This Sheet Mask Saved My Dry, Winter-Ravaged Hands

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The world may be obsessed with skin care, but the focus tends to lie solely on our faces, overlooking the rest of our bodies. And unfortunately, even as someone who works in beauty and is typically drowning in products of all sorts, I'm just as guilty. With that said, my hands and nails are always desperately in need of some TLC.

Look, I'm a busy person. It's rare that I have the time to sit through a manicure, and when I do my own, it's often a mess. My cuticles? Raggedy, sometimes bleeding. My hands, overall? Dry and cracked, and once it hits a certain point of the year (like, right now), they're in such bad shape, it hurts.

Sure, the logical solution would be hand lotion and a good pair of gloves, but, believe me, I've tried. I own a good five or six pairs of gloves—leather, fuzzy, etc.—and wear them virtually never, because I wear too many rings each day to fit gloves over them, and, apparently, I value my jewelry more than not having sandpaper-like skin. And don't even get me started about the dozens of fancy hand lotions I have tucked away in various parts of my bedroom, vanity, and desk that go unused. No matter how fast-absorbing they claim to be, I just can't be bothered with the greasy after-effects.

It wasn't until recently that something came across my desk that changed my neglectful habits once and for all: Patchology's Perfect Ten Self-Warming Hand and Cuticle Mask. This luxurious hand mask (kind of like a sheet mask for your hands, if you must) boasts smoother, softer hands and cuticles in just 10 minutes. I was skeptical but figured I'd give it a shot.

The silver mittens reminded me a bit of the plastic booties I've worn every time I've tried Baby Foot (or an alternative product), however, they are a lot less goopy and weird. They use the same insulation technology as space blankets, locking in your natural body heat to warm things up, allowing the coconut-infused formula to better penetrate my cracked hands. While it's not a very intense warming sensation, it certainly is nice and relaxing—and the perfect way to kick back after a long day while catching up on Bravo shows.

The after-effects were exactly what I was hoping for: smooth, soft, and rejuvenated hands, slightly plumped and glowy rather than looking like they needed a tall glass of water. And, unlike with lotion, I didn't spend 20 minutes rubbing my hands together, trying to get all the grease to soak in. For $10 a pop, it's much cheaper, easier, and faster than heading to a salon, and in the wintertime? It's proven to be a lifesaver.

This quick pampering session has led me to take better care of my extremities in general, and I've now made this treatment a weekly ritual. I still don't wear gloves or use the various tubes of Byredo in my desk drawer, but my hands now look a lot less shitty. If I could only learn how to paint my own nails with more skill and precision than a five-year-old, all my problems would be solved.

Snag your own mask set and treat yourself to a bit of R&R at Patchology.com.

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