A Tube of This Ultra-Nourishing, $11 Hand Cream Sells Every 6 Seconds—Here’s Why Derms Love It

If the soap and hand sanitizer shortage of 2020 was any indication, most of us are washing our hands more than ever. And while that’s excellent news for keeping us safe from COVID-19 (germ pros say it’s one of the most important things we can do to protect ourselves against the virus), it hasn’t exactly been great for our skin. Repeated washing is known to cause dryness and cracking, which explains why Natura Brasil’s Castanha Hand Cream ($11) has been flying off the shelves as a way to remedy it.

According to the brand, a tube of this particular hand cream sells every six seconds, securing its spot as the #1 best-seller in the category both in the U.S. and worldwide. And with an $11 price point and a drool-worthy ingredient list. The superstar of the formula is something called castanha oil, which is ethically sourced from the Amazon rainforest in Brazil. The oil is extracted from nuts (which grow on some of the oldest trees in the Amazon), pressed by hand, and combined with moisturizing murumuru butter. The result is a thick, non-greasy cream that alleviates dryness and scaling and locks in moisture for more than 30 hours… which means you only need a single application each day.

“This hand cream contains oil from fatty nuts, and is therefore incredibly moisturizing,” says Rachel Nazarian, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in NYC. “The oils also act as a barrier to prevent evaporation of natural moisture from skin into the environment, especially during dry, arid months.”

Natura Brasil Castanha Hand Cream, $11

Shop now: Natura Brasil’s Castanha Hand Cream, $11

One of the most annoying issues with other hand creams on the market is that they leave behind an oily residue, but with this one, that’s not something you have to worry about.   “A quick absorber that hydrates well, like this one, is all the rage these days,” says Mona Gohara, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Connecticut. “Many people don’t like greasy creams that just wash off or [create a barrier] that prohibits sanitizing, and this seems to offer the perfect mix.”

Fans of the cream love it because it’s not sticky, and note that the scent and hydration it offers keeps them coming back for more. It soaks right into your skin, lasts all day, and comes in a tube that’s small enough to throw in your purse so you can bring it with you on all of those socially-distanced ventures into the outside world. As one reviewer put it, “I had dry, older looking hands from years of retail work, and I swear this has taken ten years off of them.” With all of these (derm-approved) checks in the “pro” column, it’s no wonder so many people want to get there literal hands on this stuff.

Dealing with dry skin on your face, too? Check out the video below for some more tips from a derm on how to deal. 

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