sich eincremen

You need to use reflexive pronouns like mich, dich, or sich. If you are just talking about your whole body, say Ich creme mich ein. If you specify a body part, the pronoun changes slightly. For your hands, you’d say Ich creme mir die Hände ein. It’s a separable verb, so the ein usually jumps to the very end of the sentence. Don't let it get lost back there!

Use it every single day. Use it when you step out of the shower. Use it at the beach before the sun hits your skin. It’s also great for those dry winter days when your hands feel like sandpaper. You can use it with friends, family, or even your doctor. It is a very practical, everyday term.

Don't use this for food. You don't eincremen a piece of bread with butter; you bestreichen it. Also, avoid it for heavy medical ointments on serious wounds. In a hospital, a doctor might say auftragen instead. Using eincremen for a medical procedure might sound a bit too casual or 'spa-like.'

Germans are quite obsessed with skin health and the outdoors. The famous blue Nivea tin is a German staple found in almost every household. There is a strong cultural emphasis on 'Hautpflege' (skin care). On summer vacations, you will see German parents meticulously 'creaming' their kids from head to toe. It’s a ritual of protection against the elements.

You might hear sich einschmieren which is a bit more informal. It implies a thicker, perhaps messier application of lotion. If you are specifically talking about the sun, you can say sich sonneneincremen. For just the face, you’d say sich das Gesicht eincremen. It’s a versatile verb for all your hydration needs.