(Photo: Nicholas Eveleigh)

The Best Bet
Cold outside, overheated and Sahara-dry inside. That, plus a peculiar local aversion to wearing gloves, means New York hands take an exponentially greater beating in the winter. Freezer burn on your cuticles is not a good look, though; L’Occitane’s Shea Butter Hand Cream is thick but not greasy, with a powdery scent that’s almost unisex and absorbs quickly so there are no greasy fingerprints on your BlackBerry. It also comes in purse- or pocket-size ($23 for a 5.2-ounce tube, $8 for a 1-ounce tube, 92 Prince St., at Mercer St.; 212-219-3310).