Of the many body parts that shiver and shrivel up like prunes during the winter, the hands must occupy a special place. My hands dry, crack, peel…become something along the lines of a desert cactus that waits for every sign of a droplet.

So when Clinique’s new Deep Comfort Hand and Cuticle Cream came across my desk, I was joyous to find its thick, creamy consistency that did not leave my hands like a grease pit. The claims are that the cream improves the hydration of the hands for up to 12 hours (time it with an egg timer and you’ll be surprised — the claims don’t lag far from the truth).

What does this cream contain?

– Glycerin and Sodium Hyaluronate; birch extract; vitamins C and E; and a blend of other natural ingredients from barley, wheat and murumuru butters.

There is also a new Deep Comfort Body Wash that complements the cream. The hand cream retails for $17.50 and the Body Wash for $20.

These launch in November at counters and online at Clinique.com