Protect Skin from Winter Cold with Creams

Verveine (Lippia citriodora)

One of my most enduring memories of a year long stay in France, as an au pair, was a hot drink made from verveine, a plant we refer to as lemon verbena. It was wonderfully comforting, had a familiar lemony aroma and sugar really enhanced its flavour. So when I heard about a hand cream with that wonderful scent I just had to try it out.

Winter time is one when my cuticles have a tendency to crack, resulting in that really long period of pain. The lemon verbena hand cream has a 20% shea butter base. It’s creamy texture is easily absorbed, leaving hands soft and supple and I find especially effective when rubbed round the fingernail.

On my desk at the moment are the final contestants in my Strictly Skincare  hand cream choice. I started with about 20 different products. The five are, in no particular order of preference – they are all used regularly:

Energizing Verbena Hand Cream – Panier des Sens, en Provence that comes with very pretty packaging

Morrisons Unscented Hand Cream, Concentrated – a glycerine based cream it is useful when you don’t want to wear a second scent that might conflict. It is very creamy, softening  dry skin and useful to add before you start to work in the garden.

Q10 by Pharma Nord is another hand cream that conditions and protects at the same time. It contains ginkgo Biloba, Pycnogenol and Vitamin E. All ingredients considered highly beneficial by skincare aficionados.

Lotil Original is specifically designed for cold weather and I always check there is a small tube in my handbag at this time of year.

On a recent visit to The Dales I took my tube of English Weather Cream. I always use this in cold weather because my face dries out in cold windy weather and this cream works absolutely fantastically. However, it has been recently discontinued …  Made by Lotil it is no longer available – such a shame. I’m looking for a replacement product and will let you know if I find one.

Wearing silk lined gloves helps to keep my hands warm and in conjunction with any one of these handcreams I’m able to keep them in good condition, safe from damaging cold weather.

All are available online but of course in store is always a good place to try them out!

Kate Campbell, Health Editor

Kate has worked with editor Val Reynolds since 1996 and they are constantly looking for top quality, effective skincare products. Do you have a favourite? Do let us know and we will pass on your recommendations.