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Valet. > Grooming

Your Winter Grooming Weak Spots, Solved

A simple two-product defense against winter’s most visible damage

This winter, don’t leave home without a good hand cream like Jack Black’s Industrial Strength Hand Healer ($16).

By

Valet. Staff
@valetmag

Published

December 9, 2025

Published

December 9, 2025

Photography

Courtesy

Note

Items featured in this story are independently selected by the editorial team. Purchasing via our links may earn Valet. a portion of the sale, which helps fund our editorial mission.

When temperatures drop, most guys upgrade their skincare without thinking twice. Thicker moisturizers for their face, richer conditioner for dry hair, maybe even a hydrating mask at the end of a long week. But the two areas that often get ignored—right up until they crack, peel or hurt—are your hands and lips.

Both are the body parts that get the most exposed over the season, which leads to moisture loss and eventual problems. Your hands lose moisture faster than almost any other part of the body thanks to constant exposure and frequent washing. Once dryness sets in, cracks and redness follow fast. And our lips don’t produce their own oil, which makes them especially vulnerable to cold air and wind. Without regular protection, they chap or split. That’s not only painful, but something people absolutely notice up close.

The good news? Both recover quickly with the right products, which is why a compact “Hands & Lips Kit” is the smartest grooming move you can make to survival the relentless winter season. A couple of products tossed in your coat pocket or bag can keep you looking (and feeling) significantly better.

Advertisement

Hand Creams

Eleos Aromatique Hand Balm

This intensely hydrating balm is enriched with skin-softening botanical butters and oils to instantly hydrate skin without leaving it feeling greasy or slick. It not only absorbs fast, but smells incredible—spicy and earthy with notes of cedar, clove and patchouli.

Aesop Eleos aromatique hand balm

Eleos Aromatique hand balm,

$35
at
Aesop

Extreme Dry Hand Relief Cream

If you’re looking for an easy drugstore find that hits well above its weight, this cream forms a “glove-like” protective barrier against moisture loss. Formulated with eucalyptus extract and Vitamin E, it works for up to 24 hours and through multiple hand washes, so no need to reapply.

Curél Extreme dry hand relief cream

Curél Extreme dry hand relief cream (3-pack),

$13.44
at
Amazon.com

Ultimate Strength Hand Salve

Great for guys with naturally dry hands. This is a thick, heavy-duty salve that still absorbs cleanly. Formulated with shea butter, avocado oil and sesame seed oil, it locks in moisture and a little goes a long way, so it’s worth the investment.

Kiehl's Ultimate strength hand salve

Ultimate strength hand salve,

$34
at
Kiehl's

Industrial Strength Hand Healer

Ideal for gym-goers or anyone dealing with cracking around knuckles and nails, this vitamin-infused cream not only moisturizes but repairs hands. Special conditioners help diminish tough calluses while healing cracks and unsightly cuticles.

Jack Black Industrial strength hand healer

Jack Black Industrial strength hand healer,

$16
/
$12.80
at
Amazon.com

Lip Balms

PLAY SPF Lip Balm

Don’t forget the SPF just because it’s winter. This liquid balm—a hydrating blend of shea butter and natural oils—is easy to apply thanks to an angled squeeze tip. It’s both lightweight and yet extremely nourishing.

Supergoop! PLAY SPF lip balm

Supergoop! PLAY SPF lip balm,

$12
at
Amazon.com

Lip Repair Balm

Not the sexiest balm, but this is a powerful and hydrating balm. The unscented formula smoothes on lips and stays put for hours. Plus, the oval-shaped tube is easier to keep in your pocket.

O'Keefe's Lip repair balm

O'Keefe's Lip repair balm (2-pack),

$6.48
at
Amazon.com

Medicated Moisturizing Lip Balm

A more beneficial take on a classic balm, Burt’s medicated formula is infused with eucalyptus oil and soothing menthol, to offer relief from pain and itching related to a cold sore winter dryness.

Burt's Bees Medicated moisturizing lip balm

Burt's Bees Medicated moisturizing lip balm (2-pack),

$8.29
/
$7.05
at
Amazon.com

Advanced Healing Lip Balm

Great for extreme dryness and cracked lips, this is also an ideal nighttime balm. Layer it on thick before bed and let it heal windburn and cracks overnight. 

Vaseline Advanced healing lip balm

Vaseline Advanced healing lip balm,

$2.18
at
Walmart

Don’t Neglect
Your Body

Here’s what we learned while testing over a dozen different body moisturizers: having hydrated skin can come with some surprising secret side effects. We’ve compiled the best ones to suit any man’s needs (and budget).

Where to Keep Your Kit

+ Coat pocket

+ Work bag

+ Desk drawer

+ Car console

+ Nightstand

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