There are so many different lotions and oils you can put on your hands to soften them up, but I will be giving you another option if you want something a little more inexpensive to put on your hands. 1-2 drops of glycerin. I use vegetable glycerin. It may take a bit of rubbing to get it into your hands, but it works. This works even if your hands are in a very bad state. It smells nice if you use equal quantities  of lemon juice and glycerin, and it is easier to rub in, but be careful using lemon if your hands are cut.

If your hands are really dirty you can either use a good quality soap (castile soap is safe-I use Dr. Bronner’s) or you can use olive oil with sugar together rubbing your hands together in this for 5 minutes. This should help undo the damage done to your hands during that day. Just rinse off and pat dry and your hands should feel a lot better.

Here are two recipes for hand softeners:

Protein and Glycerin Hand Softener (dry skin)

1 egg yolk

10 teaspoons of glycerin (use vegetable)

10 drops essential oil of your choice

Whisk the egg yolk in a small bowl, then add the glycerin and mix together to a smooth liquid. Add the essential oil, combine well and pot (put in a small container-preferably glass-I use empty Burt’s Bees Lip Balm containers). This will last for up to a week in the fridge.

Rose and Glycerin Hand Softener (for dry skin)

2 tablespoons glycerin (use vegetable)

2 tablespoons of cornflour or corn starch

1 cup of rose water (homemade recipe HERE!) (Online soure-HERE!)

Heat the glycerin and gradually add  the cornflour or cornstarch to make a thick paste. Slowly mix in the rose water and keep stirring until it has thickened up a bit. Once the cream has cooled,  it can be used straight away.  Keep in an airtight container.