Save Your Hands From Dark Spots & Fine Lines With This Retinol Hand Cream Hack

It seems like overnight, body retinol became the thing. Every new launch—from body washes to lotions to hand creams—was infused with the vitamin A derivative.

The "anti-aging" skin care market had clearly set its sights on the skin south of the jawline. They were coming for your neck, legs, knees, and hands. 

And, listen, I'm all about full-body skin care. Skin is skin, no matter where it's located—so I certainly endorse treating the skin on your body with the respect it deserves. Especially the hands: The hands are exposed to external aggressors (pollution, UV rays, wear and tear) much more than the rest of the body. Thus, they experience the telltale signs of damage.

I'm so often tasked with the question from friends and readers who want to know: OK, but do I *need* to go out and purchase retinol hand cream? The simple answer is no, of course not. Your skin care routine can be as basic as you want it to be. 

But if you're dealing with crepey skin, dark spots, and fine lines in the area, you may find yourself curious about what can be done to address these signs of aging.

That's when, yes, retinol does come in handy. However, there's a simple hack to get around having to buy multiple new products. 

If you're just starting out on your retinol journey, rather than buying multiple versions for all different areas of the body, find one serum (check out our favorites here), and use it on both your hands and your face. 

Then during the day, be sure to protect both areas from the sun (use SPF daily!), and hydrate the skin. Retinol can make the skin more dry, sensitive, and susceptible to UV damage, so it's very important to protect and hydrate your skin while on a retinol regimen.