In a joyful flourish, Runaan’s hands moved as if by their own prerogative; tangling in his hair as he stroked the strands of his ponytail happily. He leaned into Ethari, feeling each inch of him against himself. He twirled and caressed his hair, feeling his euphoria encompass him like magic.

• balms of various sorts even chapstick if that's what you have. the base of the balm will influence the texture. you got shea butter, coco butter, tallow is apparently in this year, bag balm i think is just straight up lanolin (smells kinda smoky and manly too if that matters to you)
• oils of various sorts. they can be solid or liquid, avocado, almond, even olive oil is good.
• body butters (like a very thick sometimes whipped lotion)
• hand creams of various textures and scents (or lack of scents)
• if you're a plant person you can get an aloe plant and just pull off a stalk whenever your hands feel dry
• vaseline/petroleum jelly products like aquaphor
• apparently they make lotion to use in the shower, probably leaves less residue
• they make spray moisturizers too

• the best time to oil up is right after showering/washing your hands. i personally also feel like it leaves less of a lingering residue feeling this way.
• human skin doesn't absorb coconut oil. that's why they use it in lube. it's not gonna do shit for your hands. don't pay extra for it.
• collagen is a macromolecule and cannot be absorbed through the skin. don't pay extra for it.
• the number one thing you can do for your skin in the long term is wear spf. yes even in the winter. the uv rays are still there even when it's cold. yk what's worse than wrinkles? cancer
• exfoliants and astringents can really fuck up your moisture barrier, avoid those so you don't need as much moisturizer in the first place

ALT

ALT

• i may be preaching to the choir here on tumblr.org but more expensive doesn't mean better. you gotta check the ingredients and know what to look for. and don't fall for buzzwords/trendy ingredients either! just because it's popular right now doesn't mean it'll do anything (see coconut oil and collagen above)
• remember that everybody's skin is different and also everyone has different sensory preferences so what works for someone else may nor work for you. the reverse is also true a texture that makes some people's soul crawl out of their body might be the perfect alternative for you.
• no seriously anybody who thinks alcohol belongs in skin products is a sadist who cannot be trusted. that is EVIL.
• moisturizing hand soap/body wash can help you skin avoid drying out in the first place.
• if you like mint, you can try stuff with menthol in it. the cooling sensation might distract you from the slimy sensation.
• it's pretty easy to make your own custom stuff if you know what ingredients you like. you can get the ingredients at pretty much any craft store. i believe tkb trading and brambleberry are good places to look online
• remember that most of the things that benefit your skin also benefit another part of your body, so a lot of times it's actually better to get those nutrients through your food/oral supplements than applied topically.
• drink water

• I recommend getting a humidifier and running it in your room overnight
• OP already mentioned moisturizing soaps. There are also some good soap alternatives out there that (according to my allergist) clean your hands just fine. I use Cetaphil (or store brand equivalent). This one is a bit slimy and can leave a residue so it's not for everyone.
• Always wear gloves/mittens when you go out in cold weather. If gloves a sensory nightmare for you, at least make sure your coat has pockets you can put your hands in and try to minimize the time your hands are exposed to the cold dry air
• Put little containers of lotion (or your chosen alternative) around your house where you will see and use them regularly, especially near your sinks. If you leave the house often have some moisturizer to bring with you
• If you have really bad dry skin (skin that cracks or looks scaly, itches, oozes, or is discolored) and regular moisturizers don't work for you, you might have eczema! Eczema is not always a year round thing, mine always flares up in the fall and goes away in the spring. Talk to your doctor about a prescription ointment/lotion/cream

1. Yes, this is stupid
2. It does work to disrupt unhelpful behavior
3. If it's Stupid but it works, its not stupid.