I have a similar situation, working with acrylics and often needing to clean brushes with various chemicals. My hands get dry and cracked when paint thinners enter the mix.

Some of the creams I have accumulated look very similar to tubes of paint. I keep them physically separated with a jar in the bathroom for when I need them. I put a small dab on the back of my hand if I am going to use them outside the bathroom, otherwise they stay there.

I had one situation where I mistook cream for a tube of medium and mixed it with paint. I was able to recover, but the project I was working on had a lavender scent. It was not the worst thing in the world, but something I am hoping not to repeat.