21-07-2025
I'm a dermatologist. Here's the $11 item from Chemist Warehouse everyone needs - and the one-minute routine you should always do before bed
Are your hands feeling dry, cracked and irritated right now?
A leading dermatologist swears by the $10.99 DU'IT Tough Hands Intensive Hand Cream from Chemist Warehouse as his winter saviour to combat this common concern.
Associate Professor Dr Deshan Sebaratnam, a consultant dermatologist and senior lecturer at UNSW, explained why winter always seems to cause havoc for our skin, and why our hands are often the worst hit.
'In winter, our hands are uniquely vulnerable,' Dr Deshan told Daily Mail Australia.
'There's less humidity in the air, so we lose moisture more easily. That's compounded by indoor heating.
'Cold weather and indoor heating work together to dehydrate the skin. Cold air holds less moisture, and when we transition indoors, heaters reduce ambient humidity even further.'
This rapid shift from cold to warm environments puts additional stress on the skin's barrier, leading to micro-cracks and inflammation, he explained.
'Additionally, during winter, we tend to wash our hands more frequently due to seasonal illnesses,' he said.
'Frequent hand washing, especially with soaps or alcohol-based sanitisers, exacerbates the issue by stripping away the skin's natural lipids and disrupting the acid mantle, our skin's first line of defence.
After: Customers who moisturise with DU'IT Tough Hands Intensive Hand Cream for Dry Hands have shared their impressive results from using the product
'When this barrier is weakened, irritants can penetrate more easily and moisture escapes more rapidly, resulting in dryness, sensitivity, and sometimes even eczema or dermatitis. Hands, being constantly exposed, are one of the first areas to show these effects.'
The result, for most, is tightness, cracking, irritation - and for those with particularly sensitive skin, flare-ups of eczema or dermatitis.
Dr Deshan's expert tip for combatting the discomfort of dry hands is to treat moisturising as a non-negotiable step in your winter skincare routine, particularly before bed.
Take a minute before tucking yourself in to massage a good moisturiser into your skin, the dermatologist advises.
'Overnight is the best time to hydrate,' he says.
'It allows your skin time to repair, and you can enhance absorption by wearing damp cotton gloves or socks over a rich hand cream.'
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'Some people need to moisturise multiple times a day, especially those with dry skin or eczema.
'For others, applying when hands feel dry is enough. Ideally, moisturise after washing your hands, before bed, and after exposure to cold, these are key times when your skin barrier needs extra support.'
But not all moisturisers are created equal. Dr Deshan says to look for products that combine hydrating and protective ingredients.
'Urea is a key ingredient - it deeply hydrates while gently exfoliating rough skin,' he explains.
'Glycerin draws moisture into the skin, while ceramides help repair the skin's barrier,' he adds, while 'shea butter is an occlusive that locks in hydration to protect against moisture loss.'
'Most good moisturisers combine all three types of ingredients, so you don't need separate products. One well-formulated moisturiser will cover all bases.'
His top pick is DU'IT Tough Hands Intensive Hand Cream for Dry Hands, already a cult favourite among tradies, nurses and farmers, and quickly gaining popularity with budget beauty aficionados too, it is just $10.99 at Chemist Warehouse.
The formula also includes glycerin, vitamin E, dimethicone and sodium PCA, which work together to draw in moisture, protect the barrier, and support skin healing.
Aloe vera, lemon myrtle, and tea tree oil provide a natural antimicrobial boost, while it is free from parabens, petrolatum, lanolin and other common irritants - making it safe even for eczema-prone or diabetic skin.
And it's derm-endorsed, with Dr Deshan giving it his tick of approval. 'It's affordable and contains urea, glycerin, and dimethicone, which hydrate, repair, and protect the skin,' he says.
Reviews of the budget moisturiser are overwhelmingly positive, with hundreds of shoppers leaving five-star ratings, and the before and after images shared speak for themselves.
One recent purchaser dubbed DU'IT Tough Hands the 'best hand cream ever.'
'Pharmacist first recommended this cream to heal my hands after a strong reaction to cleaning solutions even wearing gloves,' the shopper said.
'Cannot recommend highly enough and all my friends who I have told say the same thing.'
The formula's hero ingredient is Urea, which deeply hydrates while gently exfoliating rough skin, as well as glycerin and shea butter to draw moisture into the skin and lock in hydration
Another customer was just as emphatic: 'Best hand cream I ever had! I have cracked skin on my hand( fingers) once or twice in a year and I have tried hundreds different creams including from doctor's.... Those creams may help me to release it for temporary but not much work afterwards.
'Since I use this I never go to other cream especially when my hands start super dry and itchy and cracked. I recommend it to everyone to try as the price is reasonable and the function is amazing!'
If your hands have been suffering more than usual this season, the fix might just be a one-minute nightly ritual and $11 pharmacy buy away.
Buy DU'IT Tough Hands Intensive Hand Cream for Dry Hands online or at your local Chemist Warehouse.
