a set - perfect for kitchen and bathroom windowsills.

Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream (Unscented), 50ml - £3.99, Superdrug*

This is the stronger, more heavy-duty stuff you need if chapped, cracked hands are a problem for you. Small enough to carry around with you, a dab of this regularly should help to sort out broken skin.

Molton Brown Fiery Pink Pepper Fine Liquid Hand Wash, 300ml - £20.00, lookfantastic*

I've tried lots of different Molton Brown fragrances over the years; I love this one in particular because it smells great, but also because it's bright pink and has a great name! It's on the pricier side, but it's certainly a more luxurious hand wash to treat yourself to - especially if you're washing your hands even more than usual.

Frangipani Monoi Hand Wash, 200ml - £15.00, Elemis

I'm using this several times a day at the moment, and each time I cannot believe how soft it leaves my hands - and such a beautiful scent! You need the tiniest amount {the pump only dispenses a pea sized dab, and this is genuinely all you need} so I can tell that the bottle is going to last for a long time.

Avon Care Hand Creams, 75ml - 3 for £3.00, Avon

I tend to stock up on these when they're on offer - and what a great time for them to be 3 for £3! Mr MM has one of these on his bedside table {Nurturing Glycerine} and I'm a big fan of the Nourishing Cocoa Butter. You can either order online or through a local representative if you'd like free delivery.

Naturally European Rose Petal Luxury Hand Cream, 75ml - £9.99, Amazon*

Rose is one of my favourite things generally; rose body lotion, rose candles, rose lemonade, I love them all! Mr MM discovered this for me one Christmas a few years ago, and it's been in regular usage ever since. It is a thicker hand cream, so I like to smother my hands in it before bedtime so it can hydrate my skin overnight.

Freesia & Pear Soap - £3.50 {In the sale}, Oliver Bonas

This was part of my birthday present from friends last year, and it's in pride of place on the soap dish in our en suite. It smells gorgeous, and is a big bar which is seeming to last for a long time. It lathers up nicely and leaves my skin feeling supple and smooth.

Have you tried any of these products? Which hand care items are your must-haves? Leave a comment below so we can all try out your recommendations!

Thank you to The Cotswold Company for use of their floral image.