You've just done the dishes. Your hands feel tight, dry, a bit raw. You reach for the hand cream and think: just part of the deal, isn't it.
It doesn't have to be.
Why does washing up liquid dry out your hands?
Most conventional washing up liquids are built around one job: cutting through grease fast. And they do it well. The problem is the ingredients that make them so effective — mainly synthetic surfactants — don't just lift grease from your plates. They lift the natural oils from your skin at the same time.
Your skin has a natural protective barrier that keeps moisture in and irritants out. According to the British Skin Foundation, repeated exposure to harsh detergents is one of the most common causes of contact dermatitis — the dry, irritated, sometimes cracked skin that people who wash up frequently often experience.
Every time you wash up with a harsh formula, that barrier takes a hit. Do it twice a day and your hands never quite get a chance to recover.
Is plant-based washing up liquid better for sensitive skin?
Yes — and here's why. Plant-based washing up liquids use gentler surfactants derived from natural sources rather than petroleum. They still cut through grease properly — that part is non-negotiable — but they work without stripping your skin in the process.
If your hands are consistently dry and tight after washing up, your washing up liquid is the most obvious place to start. It's a small change. You'll notice it within a week.
Our Rhubarb Washing Up Liquid is plant-based and made specifically for hands that are at the sink every single day. No harsh surfactants, no unnecessary additives.
What else helps dry hands after washing up?
Switching your washing up liquid makes the biggest difference, but a few habits help too:
Use warm water rather than hot. Hot water strips skin faster and doesn't actually clean dishes any better. Warm is enough.
Dry your hands properly afterwards. Water evaporating from skin takes moisture with it. Pat them dry rather than leaving them to air dry.
Keep hand cream by the sink. Not as a fix for a bad washing up liquid, but as a good daily habit. Thirty seconds after washing up makes a real difference over time.
Wear gloves if your skin is particularly sensitive. Not glamorous, but genuinely effective for anyone whose hands really struggle.
Does the washing up liquid you use really make that much difference?
More than most people realise. Your hands are at the sink every day. Sometimes twice. The product you use adds up over weeks and months in a way that a single wash never would.
Most of us have just never questioned what's in the bottle under the sink. It was just there, it did the job, and the dry hands became normal.
They don't have to be.
If you want to know more about what goes into our products and why we chose every ingredient, have a read of our ingredients guide — we believe you should know exactly what you're bringing into your home.