I tried a $10.70 item from Chemist Warehouse that claims to heal dry winter skin in seconds: 'Works better than all of my expensive beauty buys'

Daily Mail​

10-07-2025

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Whether it's shivering through windy evening soccer training sessions, braving frosty early morning games, cranking up the heating at home, or vigorously washing my hands to ward off cold and flu - winter has wreaked havoc on my hands this year.
And my skin is letting me know.
Tightness, dryness, cracked knuckles, splitting around the nail beds and rough, red webbing between the fingers: all signs of how harsh winter can be on our hands. It's uncomfortable and ageing.
So when I wrote about DU'IT Tough Hands Intensive Hand Cream being the top selling hand cream for dry hands in Australia* a few weeks ago, I immediately popped into my local Chemist Warehouse to snap one up.
The utilitarian packaging, including an image of a man's hand curled in a fist, and even the name Tough Hands may scream 'for blokes!', but don't let that deter you.
While its shelf appeal is not exactly targeting the skincare girlies, Tough Hands' efficacy will impress everyone. This product is seriously effective - and bonus: it comes without the pink tax, costing just $10.69.
My first use delivered immediate relief from the discomfort of sore, cracked skin. After two to three applications, my hands felt nourished and soft again.
While many hand creams I've used that are made for dry or sensitive hands tend to be dense and thick in texture, Tough Hands has more of a lighter, creamy gel consistency, and a very mild scent.
A pea-sized amount rubbed well into the hands for 20 seconds or so leaves a slightly tacky feel on the skin which lasts a couple of minutes, before it is absorbed entirely.
Exposure to cold air, indoor heating and increased hand washing left my hands irritated (left), but now my hands are nourished and soft again, back to pre-winter condition (right)
DU'IT Tough Hands Intensive Hand Cream
Shop the top selling hand cream for dry hands in Australia*
$10.69 Shop
Any redness, cracks and dry patches disappeared after just one day, replaced with supple, soft, glowing skin.
I've been using Tough Hands for two weeks now, a couple of times throughout the day and always before bed.
My skin is hydrated and my nail beds are no longer broken and jagged. My hands look and feel restored to their pre-winter condition.
This $10.69 budget buy works better than many of my pricey big name beauty creams. The results are both instantaneous and long lasting.
While it may not look all that pretty amongst the more luxurious lotions and potions on my bedside table or vanity, it's what's inside that counts.
I'm a convert - and my bank balance is happier for it, given my previous favourite costs $55 for the same amount.
DU'IT Tough Hands is packed with powerful, skin-loving ingredients designed to repair, hydrate, and protect.
The hero ingredient in the dermatologist-tested formula is 10 per cent urea, a natural skin conditioner that helps seal cracks and maintain the skin's moisture barrier.
Working alongside it is sodium PCA, a deeply hydrating ingredient that enhances urea's ability to lock in moisture and prevent dryness.
Vitamin E supports the skin's natural healing process and boosts hydration, while AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids) gently exfoliate to slough away dead skin and smooth rough patches or calluses.
To protect hands from further damage, dimethicone forms a breathable, non-greasy barrier that helps prevent water loss. Lemon myrtle and tea tree oils offer natural antimicrobial benefits, helping to reduce irritation and support minor wound healing.
Free from parabens, petrolatum, mineral oil, lanolin, and propylene glycol, DU'IT Tough Hands is suitable for all skin types, including those with eczema or diabetes.
*Circana, Hand & Nail Category, Grocery & Pharmacy, March 2024