I Thought Nothing Could Transform My Scaly Shins—Then I Tried This Deep-Conditioning Body Treatment
Sure, I’m a beauty editor, but I’d be lying if I said my skincare routine was perfect. Case in point? I will always, always remove my makeup before heading to bed, but sometimes that’s all I can muster before I’m way too heavy-lidded to bother with serums and creams. I’m human! I also love hot, steamy showers despite knowing they’re not too friendly for my skin barrier, especially during winter when the arid air already robs it of moisture. Sorry, but the chill in my bones takes precedence!
But my skin—namely, the scaly, borderline-reptilian skin on my shins—isn’t too happy with my cold-weather choices, which means I have to course-correct once the temperature finally starts to rise (aka, right about now). I’ve tested hundreds of bodycare products (exfoliators, butters, oils, et al.) over the years to replenish my skin back to its smooth, balmy-day sheen, and truly nothing has worked as effectively and immediately as my most recent addition: Hanni’s Splash Salve. Seriously—I was floored after just one use. It’d be a crime to gatekeep, so allow me to introduce you to the game-changing deep conditioner for dry skin.
What Is Hanni’s Splash Salve?
The whipped formula is described as an “in-shower deep-conditioning treatment,” which might understandably raise some confusion. Shouldn’t you apply body creams, oils, and lotions after showering to trap in all the lingering moisture? Generally, yes, but Splash Salve is no ordinary body butter. It’s a body treatment you use after cleansing and before slathering on lotion post-rinse.
Think of it like a repairing hair mask you might use on a weekly basis: You’d apply after shampooing to feed your strands hair-healthy nutrients, wash it out after a few minutes, then follow up with leave-in conditioner (plus hair oil and gel, mousse, or curl cream, if you feel so inclined) to keep all that hydration from seeping out. Splash Salve is that in-shower treatment step for your skin; for cracked, rough, flaky areas screaming for moisture, it’s essentially a five-star meal.
How It Works
Splash Salve may have the whipped, fluffy consistency of a rich body cream, but its application is completely unique. After cleansing your body as usual, apply a generous scoop of product directly onto wet skin. (I focus it on my legs, as that’s where I’m driest at the moment, but you can apply it anywhere you please.) Massage it in, wait for a beat to let it absorb, then rinse without scrubbing. That last bit is important—you don’t want to completely slough off all those precious butters and oils! Your skin should actually feel a little slick post-rinse.
After stepping out of the shower, gently pat your skin dry—again, to avoid stripping those nourishing ingredients off the skin—and follow up with your body hydrator of choice. (Mine happens to be another Hanni product, but more on that later!) Your skin will continue to drink up those healthy hydrators (jojoba oil, shea butter, coconut oil, and glycerin, to name a few) and air-dry with a nice, comfortable sheen—nary a flake in sight.
My Experience and Results
Like I said, I thought nothing could completely smooth the scaly skin on my shins before I tried this product—and trust me, I approached the whole “in-shower body treatment” with a healthy dose of skepticism. I thought it might be a marketing ploy to get me to add yet *another* product in my already-crowded routine (there’s not even a sliver of space on my shower shelves, as you can probably assume), yet the buttery formula lives up to every single one of its lofty claims: smooth skin texture, deeper-than-deep hydration, and a lingering glow that lasts over 24 hours. My own cashmere-soft limbs are proof. Not for nothing, the formula smells incredible with notes of rose, pink pepper, geranium, jasmine, amber, and honey wood. Even when I rinse off the salve, I can still smell the subtle aroma—like an intimate skin scent that mingles with your body chemistry.
Now, you don’t have to follow up with a lotion post-shower if you use this salve (it’s moisturizing enough on its own!), which means it does technically streamline your bodycare routine. Rather than applying another hydrator all over—and potentially dealing with sticky limbs as you dress—Splash Salve is an in-the-shower venture you can lather on in seconds and quickly rinse off. No mess whatsoever. My skin has been in dire need of TLC, though, so I personally need an extra veil of hydration. I’ve been applying the brand’s Water Balm—a lightweight lotion mist—right after toweling off, and it works beautifully with the Salve to keep my skin nourished, never greasy.
Here’s a photo I recently took this spring. Not a dry patch in sight!
I’ve been keeping up with this routine for about a month, and I can confidently say it has become my number one spring skin savior. (Say that five times fast!) The flaky, itchy skin on my shins has healed in a blink—so speedy that I wish I had hopped on the Hanni bandwagon sooner so I could prevent that dryness from cropping up in the first place (which, for the record, has never happened). Alas, there’s always next winter—stay tuned for the true test.
Shop the Routine
I like to spritz on this lightweight mist right after stepping out of the shower. As someone with a genuine fear of greasy body lotions, I’m happy to report that it never leaves my skin feeling sticky.
Hanni’s high-quality products are A+ for streamlining your shower routine. This no-rinse gel stick, for instance, preps skin for shaving without the need for proper shaving cream. No lather, no mess.
Hanni
The Weighted Razor Kit
As someone who used to pick up any ol’ disposable razor at the drugstore, let me tell you a top-notch razor makes such a difference in the quality and longevity of your shave. Hanni’s weighted tool, inspired by professional barbershop shaves, has an effortless glide for extra-smooth skin.
Dry, rough areas (like my knees, elbows, and shins) are no match for this nourishing moisture stick.
More Body Moisturizers I Love
Tronque
Vitamin C Body Oil
Talk about radiance. This vitamin C–infused body oil not only provides an immediate glow but also maintains it long-term.
SALT & STONE
Saffron & Cedar Body Lotion
I cannot get enough of this saffron and cedar scent. If I close my eyes, my dingy apartment bathroom becomes a luxury hotel.
Sol de Janeiro
Glowmotions Glow Body Oil
Excuse me while I slather on this bronzing body oil all summer long.
Josie Maran
Whipped Argan Oil Refillable Firming Body Butter – Golden Hour
Rich, spreadable texture and firming benefits aside, this is one of the best-smelling body creams in the game. Golden Hour, a sensual blend of amber, santal, and white musk, evokes a perfectly sun-drenched afternoon.
PATRICK TA
Major Glow Balm
I honestly don’t know what I did before this Glow Balm came into my life. I tap it on my collarbones and shoulders before every important event.
