dry skin treatment?

[Ann @ frabjous fabrica]

I keep meaning to ask members what they do about dry and/or cracked skin on their hands.  I have never been one to slap hand cream on frequently; quite often I go for days without doing so and then get annoyed when silk yarns or fibres, in fact any fibres, keep getting caught on my skin.  That usually reminds me that I should use hand cream, but if I'm about to start some embroidery I don't want to get any unabsorbed cream onto my work, so I don't, and then I forget to do so when I've finished.
I'm not quite so bad now as i was when my dear cat was alive.  I didn't want her to be affected by the perfume (even unperfumed creams seemed to offend her), and now I do try to remember to put cream on after I've finished wet felting at least.
What does everyone else do?

[MTRuth]

I use an all natural ingredient, unscented solid lotion bar. I put it on my hands before I go to bed. It doesn't get extra lotion when you don't want it due to it being solid.

[Ann @ frabjous fabrica]

Mar 19, 2021 14:41:18 GMT MTRuth said:

I use an all natural ingredient, unscented solid lotion bar. I put it on my hands before I go to bed. It doesn't get extra lotion when you don't want it due to it being solid.

What's it called Ruth?  I wonder if I could get it in the UK?

[lyn]

I'm interested too!

[charley]

I use a solid bar too. It is called 'Gardeners Hand Balm', made in Edinburgh. Mine has some lavender and bergamot in, it comes in a little tin to keep it in. I like it very much.

[MTRuth]

It's called Bee Bar by Honey House Naturals. I have no idea if it is available in the UK or not.

www.honeyhousenaturals.com/16/home.htm

I do know that there are lots of people who make these types of lotion bars here in the US and generally, they sell them at farmer's markets or craft fairs. Perhaps if you look up "natural lotion bars" and see what comes up for the UK? I see that Charley has a suggestion too.

[Ann @ frabjous fabrica]

thanks for that. I've ordered some from the Edinburgh Natural Skincare Company www.edinburghskincare.com/ - plus some for a couple of friends whose birthdays are coming up soon. Not cheap but it looks good.
Thanks again
Ann

[Shepherdess]

I use Glysomed unscented. It leaves a kind of waxy feel that some don't like but it seems to last longer than the stuff that disappears fast. I also have some solid bars. you can make your own with some oils and beeswax. It's the same as lip balm you can make yourself. You can change the oils as you like and add scent as you like. Use the scented oils they use for soap. The other thing you can do is make them as hard or soft as you like by adding or subtracting beeswax.

[lyn]

Mar 19, 2021 13:45:43 GMT Ann @ frabjous fabrica said:

I keep meaning to ask members what they do about dry and/or cracked skin on their hands.  I have never been one to slap hand cream on frequently; quite often I go for days without doing so and then get annoyed when silk yarns or fibres, in fact any fibres, keep getting caught on my skin.  That usually reminds me that I should use hand cream, but if I'm about to start some embroidery I don't want to get any unabsorbed cream onto my work, so I don't, and then I forget to do so when I've finished.
I'm not quite so bad now as i was when my dear cat was alive.  I didn't want her to be affected by the perfume (even unperfumed creams seemed to offend her), and now I do try to remember to put cream on after I've finished wet felting at least.
What does everyone else do?

Antje has just posted this on forum blog - might help?

"Recently I came across a Russian felter, who immerses her similar viscose in fabric softener, then dries it ready for use. I am still experimenting with this trick – thus far it does seem to stop the viscose ‘snagging’ (just like silk) on my reasonably smooth hands."

[Ann @ frabjous fabrica]

Thanks Lyn, I spotted that too.

[Ann @ frabjous fabrica]

Mar 19, 2021 23:11:47 GMT Ann @ frabjous fabrica said:

thanks for that. I've ordered some from the Edinburgh Natural Skincare Company www.edinburghskincare.com/ - plus some for a couple of friends whose birthdays are coming up soon. Not cheap but it looks good.
Thanks again
Ann

Having purchased this solid hand cream bar, I was disappointed to find that it is actually one of the most greasy hand creams I've come across and I certainly couldn't handle fibres or yarns with it on as it would get all over them - mind you now that I've finally been able to visit a hairdresser it does make very good hair styling wax if I run my fingers through my hair after applying the cream!
I asked the embroiderer Mary Corbet what she uses and she replied: "Like you, Ann, I am always afraid of using something on my hands before I stitch. But this winter, my hands are awful, and I’m doing a lot of work with silk. I finally decided to put my trust in the recommendations of many other stitchers, and took the plunge! I ordered Udderly Smooth hand cream, since so many stitchers recommend it. And so far, I like it. The trick is to rub it in until you can’t feel it. It doesn’t leave any residue or oil on your skin."  She has it on her "Needle ‘n Thread: Hand Embroidery Idea Lists" page www.amazon.com/shop/marycorbet?listId=2Q3WIJX3NT4D9 .  So I think I'll try that next.

[Shepherdess]

We can get Udderly smooth here in Canada. Sounds like your bar was a bit soft, mine soaks in fast it's more like a lip balm. I have heard of people that put thick cream on and then put gloves on overnight.

[Ann @ frabjous fabrica]

Yes, I've done that, I used Boots Foot Cream which has urea in it - works well but makes page turning of the nightly book a bit more difficult!
Ann