Have you ever wondered why you can't just use your favorite hand cream on your face? While it might seem convenient, the skin on your hands and face has significant differences, and what works for one may not work for the other. Let’s dive into the science behind it and discover why specialized care for your hands and face is crucial!
The Differences Between Hand and Face Skin
One of the most important factors to understand is that the skin on our hands is fundamentally different from the skin on our face. Here’s how:
- Sebaceous Glands: The skin on your hands contains 10 times fewer sebaceous glands than your face. Sebaceous glands produce oil (sebum), which keeps the skin moisturized. The lack of these glands on your hands explains why they are prone to dryness, especially in colder weather or after exposure to harsh soaps and cleansers.
- Moisture Levels: The skin on your hands has 5 times less moisture than facial skin. With such a difference, the hands are much more susceptible to becoming dry, rough, and cracked. This is why hand creams are designed to be richer and heavier than face creams to compensate for the lack of moisture.
- Exposure to Harsh Conditions: Your hands are exposed to temperature changes twice as often as your face, subjected to 15 times more contact with detergents, and are 50 times more prone to cuts and abrasions. All of these factors contribute to the rapid aging of hand skin, which is 75% influenced by external factors like sun exposure and environmental pollutants.
Given these differences, it’s clear why the skin on your hands needs more intensive protection and hydration than your face.
How to Protect Your Hands
Caring for your hands doesn’t have to be complicated. By following these simple steps, you can protect your hands from dryness, damage, and premature aging:
- Avoid Temperature Fluctuations: Extreme heat and cold can strip your hands of moisture, leading to dry and cracked skin. Always protect your hands by wearing gloves in cold weather and avoiding very hot water when washing them.
- Use Natural Soaps: Many commercial hand soaps contain harsh chemicals that can dry out your skin. Opt for natural hand soaps made with nourishing ingredients like coconut oil or shea butter to keep your hands soft and hydrated.
- Wear Gloves: Whenever you're outside in freezing temperatures or handling cleaning products, always wear gloves to prevent your hands from drying out and to protect them from harmful chemicals.
- Apply Hand Cream Daily: A good protective hand cream should be part of your daily routine. Choose creams made from natural ingredients, free from harmful chemicals like silicones and mineral oils. These creams should contain moisturizing oils like almond or jojoba, which are gentle and effective at locking in moisture.
Why You Shouldn’t Use Hand Cream on Your Face
It might be tempting to use your hand cream on your face, especially in a pinch, but here’s why it’s not a good idea:
- Heavy Oils: Hand creams often contain heavy oils like castor oil, which are excellent for sealing moisture into the skin but can be too rich for the delicate skin on your face. Using these on your face can lead to clogged pores and breakouts.
- Waxes: Hand creams frequently contain waxes like beeswax, carnauba wax, or synthetic alternatives, which help create a protective barrier on your hands. While this is great for your hands, these waxes can clog pores and cause acne if used on facial skin.
- Heavy Emollients: Designed to combat severe dryness on hands, hand creams contain heavy emollients that are too thick for the face. These emollients can overwhelm facial skin, which typically needs lighter, more breathable formulas.
- Harmful Ingredients: Unfortunately, many commercial hand creams contain mineral oil, a by-product of petroleum, as well as silicones, which are synthetic ingredients that can block pores and lead to skin congestion. These ingredients are far from ideal for facial skincare and can cause more harm than good when applied to your face.
- Different Needs: The skin on your face has specific concerns, such as aging, acne, pigmentation, rosacea, and oil production. Hand creams are not formulated to address these issues. For example, facial creams often contain anti-aging ingredients like retinol or antioxidants, which you won’t find in hand creams.
What to Look for in a Hand Cream
When choosing a hand cream, it’s important to select one that nourishes and protects your skin without the use of harmful chemicals. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Natural Ingredients: Look for creams that contain natural oils like shea butter, coconut oil, or almond oil. These oils deeply moisturize the skin without causing irritation or harm.
- No Petrochemicals or Silicones: Avoid products with mineral oil and silicones, which can block your pores and prevent your skin from breathing. Instead, choose products made from clean, plant-based ingredients.
- Gentle Yet Effective Formulation: Your hand cream should offer a perfect balance between hydration and protection without being too heavy or greasy. Look for natural formulations that prioritize skin health over synthetic fillers.
Why Specialized Face and Hand Creams Matter
Ultimately, the differences between your facial and hand skin necessitate the use of specialized products. Using a cream designed for one area on the other can cause problems, whether it’s clogging pores or not providing enough hydration.
At MySkincareOasis, we offer skincare products that are 100% natural and formulated to meet the specific needs of your skin. Whether it’s a nourishing hand cream to protect against harsh elements or a light facial moisturizer to address aging and acne, our products are created with your skin’s health in mind.
Anastasia Averkov
~Formulator and founder of completely natural skincare brand - MySkincareOasis.