How 4 Beauty Experts Treat Fine Lines & Dark Spots On Their Hands  

The skin on your hands is some of the most vulnerable. While the skin itself is durable and resilient, it's simply more exposed to environmental stressors than skin elsewhere on the body. Hands are often met with unprotected UV exposure, drying hand soaps, and just general physical wear. 

Sure, I'm biased—but I really find the formula to be the best one for consistent daily use. The texture is rich yet fast-absorbing. Read: no greasy residue—I can use my computer immediately after without the risk of oil smears on my keyboard. No matter how good a hand cream's ingredient list is, I simply won't use it if I don't like the texture. 

Recently I was speaking with board-certified dermatologist Jeanine Downie, M.D., for my podcast Clean Beauty School. Throughout the episode, she noted how her top-notch skin care routine isn't just for her face, but she uses the products, "on my face, neck, chest, and the backs of my hands." It's a fairly easy habit to adopt, as you're already doing your twice-daily skin care routine—just extend the usage below the chin, too. 

At some point or another, most beauty fans will experience this frustrating situation: You purchase a product you're excited to try, only to find that you're not completely enthralled. Maybe you don't love the way the texture feels on your face, how it fits in with the rest of your routine, or maybe it even causes your other products and makeup to pill. 

There's a reason skin care pros encourage you to hydrate post-shower posthaste: The longer you wait, the more susceptible your skin becomes to irritation, dryness, and transepidermal water loss. By trapping in moisture immediately, it will help keep skin hydrated and supple long term. 

Well, the same goes for your hands. According to board-certified dermatologist Whitney Bowe, M.D., any time under two minutes can lock in the moisture—just don't put it off any longer than that. "If you wait too long, you miss that narrow window of opportunity to really trap and seal those nourishing ingredients in the skin before all the water evaporates off the surface, further compromising your skin," she told us about caring for your skin microbiome. This is especially true if you're washing your hands with hot water, which evaporates faster.