No products in the cart.
Table of Contents
The Best Hand Cream for 2023
YOUR ULTIMATE GUIDE TO THE BEST HAND CREAMS TO SAVE YOUR DRY SKIN
Frequent handwashing doesn’t have to mean dry skin. There are plenty of hand creams available that are guaranteed to keep your hands softer than ever, even when you’re spraying alcohol on them multiple times a day. From shea butter infused to fragrance-free, here are some of the best hand creams that will make your hands softer than a baby’s bottom.
WHAT ARE THE BEST HAND CREAMS?
Editor's Choice  Best Overall |  Best for Sensitive Skin |  Best Hand Cream for Travel |
Eucerin Advanced Repair Hand CreamThis all-in-one hand cream moisturizes your hands, repairs dry and chapped skin, and can be used by all skin types. | Aveeno Intense Relief Hand CreamIf you have sensitive skin, then Aveeno Intense Relief Hand Cream is the one for you. It relieves dryness and irritation in seconds and it has a thick but hydrating consistency | L’Occitane Shea Butter Hand CreamThis is the hand cream if you love traveling as it comes in a travel-friendly compartment, making it easy to bring wherever you want to go. |
Functionality: Quality: Price: | Functionality: Quality: Price: | Functionality: Quality: Price: |
LET’S GO OVER EACH HAND CREAM
#1: EUCERIN ADVANCED REPAIR HAND CREAM
Topping off our list is the Eucerin Advanced RepXair Ha nd Cream which features two powerful ingredients: urea and lactic acid. Urea is a natural moisturizing factor that can help the skin hold onto water, keeping it looking plump and ultra-healthy. It’s also a mild keratolytic agent, meaning it can help remove scaliness and help smooth out really dry skin.
High amounts of urea have been linked to effective treatments for skin disorders related to dryness, so if you’ve got a rough case of ichthyosis or eczema, try to look for urea in your skincare products.
The rich cream also features another cool ingredient: lactic acid. A favorite among those who have dry and sensitive skin, lactic acid is a mild exfoliant (an AHA, to be exact) that speeds up skin cell turnover without irritating the skin. Did we mention it’s free of fragrance and non-greasy, too?
PROS AND CONS OF THE EUCERIN ADVANCED REPAIR HAND CREAM
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔️ Great for repairing cracked hands ✔️ Provides volume ✔️ Gently exfoliates to reveal brighter skin ✔️ Doesn’t leave the hands feeling greasy ✔️ Fragrance-free formula | ✖️ A little costly |
#2: AVEENO INTENSE RELIEF HAND CREAM
The Aveeno Intense Relief Hand Cream was created specifically for sensitive skin. It’s free of fragrance and non-greasy, and although it doesn’t absorb quite as quickly, it leaves the hands feeling silky smooth. If your concern is irritated skin, then this product is perfect as it contains no fragrances and generally has a very mild and nourishing formula.
You’ll find a similar variation sold under another name in the US, where it’s called the Aveeno Skin Relief Intense Moisture Cream. The formulation is similar; both are free of fragrance and rich in nourishing ingredients, and both contain soothing oatmeal to keep the hands smooth in-between hand washings.
PROS AND CONS OF THE AVEENO INTENSE RELIEF HAND CREAM
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔️ A soothing hand cream ✔️ Ideal for sensitive skin ✔️ Intense hydration and relief | ✖️ Thick formula |
#3: L’OCCITANE SHEA BUTTER HAND CREAM
They say the best things come in small packages. That’s certainly true when it comes to the crowd’s favorite L’Occitane Shea Butter cream.
The shea butter formula packed with natural ingredients like coconut oil and honey leaves your hands moisturized and smelling more scrumptious than ever. This buttery product is Glamour beauty editor Lindsay Schallon’s personal favorite.
It’s great for cracked skin and leaves behind no greasy feeling. It’s also our pick for traveling because not only is it compact, but it’s protective enough to save your hands from outdoor elements like extremely cold weather or any potential irritants. Plus, it never hurts to smell great when you’re out and about.
PROS AND CONS OF THE L’OCCITANE SHEA BUTTER HAND CREAM
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔️ Contains 20% organic shea butter ✔️ Can soothe dry, chapped hands ✔️ Hydrating formula with natural ingredients | ✖️ Expensive |
#4: BURT’S BEES ALMOND & MILK HAND CREAM
Our pick for the best moisturizing hand cream is this Burt’s Bees gem. Made with sweet almond oil, vitamin E, and 99% natural-origin ingredients, this is one of the best hand creams for dry skin by far.
If you wash your hands frequently and find that your skin dries up pretty quickly, then this is a great go-to. The cream has a soft, silky consistency that makes even just putting it on an act of self-care.
The almond oil provides nutrients to dry, flaked skin in just a matter of seconds, without leaving behind any residue or a sticky sensation that often plagues many thicker creams. That way you can keep working with your hands as normal.
PROS AND CONS OF THE BURT’S BEES ALMOND & MILK HAND CREAM
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔️ Moisturizing for all skin types ✔️ Must-have for dryness and chapped skin ✔️ Feels lightweight ✔️ Rich in almond oil and vitamin E | ✖️ Doesn’t contain SPF |
#5: KIEHL’S ULTIMATE STRENGTH HAND SALVE
Often, we underestimate the importance of hydration and skin repair in aging skin. That’s why we named this Kiehl’s hand cream the best hand cream for aging hands.
As we age, it’s normal for our skin to lose moisture and be more susceptible to sun damage, which is why it’s even more important to make the very best hand creams a part of our routine.
This product contains glycerin, allantoin, avocado oils, and aloe barbadensis leaf juice, all of which work together triple-time to retain moisture in the skin without making the hands feel greasy.
Apart from constant hand washing, those who require gloves at work may love this formula’s hydrating feel and protective film.
PROS AND CONS OF THE KIEHL’S HAND SALVE
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔️ Offers intense repair ✔️ Doesn’t leave hands feeling greasy ✔️ Great for plumping aged skin ✔️ Contains avocado oil and natural oils | ✖️ No exfoliating ingredients |
HOW DO YOU CHOOSE THE BEST HAND CREAM?
If you’ve yet to add a hand cream to your daily routine, you might get intimidated by the plethora of options available. There are great products at just about every price point suited for different kinds of skin. So, where do you begin?
First, it’s best to determine how sensitive your skin is. Are you allergic at all to fragrances? Essential oils? If so, then there are plenty of hand creams that are free of fragrance to keep your hands smooth all day long.
Another factor to consider is texture. Do you prefer a thick cream or a light gel? A fast-absorbing product might be useful if you have active hands as they won’t leave them greasy for too long. We recommend buying sample sizes of hand creams or testing them in person if you’re picky with consistency and formula.
THE SECRET INGREDIENT FOR EXTREMELY DRY SKIN
It’s also worth noting how often you use your hands throughout the day. Those who do manual labor may be more prone to chapped, cracked hands, as well as sun exposure. This may require an intensive moisturizing hand cream with ingredients that can both hydrate and exfoliate. Look for humectants like aloe vera, glycerin, collagen, colloidal oatmeal, honey, and more.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Which cream is best for the hands?
We’ve given you our top five best hand cream brands, but there are a few unmentioned ones that are equally deserving of the limelight. Here are four more hand creams to watch out for:
- The Body Shop Argan Oil Hand Cream — Argan oil is dubbed “liquid gold” for a reason. This Body Shop natural hand cream is pretty magical at keeping the skin so soft you’ll want to rub this all over your body.
- Love Beauty and Planet Rose Hand Cream — Contains murumuru butter, an emollient that has awesome anti-inflammatory properties, and a rose scent that will leave you fresh all day.
- Ouai Hand Lotion — Rosehip, avocado, and jojoba oils come together in an ultra-moisturizing hand cream from Ouai. If you’re okay with fragrances in your products, then this will leave your hand smelling sweet and citrusy.
- Olive and June Hand Serum — Constantly going for a mani-pedi, but find that your nail beds get a little thin and peel off in the process? This hand cream-nail cream combo is a must-have.
What is America’s number one hand cream?
There is no specific number one hand cream in America as different hand creams offer different solutions for each of their needs. But some of the top brands include:
- Best drugstore: Norwegian Formula Hand Cream
- Best budget: Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand
- Most Affordable: CeraVe Therapeutic Hand Cream
- For UV protection: Eucerin Daily Hydration Hand Cream with SPF 3.
What is best for aging hands?
As we age, our hands can become dry, and rough, and will show signs of aging such as dark spots and wrinkles. To address these concerns, it’s important to use a hand cream that provides deep hydration and contains ingredients that can help to improve the appearance of aging hands. Here are some ingredients to look for in hand cream:
- Retinol: This vitamin A derivative can help to reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and age spots on the hands.
- Vitamin C: This antioxidant can help to brighten and even out skin tone, reducing the appearance of age spots and discoloration.
- Hyaluronic acid: This ingredient can help to hydrate and plump the skin, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
- Shea butter: This natural ingredient can help to deeply moisturize and nourish the skin, improving its texture and appearance.
- Niacinamide: This form of vitamin B3 can help to improve skin elasticity and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Here are some hand creams that contain these ingredients:
- L’Oreal Paris Age Perfect Hydra Nutrition Manuka Honey All Over Balm – this balm is formulated with manuka honey and calcium to deeply nourish and restore aging hands.
- Natura Bisse Diamond Extreme Hand Cream – this luxurious hand cream contains retinol and hyaluronic acid to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines, while also hydrating the skin.
- Juice Beauty Green Apple Age Defy Hand Cream – this hand cream contains vitamin C and niacinamide to brighten and even out skin tone, reducing the appearance of age spots and discoloration.
- Supergoop! Forever Young Hand Cream with Sea Buckthorn SPF 40 – this hand cream contains sea buckthorn and antioxidants to protect against sun damage, which can contribute to aging hands.
Remember to apply hand cream frequently throughout the day to keep your hands hydrated and nourished.
CONCLUSION
There’s no reason to suffer through dry and chapped hands when you’ve got incredible hand cream options at just about every price point. Did you find your favorite hand cream here? Let us know in the comments below!
Editor’s Choice
EUCERIN ADVANCED REPAIR HAND CREAM
Do you have cracked hands from working all day? Worry not. The Eucerin Advanced Repair Hand Cream contains urea, an incredible humectant that can help with cracks, fissures, and even scaliness.
So you can guess that even extremely dry skin is no problem for this heavy-duty hand cream, and that’s why it’s on the top of our list.
Joey is an AB Psychology graduate of the University of St. La Salle – Bacolod. Her life’s passions include writing, film, and spending hours on end binge-watching fashion vloggers on Youtube.