8 nourishing hand creams to soothe dry, chapped skin

A nurse friend who is constantly washing her hands (as we all should be right now) tipped us off about this brilliant hydrating hand lotion.

It's basically a barrier cream that works with the skin to form a protective hydrating shield that will not wash or rub off for up to four hours. This helps soothe and protect sore, anti-bacced skin, especially for those of us who suffer from dry skin conditions such as eczema.

Just remember, it doesn't stop the transfer of germs so you still need to follow government guidelines on hand washing and not touching your face.

If you want instantly baby soft hands (and we're talking new levels of soft here), then this is the product for you. It's marketed as a balm and the balmy texture of it certainly gives a more luxe feel. Not to mention the gorgeous smell of Indian rose and sweet almond oil which you'll be walking around inhaling all day.

One of the latest products on the moisturising hand cream market is the Eau Thermale Avene's Hydrance Rich Hydrating Cream, which is one of the best selling products across French pharmacies (and one that's also great for your face). It works by having three active ingredients which work together to prevent 'transepidermal water loss', during the day, essentially meaning your hands stay hydrated for longer.

This stuff really is the business. It softens even the roughest, driest skin and protects it for hours with a blend of natural waxes and olive oil. It's the heavyweight champion of the moisturising hand cream world - the best thing for hardworking hands. The actual formula is thick and rich, but doesn't have a greasy texture and it works by forming a protection barrier like a glove on your hand, keeping them feeling smooth longer.

The perfect, purse-friendly option for dry chapped hands. This rich hand cream is long-lasting and noticeably helps improve the look and feel of your skin thanks to a high glycerin content.

It's a real-life saviour for our poor, shrivelled hands when the weather turns freezing and/or office air-con dries our skin out.

We've tried a lot of hand creams, but L’Occitane's classic skin nourisher with fairly-traded shea butter absorbs super fast and defends dry hands brilliantly. A great skincare staple, no matter what time of year it is. L'Occitane also have some great tips on how to keep hands supple, and they suggest cleansing and exfoliating the hands first (something that's often neglected) before using the moisturising hand cream.

Yes, it's a little pricier than most, but we love this silky soft balm. We love the herbal, aromatic smell. The gorgeous packaging. The way it sinks in and softens, without leaving a greasy film on our skin. The Australian brand just seems to get everything right and it's hard to go back once you've used it once. To try it is to love it. Seriously.

Fans of Palmer's signature cocoa butter scent won't be disappointed - this stuff smells as sweet and creamy as the body lotion.

Don't like the smell? You might learn to love it when you feel the hand cream's meltingly-soft texture and witness how its cocoa butter, oat and soy-based formula softens even the driest of claws.