Hand cream with urea

What is urea in cream and how does it affect the skin

To begin with, let us recall what urea is in a cream (for hands and not only) and what effect this substance has on the skin.

Urea (urea) is one of the important hydrating agents in cosmetic formulas, but unlike its “colleagues”, urea has a dual effect:

Due to its properties, urea is used in products for oily and problematic skin, providing a gentle exfoliation. But still more often this component appears in formulas addressed to skin suffering from dryness.

The presence of urea in the composition of the hand cream is more than justified, since the hands are among the most defenseless and vulnerable parts of the body: they are always open, exposed to water, soap, sanitizers, dry indoor air, cold outdoors.

As a result, the skin of the hands becomes chronically dry, dehydrated, rough, rough, age-related changes appear early on it, so a cream with carbamide, which both moisturizes and renews (and therefore smoothes and softens) will be more than appropriate.

Here is what our expert Maria Nevskaya says about the benefits of urea cream:

“So many processes in the skin depend on the water-holding capacity: renewal, synthesis, exfoliation. When dehydrated, they slow down. Hand skin is most exposed to aggressive external factors. Urea is one of the most effective components in hand cream – it activates the processes of renewal, exfoliation and has a moisture-retaining effect.

How to choose a cream with urea in the composition

In hand creams, the percentage of the active substance may vary, the product should be chosen based on the condition of the skin. The higher the concentration of urea in cosmetics, the more pronounced the exfoliating (keratolytic) effect. Manufacturers quite rarely prescribe the percentage of ingredients on the packaging, so we can only judge this by the promised effectiveness.

For the most sophisticated beautyholics, we will write down the percentage of urea in hand creams:

The urea content of 20-50% is found only in special products used as prescribed by a dermatologist for specific skin conditions, such as xerosis.

How to use urea products correctly

Using urea hand cream is no different from using other products in this category. The cream is applied to clean, dry hands with massage movements. You can use the product several times a day: after each washing of hands, before going out, and also at night.

In any case, the best solution is to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations.

The best hand creams

In our list of the best, we have included Healthy-Food’s most effective hand and body creams – with urea and not only.

SA Emollient cream for very dry, rough skin, CeraVe

Care for dry and rough skin Intensive Treatment and Moisturizer, Kiehl’s

There is no urea in this product, but it was not in vain that it got into our rating – the cream saturated with oils perfectly softens and moisturizes the skin, even very dry and rough. It is applied both on the hands and on the elbows and heels. Without smell.

Revitalizing barrier cream for hands Cicaplast Mains, La Roche-Posay

This cream perfectly protects the skin of the hands, creating a kind of barrier – imperceptible, but resistant even to the action of water. In addition, it has a calming and regenerating effect – an excellent tool for winter hand care.

Regenerating Hand Cream «Intensive care for very dry skin, Garnier

We could not ignore this cream, which perfectly softens, protects the skin of the hands, and eliminates peeling. It contains the well-known hydrating agent glycerin and soothing allantoin.

Revitalizing cream for very dry skin of hands Lipikar Xerand, La Roche-Posay

In our opinion, this is just a salvation for the skin of the hands, which is often forced to come into contact with antiseptics, detergents, or simply prone to dryness. A dense, but quickly absorbed cream will relieve discomfort and prevent its occurrence, providing the skin with decent protection and care.

Revitalizing cream for very dry hands, CeraVe

If the skin of the hands is extremely dry, you should try this cream, which contains ceramides so beloved by the brand (and Healthy-Food) and one of the best moisturizers – hyaluronic acid.

Hand Cream Ultimate Strength Hand Salve, Kiehl’s

The product contains avocado, shea and squalane oils, which allows it to perfectly cope with dry skin. The cream softens, moisturizes, protects and minimizes the damage associated with aggressive environmental factors.

Summary results