This morning's temperatures have been brutal—18.5º F when I got up and 18.9º F when I left an hour later. It's no wonder that my hands are dry and chapped and tender. 

But when I got into the studio this morning, I grabbed my tube of Gardeners Hand Therapy and was in heaven. My mother-in-law first gave me Gardeners a couple of years ago when I complained about my nails breaking in the spring and summer after digging in the dirt. It was great for my cuticles and kept my hands soft. Now I make sure that I've always got a tube close by.

When I worked at Theatre In The Park, the technical director used to come into my office on days when he was doing a lot of on-set carpentry and get some of my Gardeners Hand Therapy after washing his hands. It's got a nice, neutral scent that makes it right for anyone.

And over these past few days with arctic temperatures, it's been a lifesaver.

• What type of lotion do you use after serious bouts of gardening?
  
• Do you use it all year round, or just seasonally?
• Got any suggestions for winter-dry hands?