In winter, the gardener and the armchair reader likely have one thing in common: chapped, dry hands, whether from the cold outdoor air or from the dry heat of the fire.
Herbal Skin Balm from West Coast apothecary S/he Studio has “calendula flower, comfrey leaf, chamomile, and lavender,” and can be used anywhere there’s dry, chapped skin.
Smith’s Rosebud Salve is a trusty standby; it’s has been around since 1895, when it was first made in Woodsboro, Maryland.
A tube of Gardener’s Hand Salve from Switzerland-based apothecary Green Laboratorium has olive, beeswax, and Vitamin E, among other ingredients; $21.92 via Etsy.
We’ve long been fans of the All Heal Salve from Toronto-based herbalist Denise Williams, which soothes skin with ingredients including comfrey, burdock, plantain leaf, chamomile, and lavender (we like it so much that we included it in our Gardenista 100 list of timeless products in the Gardenista book).
This handsome jar of Maker’s Hand Balm by Old Faithful is intended for potters, woodworkers, and others who make things with their hands—a group that surely includes gardeners. It’s hand-blended in Wales with shea butter and calendula; £27 ($35.96) from The Future Kept.
A tin of A to Z All-Purpose Healing Balm with comfrey, calendula, and peppermint from Field Apothecary in New York’s Hudson Valley is $20 (and is also available via Alder + Co).