Hand Serum Heroes: Why Your Hands Deserve More Than Hand Cream

Hand cream mostly sits on the surface and stops water escaping. A hand serum is lighter, sinks in fast and carries active ingredients: hyaluronic acid for plumpness, niacinamide for dark spots, retinol or peptides for crepiness. The best routine uses both. Serum first, cream on top, especially at night.

The other advantage is texture. Serums don't leave greasy prints on your phone or laptop, so you'll actually use them during the day. That alone makes them worth trying.

Niacinamide. Fades age spots and evens tone over a couple of months. Gentle enough for daily use.

Hyaluronic acid and glycerin. Pull water into the skin, so dry, tight knuckles look smoother within minutes.

Retinol. The best thing for crepey texture on the backs of hands. Use at night and start slowly.

Ceramides. Repair the skin barrier that constant washing strips away. Essential if your hands crack in winter.

SPF. Not technically a serum ingredient, but a daytime hand product with SPF prevents more damage than anything else on this list.

On a budget, Boots stocks hand serums from No7 and Garnier that do a decent job on dryness and dark spots. Lookfantastic has the widest choice of mid-price options, including retinol formulas. At Space NK and Cult Beauty, look for treatments from Augustinus Bader, Dr. Barbara Sturm and Aesop. For a beautiful bottle to leave by the sink, Liberty and Harvey Nichols have the prettiest packaging, and they make very good gifts.

Apply to slightly damp hands after washing. Massage over the backs of the hands, between the fingers and into the cuticles, which is where dryness shows first. At night, layer a thick cream over the serum and sleep in cotton gloves once a week. It sounds a bit Victorian, but it works better than any mask.

No serum will undo years of sun damage overnight. Dark spots take at least eight weeks to fade, and retinol takes three months to show on texture. Wear gloves for washing up, as hot water and detergent undo everything. And if your face is just as parched, see our edit of hydrating serums for dry skin.