Skin care for kitchen workers

Everyone knows that the sun and your skin are frenemies! Sun gives us heat and sunlight which helps our bodies make vitamin D for stronger bones and a general better wellbeing. However, sun rays also have UVA and UVB which can be harmful to our skin, causing wrinkles, dryness, pigmentation and skin cancer on the long run, this is why we wear sunscreen and sunblock on a daily basis. We make many mistakes when it comes to our skin and one of them is not wearing sunscreen while cooking.

Cooking is mostly an indoors process, but still, you spend a great deal of time being exposed to flames and heat from ovens. Cooking gas releases heat and light, and according to dermatologists, this still could be as harmful to our skin as sun rays. Some people, more than others, spend most of their time cooking and they should wear sunscreen that is not less than SPF 30.

Make sure to apply it on your face, both of your hands and any other exposed area. This will protect your skin from getting damaged and becoming dull or dry. After you're done make sure to moisturize your skin and drink water to compensate the hydration it lost.

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Frequently washing and sanitizing can leave your hands feeling dry, chapped, and cracked, and no one understands this struggle better than chefs. “Chefs and restaurant employees, in general, are very tough on their skin—specifically their hands,” explains chef Anna Bran, the owner of Taqueria del Barrio in Washington D.C. “Working with temperatures varying from extremely hot to cold, our hands take a battering each day.”

There are lots of hand lotions out there to choose from, but chefs tend to gravitate toward products ... [+] that are both super hydrating and non-greasy, helping to soothe skin without hindering their workflow.

Culinary professionals end up washing their hands frequently throughout the day—after all, cleanliness is key when you’re cooking—and to keep their skin from becoming unbearably dry, many keep a bottle of their favorite hand cream close by in the kitchen. There are lots of hand lotions out there to choose from, but chefs tend to gravitate toward products that are both super hydrating and non-greasy, helping to soothe skin without hindering their workflow. 

If you’re ready to have softer, smoother skin, the following are the best hand creams to keep in your kitchen (or bathroom, or purse), as recommended by hard-working chefs. 

A Mildly Scented Option That Won’t Leave You With Greasy Hands

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Kiehl's Since 1851 Deluxe Hand & Body Lotion With Aloe Vera & Oatmeal

“Since most of my career as a chef has been on television, the health of my hands and how they look is pretty important!” says Emmy-nominated Chef Nathan Lyon, who appeared on the second season of Food Network Star. “I use Kiehl’s Deluxe Hand & Body Lotion with Aloe Vera and Oatmeal. It’s mildly scented and very moisturizing without leaving my skin feeling greasy. It’s my ‘go-to’ for everyday use and for keeping my hands looking camera-ready!”

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A Budget-Friendly Option For Extremely Dry Hands

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O'Keeffe's Working Hands Hand Cream, 3.4 Ounce Jar

If you’re looking for a working hand cream, O’Keefe’s is a top pick, with thousands of glowing reviews. Plus, it gets the chef’s seal of approval: “I keep a jar of O’Keefe’s ‘Working Hands’ hand cream in my office,” says executive chef Kristin Beringson of Henley in Nashville. “Chef’s hands get very beat up in the kitchen from excessive hand washing, glove wearing, and cardboard box handling. This always nourishes, soothes and calms the daily roughness my hands endure.”

A Classic Moisturizer That Works For More Than Just Your Hands

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Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Body Lotion

“I am constantly washing my hands and even more so amidst this global pandemic,” says chef Holly Smith of Cafe Juanita. “To restore my hands I rely on Aveeno. In fact, I keep it bedside and lather my feet with it as well. Sounds crazy, but it’s true!” This popular product is great for your hands, as well as the rest of your body, and it has a fragrance-free and non-greasy formula made with oatmeal for hydration.

A Popular Hand Cream That’s Intensely Moisturizing

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Weleda Skin Food Original Ultra-Rich Body Cream, 2.5 Fl Oz

If your hands are prone to cracking in the winter, chef Carla Contreras recommends the popular Weleda Skin Food Body Cream as a preventative treatment: “I love using this when I am done working. It’s deeply nourishing and is perfect to put on before bed as well. I use it all winter long to prevent and treat chapped hands.” The intensely hydrating cream is made using extracts of gentle viola tricolor, calendula and chamomile, in a rich, thick base of oils and beeswax, and is free of synthetic compounds or added chemicals.

An Affordable Find That Offers Protection For Hours

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Gold Bond Ultimate Intensive Healing Hand Cream

Here’s proof that a great hand cream doesn’t have to be expensive. Chef Diana Manalang of Little Chef Little Café in NYC recommends Gold Bond Ultimate Intensive Healing Hand Cream as a budget-friendly product for dry skin.“This stuff is the best—life changing!” she says. “It penetrates quickly and offers protection for hours. It’s restorative and not greasy at all.”

A Grocery Store Classic That’s Rich And Nourishing

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Trader Joes Coconut Body Butter

The next time you stop at Trader Joe’s, pick up a tub of their body butter to keep in your kitchen. “I love Trader Joe's Coconut Body Butter,” says Chef Liv Vasquez, owner of LivvieSmalls Events. “It is a thick moisturizer that I can slather on a few times a day to keep my hands soft. Just make sure you rinse it off thoroughly before reaching for any knives.”

An Ultimate Strength Hand Salve With A Hydrating Formula

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Kiehl's Since 1851 Ultimate Strength Hand Salve

“To help protect and provide a full day of moisturizing, I exclusively use Kiehl's Ultimate Strength Hand Salve,” says chef Anna Bran, the owner of Taqueria del Barrio in Washington D.C. The salve’s hydrating formula is made with avocado and sesame oil, and it helps protect against and repair extremely dry hands. 

An Healing Ointment That Prevents Your Hands And Cuticles From Cracking

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Aquaphor Healing Ointment, Fragrance Free, 14 Ounce

Julia Chebotar, a New York City-based private chef and former champion on Food Network’s Chopped, recommends Aquaphor Healing Ointment to keep skin hydrated: “It really helps keep my hands moist and cuticles from cracking from all the hand washing and dishwashing I do.” The ointment is free from preservatives and fragrances, and it can also be used as a lip moisturizer, foot cream, and more.

An Old-School Classic That Dries Quickly

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Eucerin Advanced Repair Lotion, Fragrance Free, 16.9 Fl Oz

If you’re applying lotion while in the kitchen, you’ll want a product that dries quickly so you can get back to work fast: “I like Eucerin Advanced Repair because it is effective and light,” says chef Amy Riolo, author of The Ultimate Mediterranean Diet Cookbook. “You can apply it and then work without having to wait for it to dry or worry that it will leave a residue. I keep some in the kitchen, some on my nightstand, and some in my purse.” Yes, it’s that good.

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