Written By Finnegan Pierson / Reviewed By Ray Spotts

Your hands take a serious amount of abuse. For example, they may spend lots of time immersed in hot water, or maybe they are exposed to extreme cold. Even something as simple as low relative humidity can impact skin moisture. 

There are plenty of natural strategies to combat dry skin. For example, many people have luck by limiting their exposure to extremely hot water. If you love a long soak in a hot bathtub, that may not seem like a reasonable choice. Luckily, there are other things you might want to try, including:

• Limit your use of soap (use a moisturizing body wash instead)
• Wear gloves when you wash dishes
• Exfoliate your skin 
• Use a humidifier in your home
• Drink plenty of water
• Use moisturizer every day (and often)

Applying moisturizer is one of the easiest ways to keep your hands soft and smooth. However, you don't want just any moisturizing lotion. Look for products made with these five natural ingredients that have been shown to boost moisture and keep skin hydrated for hours. 

Shea Butter

Shea butter is a fat that is extracted from shea tree nuts. In addition to being incredibly moisturizing, it is also rich in antioxidants. Shea butter is suitable for almost any skin type, so it is a good all-around choice for a natural moisturizer. It can be used alone or combined with other ingredients to make products like lavender or pomegranate lotions. 

Olive Oil

This classic kitchen staple is even more versatile than you imagined. It works fabulously as a moisturizer and is gentle enough to be used daily. You can apply oil right from the bottle onto your hands and rub it in for a quick moisture boost. Alternately, lather it on and slip on a pair of cotton gloves before you go to bed for a restorative treatment. 

Cocoa Butter

Here's another fat that can be used for either cooking or to moisturize dry skin. Cocoa butter carries a faint scent of the cocoa beans it is taken from, making it a delight for chocolate lovers with dry skin.

Like shea butter, cocoa butter is solid at room temperature, so it is generally mixed with other oils to make it easier to use. Despite its texture, cocoa butter is easily absorbed into the skin at room temperature. 

Hemp Oil

Love it or hate it, hemp is here to stay. The plant offers myriad medicinal uses, and its oil is among some of the most soothing and moisturizing available. Research has shown it to be particularly high in beneficial oils and fatty acids that make it a great choice for skincare products.

In addition to helping moisturize and strengthen skin, it may also help reduce symptoms of acne and muscle soreness. 

Lavender

You may be more familiar with lavender being used in aromatherapy to encourage relaxation. However, its healing and calming properties can also help soothe dry, cracked, and irritated skin.

It is commonly found in natural eczema and psoriasis remedies. There is also significant evidence that lavender offers antimicrobial benefits, which is great to help avoid developing a skin infection.

Lavender essential oil is one of a very few that can be applied directly to the skin without being diluted. Many people dab a small amount of insect bites, rashes, or irritated patches to reduce itching and inflammation. If you choose to go that route, be sure to choose high-quality oils that are safe for direct skin contact. 

Aloe

Millions of children grew up with an aloe plant in the house. Any minor cut, scrape or injury was usually met with a dab from one of the slimy leaves. There is actually a good reason for that age-old practice: aloe is incredibly healing and soothing.

Aloe is not an oil, but rather it is a gel packed with water and sugars that help trap moisture in the skin. Aloe vera is widely regarded as a safe and effective choice for natural skincare products. 

Conclusion

Don't let dry skin make you uncomfortable. Natural ingredients, such as aloe, shea butter, lavender and hemp oil can help your skin retain moisture for soft, smooth hands.

Looking for 100% chemical-free, all-natural nourishing face and body oils? Check out Earth & Elm Nourishing Face Oil and Earth & Elm Nourishing Body Oil. Subscribe to our Trusted Health Club newsletter for more information about natural living tips, natural health, oral care, skincare, body care and foot care. If you are looking for more health resources check out the Trusted Health Resources list. 

Written By:

Finnegan Pierson loves business and has a passion for health and technology. Even more interesting is the combination of the two. As a freelance writer, Finn hopes to influence others so they can have positive life experiences.

Reviewed By:

Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com.

Photo by Karolina Grabowska from Pexels