Let’s face it, our hands are at the front line of life. We spend all day exposing them to hot and cold water, soap, sanitiser (the list goes on), then our faces go and get all the skincare glory.
Loading up your hands with moisture is a habit you won’t regret in years to come. Just like our faces, the skin on our hands has a natural barrier that needs nurturing and nourishing, and if it’s not given the TLC it needs, it can become more susceptible to sensitivities such as eczema. Throw in a regular dousing of antibacterial hand sanitiser (because, obvs) and the high quantity of alcohol can leave skin red, itchy and flaky.
So, how do we combat dryness without sacrificing our hygiene? Carry a good hand cream with us… always!
If you're already prone to skin irritations, opt for one that's fragrance-free, like the CeraVe Soothing and Repairing Hand Cream. It contains hydrating hyaluronic acid and ceramides to nourish skin and help heal any flakes or chaps.
If on the other hand (sorry) you find an exotic scent the best escapism on a grey, dreary day, Sol de Janeiro Hand Cream smells like childhood summer holidays, and is enriched with hydrating cupuacu butter and squalane.
If your priority is a hand cream that absorbs instantly without leaving any greasy residue, Soap & Glory's Hand Food is for you. Not only is it super-nourishing, but the fast-dry formula sinks in in seconds, leaving skin feeling soft and plump
An extra tip? If your hands are in need of a serious nourishing treatment, apply a thick layer of hand cream before bed and then pop on some moisturising gloves. They'll lock the hydration in overnight to give your smoother, happier hands come morning.
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Grown Alchemist lookfantastic.com
Grown Alchemist Anti-Bacterial Hand Cream 65ml
2
Sol de Janeiro feelunique.com
Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Touch Hand Cream 50ml
3
BYREDO cultbeauty.co.uk
BYREDO Suede Hand Cream
4
Aveeno Amazon
Aveeno Daily Moisturising Hand Cream 75ml, £3
5
Soap And Glory amazon.co.uk
Soap and Glory Hand Food 50ml
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CeraVe lookfantastic.com
CeraVe Soothing and Repairing Hand Cream 50ml
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Antipodes feelunique.com
Antipodes Deliverance Kowhai Flower Hand Cream 75ml
8
Neutrogena lookfantastic.com
Norwegian Formula Concentrated Hand Cream 75ml
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Neal's Yard Remedies lookfantastic.com
Neal's Yard Remedies Wild Rose Hand Cream 50ml
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KIEHLS selfridges.com
KIEHL'S Ultimate Strength hand salve 150ml
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Lanolips cultbeauty.co.uk
Rose Hand Cream Intense
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Dr. PAWPAW amazon.co.uk
Age Renewal Hand Cream Cocoa & Coconut 30ml - Multi-Purpose Cream, PawPaw Hand Cream, Vegan Hand Cream, Natural Hand Cream, Natural Beauty, Vegan Beauty
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OUAI Haircare cultbeauty.co.uk
Hand Crème
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theorganicpharmacy.com
Marigold & Comfrey Hand Cream, £21.95
Victoria Jowett Digital Beauty Director Victoria Jowett is the Beauty Director at Cosmopolitan UK overseeing all the skincare, hair, makeup and fragrance content across print, digital and video.
Keeks Reid Contributing Beauty Editor Keeks Reid is the Contributing Beauty Editor at Cosmopolitan UK.
Cassie Powney Beauty Editor Cassie Powney, Beauty Editor
Westend61Getty Images
We updated this article in April 2022 to add more information about each featured product, based on extensive research done by our team (and that of our sister team at the Good Housekeeping Institute).
When temperatures fluctuate, your hands protest. Even if you don’t have naturally dry skin, “hands often react to changing temps, moisture-sapping indoor heat, and irritating gloves can lead to cracked, itchy, sometimes bleeding skin—that’s where the best hand creams come in,” says Diane Madfes, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City.
On top of those irritants, another culprit behind your unhappy knuckles is the sun. “The hands are one of the first places that start to show visible signs of aging, as they are often exposed to environmental aggressors like UV radiation, and are constantly being stripped of moisturizing oils from frequent hand washing,” says Tiffany Jow Libby, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist and & Mohs surgeon based in Rhode Island.
In addition, you should also be
washing your hands more often, especially in today’s
COVID-19 era . “Our hands are exposed and constantly being used and washed compared to other body parts,” explains
Yoon-Soo Cindy Bae, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist at the Laser & Skin Surgery Center of New York.
But with a moisturizing and soothing hand lotion, you’ll keep your hands smooth, supple, and way less irritated than they would be alone. “The right cream can help heal your cracked skin and prevent further moisture loss,” says Dr. Madfes.
Of course, it’s important to apply hand cream at night before going to bed, but you’ll also want to stash a bottle next to your sink: In general, you should give your hands a quick squirt of lotion every time you wash to prevent excessive dryness during the day, Dr. Madfes explains.
How we chose the best hand creams
We consulted Dr. Madfes, Dr. Cindy Bae, Dr. Libby,
Heather Woolery-Lloyd, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist based in Florida and member of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, the Good
Housekeeping Institute who tests countless products to ensure a fair and accurate representation of each item, and countless customer reviews to find the best hand creams for healthier skin.
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Best Hand Cream Overall
Advanced Repair Hand Cream Eucerin
Read More
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Best Value Hand Cream
Cicaplast Hand Cream La Roche-Posay
Read More
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Best Hand Cream for Eczema
Therapeutic Hand Cream CeraVe
Read More
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Best Hand Cream for People Who Don’t Like the Feel of Lotion
Norwegian Formula Hand Cream Neutrogena
Read More
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Best Nourishing Hand Cream
Ultra Repair Cream First Aid Beauty
Read More
Best Hand Cream Overall
Eucerin
Advanced Repair Hand Cream
Best Value Hand Cream
La Roche-Posay
Cicaplast Hand Cream
Best Hand Cream for Eczema
CeraVe
Therapeutic Hand Cream
Best Hand Cream for People Who Don’t Like the Feel of Lotion
Neutrogena
Norwegian Formula Hand Cream
Best Nourishing Hand Cream
First Aid Beauty
Ultra Repair Cream
Best Unscented Hand Cream
Avène
Cicalfate Hand Cream
Best Hand Cream for Mature Skin
Weleda
Regenerating Pomegranate Hand Cream
Best Hand Cream With SPF
Supergoop!
Hand Screen SPF 40
Best Hand Cream for Extra-Dry Sensitive Skin
EltaMD
So Silky Hand Crème
Best Scented Hand Cream
Sol de Janeiro
Brazilian Touch Hand Cream
L’Occitane
Shea Butter Hand Cream
Nécessaire
The Hand Cream
O’Keeffe’s
Working Hands Cream
Elizabeth Arden
Eight Hour Hand Cream
Le Labo
Hinoki Hand Pomade
Best Budget Hand Cream
Gold Bond
Ultimate Healing Hand Cream
MRS. MEYER'S CLEAN DAY
Clean Day Hand Lotion
Neutrogena
Hydro Boost Hand Gel Cream
How to choose the best hand cream
When looking for a moisturizing hand cream, scan for the following ingredients, each of which actually works to keep your hands smoother and more moisturized:
✔️ Prevent moisture loss. Look for products that contain petroleum jelly (often listed as petrolatum), ceramides, and dimethicone, which seal in hydration.
✔️ Attract water. Ingredients known as humectants pull water into the skin like a sponge, which gives a plumping effect. Look for glycerin, hyaluronic acid, or urea on your label.
✔️ Add moisture. Emollients like lanolin, petroleum, squalane, and certain plant extracts and oils like cocoa and shea butter will give a moisture boost where needed and create a protective film over the skin.
✔️ Soothe the skin. Aloe vera, soy, and oatmeal all have unique healing properties that effectively calm sensitive or irritated skin. Wading through the lotion aisle can be daunting, considering there are countless products that all make the same promises. Here, we rounded up the very best hand creams, each with dermatologist-approved ingredients and glowing reviews. Reach for these lotions when your hands start to protest—your skin will thank you.
Jessica Migala Jessica Migala is a health writer specializing in general wellness, fitness, nutrition, and skincare, with work published in Women’s Health, Glamour, Health, Men’s Health, and more.
Alisa Hrustic Deputy Editor, Prevention Alisa Hrustic is the deputy editor at Prevention, where she leads the brand’s digital editorial strategy.
Shauna Beni Shauna Beni is the Associate Commerce Editor at Prevention.