Balm Basics

A loosely closed fist showing dry, cracked knuckles

Cracked Knuckles and Split Fingertips: Why It's...

Knuckles and fingertips crack first because of how the skin there is built and how much it moves. Here's why, and how to get a split to close instead of...

Cracked Knuckles and Split Fingertips: Why It's...

Knuckles and fingertips crack first because of how the skin there is built and how much it moves. Here's why, and how to get a split to close instead of...

Mature hands with crepey, thinning skin resting on a linen cloth by a window

Why Your Hands Look Older Than Your Face (and W...

Hands age faster than faces for three specific reasons. Here's what's actually happening to the skin, and the short list of things that make a real difference.

Why Your Hands Look Older Than Your Face (and W...

Hands age faster than faces for three specific reasons. Here's what's actually happening to the skin, and the short list of things that make a real difference.

A gardener's bare hands holding dark soil over a raised herb bed beside a trowel

Gardener's Hands: How to Repair Rough, Cracked,...

Soil, tools and constant scrubbing leave gardeners' hands rough, calloused and split. Here's a practical before-and-after routine that fits real garden work.

Gardener's Hands: How to Repair Rough, Cracked,...

Soil, tools and constant scrubbing leave gardeners' hands rough, calloused and split. Here's a practical before-and-after routine that fits real garden work.

A hand held up to the window light, showing dry, flaking skin on the fingers

Why Are My Hands Peeling? Common Causes and Wha...

Peeling palms and fingertips have a handful of common causes, from simple dryness to sunburn and skin conditions. Here's how to work out which is yours.

Why Are My Hands Peeling? Common Causes and Wha...

Peeling palms and fingertips have a handful of common causes, from simple dryness to sunburn and skin conditions. Here's how to work out which is yours.

Two open palms resting upturned on linen in soft daylight

Dry Hands or Hand Eczema? How to Tell the Diffe...

If moisturizer isn't helping, it may not be ordinary dry skin. Here are the signs dermatologists use to tell dry hands from hand eczema, and what to do about each.

Dry Hands or Hand Eczema? How to Tell the Diffe...

If moisturizer isn't helping, it may not be ordinary dry skin. Here are the signs dermatologists use to tell dry hands from hand eczema, and what to do about each.

A single droplet of hand cream sitting on the back of a dry hand

Why Your Hand Cream Stops Working After an Hour

You moisturize, and an hour later your hands feel dry again. That's usually not your skin failing — it's what's in the bottle. Here's what's going on and how to...

Why Your Hand Cream Stops Working After an Hour

You moisturize, and an hour later your hands feel dry again. That's usually not your skin failing — it's what's in the bottle. Here's what's going on and how to...