Why You Shouldn't Apply Hand Cream on Your Face.

During a busy weekend when I had little time for grooming before heading out, my usual lotion unexpectedly slipped from my hands. In a rush and too occupied to buy a new one, I squeezed out the last drop and applied it. However, I noticed a hand cream conspicuously placed next to the fallen lotion. While hand cream is designed for hands, could using it on the face pose any issues?

 

While some may occasionally use high-end nourishing creams meant for the face on their hands, this practice doesn't significantly contribute to hand moisturization.

 

The reason lotions and hand creams are separately formulated for the face and hands is evident. The skin has different distributions of sebaceous glands depending on the area, including the face and hands. While individual skin types and characteristics may vary, hands generally have fewer sebaceous glands than the face. The palms, in particular, have fewer sebaceous glands, making them prone to dryness. On the other hand, the face typically has more sebum production and moisture.

 

Applying hand cream to a face with abundant sebaceous glands can increase sebum, leading to clogged pores and potential acne breakouts. Hand creams, designed to prevent hand dryness, often contain a significant amount of oils and film-forming agents. Additionally, fragranced hand creams may cause skin troubles when applied to the more sensitive facial skin.

 

What about applying facial lotion to the hands? In this case, it generally doesn't cause significant issues. Facial lotions contain moisturizing ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and ceramides, supplying moisture to the skin. However, it's important to note that the moisturizing effect may not be as potent as that of hand creams. Due to the thinner skin on the face, these ingredients can have a more noticeable impact. On the contrary, the thicker skin on the hands makes it more challenging for moisturizing components to penetrate effectively.

 

While some may occasionally use high-end nourishing creams meant for the face on their hands, this practice doesn't significantly contribute to hand moisturization. If opting for lotion instead of hand cream, it's advisable to apply it frequently to ensure continuous moisturizing effects.