NHS nurse Antonia Philp appeared on Dragons’ Den with her brand Nursem, which has since earned rave reviews from healthcare workers and shoppers for its highly-rated hand cream
Anyone working in a role that involves frequent hand washing will be familiar with the struggle to keep skin hydrated. Regular washing dehydrates the skin barrier, leading to cracking, dryness and sometimes bleeding fingers and palms.
This is what inspired NHS nurse Antonia Philp, who took to Dragons’ Den with her brainchild, Nursem, revealing that her ‘hands at times bled’ following washing them ’50-60 times a day’.
Beyond impressing Dragons Deborah Meaden and Peter Jones, healthcare professionals and customers have showered the brand’s Nursem Caring Hand Cream Fragrance Free with Manuka Honey NPA+15 75ml with glowing testimonials online, flocking to retailers like Boots and Space NK to sing the product’s praises.
For those curious about what makes Nursem’s £9.99 Caring Hand Cream so attractive, it’s undergone dermatological testing and received sensitive skin approval, while being mild enough for everyday application. The brand claims the ultra-gentle formula is crafted to shield hands from relentless washing, working to calm tender and inflamed palms and fingers.
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Of course, it’s not exclusively those obliged to wash their hands regularly who can experience uncomfortable palms, as Nursem states on its website that the cream is ‘widely used by people with chronic skin conditions including eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis, rosacea and more. ‘
Now, those keen to sample the Caring Hand Cream Fragrance Free 75ml can snap them up for less, as the brand’s unscented option has arrived at Boots and they’re offering customers 25% off with the code NURSEM25 at checkout, reducing the price to £7.49. Anyone wanting to take advantage of this deal will need to act quickly, though, as the discount expires on July 28, 2026, reports Birmingham Live.
Shop the Nursem Caring Hand Cream
The Nursem Caring Hand Cream Fragrance Free With Manuka Honey NPA+15 is now available at Boots.
The cream uses medical-grade Manuka Honey and White Willow Extract alongside a rich blend of Allantoin and Pro Vitamin B5 to immediately moisturise the skin. Plant oils and Glycerin are also used to help restore the protective barrier that retains moisture.
If Nursem’s product doesn’t suit, then elsewhere at Amazon, O’Keeffe’s Working Hands 58ml is £4.32, down from £6.49. It offers a protective barrier to the skin’s surface that helps to seal in moisture.
Meanwhile, at Cult Beauty, shoppers may wish to opt for the Avène Cicalfate Restorative Hand Cream for Very Dry Cracked Hands 100ml, which is priced at £13. It’s been created to minimise tightness, dryness and irritation.
Nursem Caring Hand Cream has been receiving high praise online. One buyer at Boots said: “Bought as part of a birthday present for a friend, who suffers with dry and cracked hands due to working with water every day, and she said it was excellent.”
Meanwhile, a second raved: “Honestly, the best hand cream I’ve ever used, left my hands feeling so silky soft, will definitely be a repeat buyer!”
Over at Space NK – where the Unfragranced Caring Hand Cream is also sold priced at £10 – one reviewer said: “This is the best hand cream on the market – deeply hydrating and moisturising and really feels like you’re taking care of your hands. This is perfect for those with heavy-duty jobs that require frequent hand washing.
“The unfragranced option is particularly good for those with sensitive skin. I would highly recommend, especially as this is super good value for money.”
A second was also enthusiastic, commenting: “Holy grail hand cream. I generally hate the feeling of thick/greasy products on my skin, and especially hand cream.
“However, this product absorbs so quickly and so beautifully, making my hands feel buttery soft despite incessant handwashing on my end. I didn’t mind the fragrance of the original cream, but given my skin is on the sensitive side, I did find that it would agitate my hands if they were extra dry.
“This fragrance-free option, however, has never caused me any such issues. I have this cream around me everywhere!
They continued: “Handbag, in the living room, by my bed, at my desk at work. I cannot go anywhere without it, and with how quickly the product absorbs, I’m always reaching for it to keep my hands happy and moisturised.”
It is worth noting that despite one reviewer giving the item five stars, they did note they found they needed to use a decent amount, writing: “This is a really excellent hand cream. It absorbs quickly, it genuinely improves dry skin (though I find you need to use a generous amount, which is fine as it absorbs so quickly) and isn’t irritating to sensitive skin.”
Despite this, another commented: “The GOAT. This is my holy grail daily hand cream.