An evening hand and foot care routine makes use of the best hours your skin has. During the day, creams are washed off, rubbed off or left for later. At night, your hands and feet are at rest for seven or eight hours, with nothing to wash away what you apply. A few minutes before bed can undo a whole day of soap, shoes and weather.
Why the evening works
- No hand washing for hours.
- No shoes, friction or pressure.
- Rich, greasy products can be used without getting in the way.
- Warmth under gloves and socks helps products to absorb.
What you need
- A mild soap and a towel.
- A rich hand cream.
- A foot cream, ideally with urea.
- Petroleum jelly, or another ointment.
- Cuticle oil (optional).
- Cotton gloves and cotton socks.
- A pumice stone or foot file, for the weekly version.
The ten-minute nightly routine
Hands
- Wash with lukewarm water and mild soap, and pat dry.
- Apply cuticle oil to the base of each nail and massage it in. See Cuticle Care: How to Keep Your Routine Gentle.
- Apply a generous layer of hand cream to the backs of the hands, the knuckles, the palms and the fingertips.
- Seal dry or cracked areas with a thin layer of ointment.
- Put on cotton gloves, if your hands are very dry.
Feet
- Wash your feet, or take your evening shower.
- Dry thoroughly, especially between the toes.
- Apply foot cream to the heels, soles and tops of the feet. Keep it out of the spaces between the toes.
- Seal the heels with a little ointment.
- Put on cotton socks.
Do your feet first and your hands last, so that your hands are free.
The weekly version (about 25 minutes)
| Step | Hands | Feet |
|---|---|---|
| Soak | 3 minutes in warm water | 10 minutes in warm water |
| Exfoliate | Rub gently with a soft cloth or a mild scrub | File hard skin lightly with a pumice stone |
| Nails | File; ease back cuticles | Trim straight across; smooth edges |
| Massage | Cream, for a minute per hand | Cream, for a minute per foot |
| Seal | Ointment on dry areas | Ointment on the heels |
| Cover | Cotton gloves | Cotton socks |
Do not exfoliate skin that is cracked, sore or inflamed.
Choosing products
| Area | Look for |
|---|---|
| Hands | Glycerin, shea butter, petrolatum, dimethicone; fragrance-free if sensitive |
| Cuticles | Light oils such as jojoba or almond; or hand cream |
| Soles and heels | Urea 10% or more, lactic acid, petrolatum |
| Deep cracks | Plain ointment only |
A simple hand massage
- Spread cream over both hands.
- With your thumb, press small circles into the palm of the other hand.
- Gently pull along each finger, from the base to the tip.
- Rub cream around each nail.
- Circle the wrist.
A foot massage follows the same pattern: thumb circles on the sole, gentle pulls on each toe, and strokes from the toes to the ankle.
Practical tips
- Sit down to cream your feet, and put socks on before you stand. Creamed feet are slippery.
- Keep everything in one small basket by the bed.
- Wash gloves and socks every few days.
- If gloves bother you, use a slightly lighter layer of cream and skip them.
- Do not keep your phone in bed until your hands have absorbed the cream.
How often
- Every night: cream on hands and feet.
- Gloves and socks: nightly when skin is very dry, then two or three times a week.
- Soak and file: once a week.
What you will notice
- Softer skin within two or three nights.
- Smoother cuticles and fewer hangnails within a week.
- Less hard skin on the heels within two to four weeks.
If your hands are dry from frequent washing, see Dry Hands from Washing: How to Adjust Your Routine. For cracked heels, see Cracked Heels: Care Tips and When to Get Help. Daytime habits matter as much as the evening routine. See Daily Hand Care: Washing, Moisturizing, and Sun Protection for hands and How to Moisturize Your Feet for feet.
When to see a doctor
See a doctor if skin is red, cracked and bleeding, very itchy or weeping, or if a week or two of careful care makes no difference.
Related on ArniSun
- Daily Hand Care: Washing, Moisturizing, and Sun Protection
- How to Moisturize Your Feet
- Dry Hands from Washing: How to Adjust Your Routine
- Cuticle Care: How to Keep Your Routine Gentle
- Cracked Heels: Care Tips and When to Get Help
Sources and further reading
Frequently asked questions
Is it good to wear gloves to bed with hand cream?
Yes. Clean cotton gloves keep the cream in contact with the skin and off the bedding, which helps very dry hands to recover.
Can I use the same cream on my hands and feet?
You can, though feet usually benefit from a thicker cream with urea, and hands from one that absorbs a little faster.
How long does it take to soften dry hands and feet?
Most people notice softer skin within a few nights. Thick hard skin on the heels takes a few weeks of regular care.