A decade ago, scientists at the International Society of Dermatology reported that one in three Americans suffered from dry skin, and a whopping 45% reported sensitive or very sensitive skin. And that was pre-pandemic, when most of us were far less vigilant about our hand hygiene.

So with the dry air and cold temps, plus increased hand washing and sanitizing, winter 2021 presents pretty much the perfect storm for parched, sore, flaky, and cracked skin.

Stay up to date on what healthy means now.

Dry hands are a pain—and painful—throughout the day, but especially when cooking (lemon juice, stay away!) and cleaning in the kitchen. A hot sink full of sudsy H2O can exacerbate the aches and cracks, so what's a dry-skinned home cook to do? Slather on a moisturizing lotion or hand mask and slip on a pair of MITALOO Magic Dishwashing Cleaning Sponge Gloves as the sink fills with soap and water.

The reusable silicone gloves are elastic, durable, and sturdy up to very high heats. Plus, the palms are covered in a brush-like scrubbing surface to help dislodge any stubborn grime on dirty dishes.

The "Magic Gloves" are also magnificent multitaskers. Use them for dishes, of course; then sanitize them through a cycle in the dishwasher and try your hand at sponge glove-washing the car, scrubbing fruits and vegetables, brushing up pet hair, and more.

One reviewer says, "I AM SUPER-IMPRESSED! I was able to scrub the char off grill racks without having to pre-soak them. Not only are they great for scrubbing cooked-on food and grease, these babies were also able to assist in taking hot dishware out of the oven and grabbing hot skillet handles off the stove! They were really comfortable and super-effective."

Another added, "My hands dry out really easily so using these gloves to do dishes have saved my skin!"

Americans already despise doing dishes, apparently. According to a 2019 survey by OnePoll on behalf of Yelp, washing dishes and cleaning the kitchen ranks as the #1 most-hated chore, ahead of doing laundry, vacuuming, and even scrubbing the bathroom shower and toilet. But if you can protect and moisturize your hands while you do so, it can be a much more comfortable—and slightly more enjoyable—experience, we think!

To buy: $9.99; amazon.com

Want to make mealtimes stress-free and delicious? Subscribe to the Cooking Light Diet! Start receiving customizable meal plans featuring thousands of healthy recipes for less than $2 per week.

Source: Read Full Article