Also, there is a product that you can find in many office supply stores. It's called "Tacky Finger" and secretaries use it to keep fingers moistened for sorting papers, etc. It's a waxy, yellowish, semi-clear, paraffin-looking substance that's not too greasy.

Another nice feature of this product is that it comes in a handy little plastic dispenser box that fits nicely and unobtrusively in your close-up case or show supplies box.

Highly recommended.

I also use "Tacky Finger" and if you never could do a perfect "Second Deal" try it!! You will be an "Expert" on Second Dealing in a few minutes. As Geoff said: Highly Recommended.
Wizard

While I can't agree that a substance that improves your grip will make you an expert in a few minutes, it certainly is helpful for those with dry skin.

shooooo...

My hands are feelin' better just readin' all these solutions!!

I use Paquins lotion. You can find it in ANY drugstore.

John Cesta

My hands are bone dry all the time. One tip I found somewhere on one of the more inferior (sucking up in progress) magical message boards is the feminine hygeine product whose name rhymes with "magisil". One application to the palms and fingers allowed me to palm coins and do the Erdnase Color Change without my usual practice of licking the pad on the end of my little finger and transferring some of the moisture to the heel of the palm. I am definitely going to give the Golden stuff from Iowa a shot. Without any treatment, I can't palm the sticky side of a Post-It note!

I use Chamberlain's Golden Touch lotion which is sold, in California, in the Longs Drugstores. I use a liberal dose in the morning. But wait a while before handling cards, because it will make your deck sticky. After 20 minutes, most of it will be absorbed into the skin, and I wipe off the excess with a towel.

I carry a very small bottle of the stuff in my vehicle, and one in my close up case. Before a show, I'll just dab a very small amount on and rub it in thoroughly.

For those of you who have difficulty finding it, you can buy it from Martin Lewis. I also am quite sure that it is what is being sold as the "Frank Garcia" lotion.

Cornhuskers lotion is more readilly available, but I definitely prefer Golden Touch.

Drummers use a product I believe is called "Gorilla Snot" that supposedly works quite well....learned of this from a Geoffrey Durham lecture (popular UK magician).

Gorilla Snot is a product also used by guitarists to help them hold onto their picks. It can be found in almost any well-stocked music store here in the US.

Sorry for bumping this thread wondering if in the past 10 years anything new has come to market

I've written a fairly detailed essay on this topic, which some may find useful.

It dispels a few myths as well.

Nice write up Doug. Everyone has to experiment until they find what works best for them.

I'm with Steve, try all that has been suggested and use the search function to look this topic up (it gets discussion 4-5 times a year)!

MMc

FASCINATING!

Thanks for taking the timer to share your research and expertise!

If my hands are to slippery for the cards I use pure glycerine on the finger tops only,
and wipe it well with a clean handkerchief, this prevents residue on the cards.

Merlin

Doug

Just out of curiosity does the corn huskers lotion have a strong fragrance smell?

Loopback asked:
Not at all. I know the ingredient list includes "fragrance", but it's not a noticeable one.

Wow!I had assumed that I was just clumsey and arthritic. Not being a woman, it didn't occur to me to use a hand lotion. LOL

I used to use "Quick Sort" but I tried O'Keeffe's "Working Hands" after reading about it on the Café and it works great. Can't say enough good things about that stuff. It doesn't seem to leave any residue on the cards, and it provides just the right amount of friction. Makes all sorts of fales counts, DLs and TLs much easier.

http://www.amazon.com/Chamberlain-Golden......04W5VD5U

Online ordering is simple.

Here's another vote for Corn Huskers. It gives me a tire-tread grip when handling cards or coins.