‘Tis the season to bust out the best hand creams for dry hands. When your mitts are crying out for a big slurp of moisture, you can rely on these top tubes to soothe sore skin, and inject instant and long-term hydration.
Most of us are regimental when looking after our skin, slathering on the best moisturisers as part of a winter skincare routine, or perhaps you indulge in the best bath oils for a full body pamper. But do your hands enjoy the same level of care? Probably not. Which isn’t really fair, given how hard we work them, from doing the dishes and frequent hand-washing to deep-cleaning the bathroom with harsh chemicals. “Keeping your hands moisturised helps to maintain a healthy skin barrier, which offers protection against external irritants and microbes,” explains Dr. Derrick Phillips, CeraVe’s Consultant Dermatologist. “The skin on your hands is constantly exposed to environmental factors such as sunlight, dry air, harsh soaps and water. A healthy skin barrier prevents loss of moisture, keeping the skin hydrated and avoiding dryness, fissuring and discomfort that can affect your ability to perform everyday tasks.” The time of year has an effect on the state of your hands, too. “The change in seasons, cooler weather and central heating can have an impact on how dry your hands can feel,” admits Antonia Philp, NHS Nurse and Co-Founder of Nursem. “The cooler air is drier and has less humidity, which makes skin feel drier too.”
Just like the best nightcreams can be used to target different concerns like wrinkles and pigmentation, our favourite hand creams do more than just moisturise. Whether you’re looking for something to tackle dark spots or sensitivity, we’ve done the squeezing, slathering and smoothing for you to find the hardest-working hand creams that will fix dry skin for good. If you want smooth, supple, soft hands for as long as possible, then these best hand creams are a solid investment in your skin’s future.
15 best hand creams for dry hands
Best hand cream for sore hands
Created by a nurse for nurses, Nursem Caring Hand Cream was designed with relentless hand-washing in mind, and comforts weather-beaten skin with its fast-absorbing formula. It has a soft, fresh scent with a silky texture, easing dermatitis and eczema. Plus, for every hand cream bought, the company gives a month’s worth of free Nursem to a nurse or midwife.
Goodto verdict: This is one of the more generous tubes, yet still slim enough to slot in your handbag. The scent is light and clean - pleasant yes, but it won't overpower your perfume. My favourite thing is the texture. I cannot bear a runny hand cream, but this is deliciously thick, and stays where you put it. That being said, it melts into skin effortlessly, leaving no sticky residue. You will not be able to stop stroking your newly softened hands.
Best hand cream for cracked skin
O’Keeffe’s Working Hands Hand Cream is often touted as one of the best hand creams on the market, and has hundreds of 5 star reviews online. It smoothes across the skin beautifully and leaves hands silky-soft and comfortable thanks to a good dose of glycerin. This heroic humectant helps skin retain moisture so skin feels and looks healthier.
Goodto verdict: It's worth mentioning this comes with a 100% money back guarantee if you’re not entirely satisfied. That speaks volumes to me. I can't imagine anyone actually needing to use it because this hand cream is fantastic for chronically dry, chapped skin. It comes in a tub and the texture is a solid, buttery balm, which isn’t quite as easy for on-the-go applications as a traditional tube, but it really eased the sore skin between my fingers.
Best organic hand cream
Enriched with organic shea butter and jojoba oils, this decadent cream conditions nails and cuticles, as well as softening the skin on your hands. If natural and organic ingredients matter to you, this is an excellent choice, made with 21% organic ingredients and certified COSMOS Organic by the Soil Association.
Goodto verdict: My husband happened to be sat with me with I tried for this for the first time. He doesn't often pay attention to my ablutions but this piqued his interest, and now he's pinched it for himself. The essential oil blend smells divine, just like a spa, and sits nicely in the unisex camp. It's one of only two tubes on this list of the best hand creams to come with a pump, which makes application precise and easy. My husband hates anything tacky, so for this to win his approval speaks to its quick-to-absorb, non-sticky formula. Absolutely gorgeous.
Best hand cream for very dry skin
With three essential ceramides (the building blocks of a healthy skin barrier) and moisture magnet Hyaluronic Acid, CeraVe Reparative Hand Cream is a tonic for rough hands. If your skin is prone to redness and very reactive, particularly in winter, you’ll appreciate that this is fragrance-free and non-comedogenic, so it won’t block pores.
Goodto verdict: Often, sensitivity is a sign of a compromised skin barrier. Ceramides are the cornerstone of CeraVe's range, making this hand cream a top choice for touchy skin types. It feels nourishing but lightweight, leaving skin feeling quenched and comfortable. It took slightly longer to absorb than others on our list, but there was no tackiness and it really eased the sore spots of dermatitis, which flare up between my fingers.
Best hand cream for dark spots
Our hands are almost constantly exposed to the sun, so it’s not uncommon to experience dark spots here. This hand cream is formulated with a patented ingredient called Thiamidol, which inhibits melanin production (the skin’s natural tanning pigment). Plus, SPF30 helps protect against further sun damage and pigmentation.
Goodto verdict: With a slightly thinner consistency, you only need a small amount spread across your hands. Thrilled with the built-in SPF30, which makes this smell like a summer holiday in a bottle. For the moment, I am dark spot-free, but anecdotally there are many online reviews, which wax lyrical about this cream's youth-boosting results. It’s worth noting that Thiamidol is a potent ingredient, and should be applied no more than 4 times in a 24-hour period, so if you're looking for something to combat extreme dryness, this might not be the one for you.
Best-smelling hand cream
The premise of Gloved is "simple daily acts transformed through scent." From hand-washing to hand-creaming, it's about elevating the everyday to the exceptional. This hand cream marries skincare-inspired active ingredients with efficacious essential oils and considered, mood-enhancing scents. Hyaluronic acid, squalane and amino acids work together to improve moisture levels for plumper, smoother skin.
Goodto verdict: Compared with the other best hand creams on this list, Gloved is an absolute giant. At 375ml, with a rather attractive olive green glass bottle and pump dispenser, it makes a gorgeous addition to the bathroom or kitchen sink. It spreads nicely and plumped the little crinkles in my hands, but it did take a little longer to absorb. The clean, woody fragrance is so sophisticated, and definitely unisex. This definitely feels a little bit special.
Best hand cream for sensitive skin
When the skin barrier is weak, skin feels irritable, and you may experience increased inflammation and itchiness. Aveeno's cosseting cream is all about supporting the skin barrier. It contains a Prebiotic triple oat complex to nourish the skin’s natural microbiome. These living microbes are a crucial component of the skin barrier, and this hand cream helps to bolster barrier function and restore healthy, happy hands with 72 hours' worth of moisture.
Goodto verdict: Aveeno's one of those trusted brands I always recommend to people with very dry, sensitive skin. This hand cream made my hands feel soft and sated for hours and hours, although the texture was slightly thinner than some of the other hand creams on our list.
Best anti-ageing hand cream
This hand cream targets the core of ageing skin by rejuvenating our skin cells to lay the foundation for smoother, softer, more even-toned skin. It leaves a breathable film across the hands to lock in hydration and protect skin from external aggressors, improving moisture by 20.7%.
Goodto verdict: Okay, this is a very expensive hand cream but the 100ml bottle is one of the largest on our list of the best hand creams, so it should last a good while (I've had mine for about four months). It smells divine, befitting of its hefty price tag, and it has a wonderful refreshing sensation once applied. My skin looks smoother and feels strokably-soft.
Best hand cream for your handbag
If you're looking for a solid handbag staple, look no further. There are the big hydration hitters like shea butter, glycerin and moisturising plant oils to keep hands silky and soft, with a lovely burst of fragrance to treat the senses.
Goodto verdict: If you're into aesthetically-pleasing things, then this one ranks very highly on our list of the best hand creams. It's chic, understated, and a handbag-friendly 50ml. The Soie Malaquais scent is a powdery, chestnutty concoction. It's definitely one of the more heavily-perfumed options, which as someone with quite robust skin, is a welcome treat. Sensitive types might disagree. Absorbs brilliantly and left skin feeling silky-soft.
Best hand cream for overworked hands
If you put your hands through a lot of chores, this is a brilliant intensive treatment. It’s brimming with shea butter, a great natural source of hydration, and L-Bifidus, which stops the formula from evaporating. This means that skin hangs on to all the lovely nourishing ingredients, even after you wash your hands.
Goodto verdict: I've been using this hand cream for a couple of years now. It's a brilliant price and does exactly what it says on the 'tin'. It has a fresh, almost aquatic scent that even my husband quite likes, and uses often. The thick, buttery cream melts on contact with the skin and absorbs in no time at all.
Best hand cream for instant refreshment
When you’re having a hot flush, reach for L’Occitane Verbena Cooling Hand Cream Gel. It has an immediate cooling effect on the skin, with a zesty Verbena fragrance that will appeal to both men and women.
Goodto verdict: The gel melts into a watery, serum-like consistency, which means a little goes a long way. That being said, the lighter texture might not be quite punchy enough to tackle very dry, tight-feeling skin but my hands did feel soft and silky. The cooling sensation is subtle but if you suffer with perpetually hot hands, you might notice more of an impact.
Best hand cream for winter
Recommended by dermatologists, La Roche-Posay is a trusted hypo-allergenic skincare brand for sensitive skin. This rich barrier cream creates a protective shield against the environment, while the signature thermal spring water provides comfort to damaged, overworked hands.
Goodto verdict: This has a putty-like consistency, more like a balm than a cream, which is particularly welcoming in winter. It feels like you’re giving your hands a good coating against the elements, like an invisible glove. That being said, it melts into the skin with very little effort. It is also fragrance-free, good news for sensitive skin. My hands felt soft for hours.
Best hand cream for hands and nails
Recommended (and permanently carried by) Townhouse nail salon founder, Juanita Huber-Millet, this luxury cream nourishes skin, strengthens nails and softens cuticles, so hands are perfectly prepped for a manicure. Formulated with May rose wax to soften and smooth skin, and iris pallida extract, known for its brightening properties.
Goodto verdict: Probably the most stylist and chic of all the best hand creams on this list, the pebble-shaped packaging fits perfectly in hand. It's a nice thick formula that smoothes in well with a delicate scent. It's pricey, and there are formulas that do a solid job at moisturising for less money on this list, but if you're in the market for something special that goes beyond hydrating your skin, this gets my vote.
Best hand cream for dull skin
A cocktail of Argan, Grapeseed, Camellia and Tamanu oils replenish skin with moisture, leaving hands soft, comfortable and never greasy. The antioxidant-rich formula helps to improve skin tone and texture, imparting a healthy-looking glow - great for switching on sallow-looking hands. Sore, chapped skin is relieved with a soothing botanical blend of rose, aloe and grapeseed.
Goodto verdict: First things first, Grown Alchemist Intensive Hand Cream is a generous tube of cream so it should last a good few weeks. I enjoyed the light and silky texture - it sank in effortlessly. The powdery floral scent is subtle and pleasant. I didn't notice a big difference in skin tone uniformity but it's a nice moisturising cream.
Best hand cream for dry skin conditions
This hand cream has everything you'd want in a cosseting cream - there's natural oils, soothing ingredients like aloe vera and chamomile, and humectants, namely urea and glycerin, which help skin retain moisture to alleviate very dry, painful skin across the hands.
Goodto verdict: A friend with eczema first alerted me to this kind-to-skin brand. Somewhere between Covid lockdowns and moving house, I developed painful, red-raw patches between my fingers so I started using this religiously after I washed the dishes. The downside is it's quite runny, but it soaks in well and has really eased my dermatitis.
How I tested the best hand creams
Some of the products are already regulars in my rotation, so I can wholeheartedly confirm they deserve a spot on this list of the best hand creams. Of the newer launches, I have tested each one for at least two or three days, considering factors like absorbency, improved texture after use, consumer reviews and value for money.
Hand creams are not always a one-size-fits-all staple, so I was keen to include formulas that were targeted to certain skin conditions like pigmentation, eczema and sensitive skin to help you find the cream that works best for your skin type.
Will Vaseline heal cracked hands?
Vaseline is one of those staple beauty products that people rely on as a cure for various ailments, anecdotally at least. It’s said to be good for dry cuticles, soothe itchy spots across the body and some people even smear it over their eyes before bed to nourish the eyelashes and prevent eye crinkles and crow’s feet.
But is healing dry, cracked hands one of the best Vaseline uses? “Petroleum based products, such as Vaseline, are good at sealing skin to reduce moisture loss,” explains consultant dermatologist, Dr Justine Hextall. “However they aren’t very successful at helping to replenish a damaged skin barrier.” For that, you’ll need to look for a hand cream with barrier-boosting ingredients such as ceramides. These fatty acids make up the essential building blocks of our skin and help the skin retain vital moisture. Think of ceramides as the cement, holding the bricks of our skin barrier together in a neat and strong formation. And a healthy skin barrier is the key to smooth, soft and hydrated hands, keeping moisture locked in and irritants, bacteria and allergens shut out.
So Vaseline, whilst it makes for an extra layer of defence against moisture loss, can’t reinstate dry, cracked hands with hydration. Dr Hextall adds, “If skin is inflamed, petroleum-based products can trap heat and cause further irritation and pruritus.”
Is coconut oil good for dry hands?
As part of a healthy diet, coconut oil has many benefits. It’s been found to improve heart health, raise good cholesterol and may even encourage your body to burn more fat. Applying it topically has its perks too. It’s a notable moisturiser, rich in fatty acids that help to support a healthy skin barrier and lock in essential moisture. “Coconut oil is a useful ingredient in a moisturiser,” says Dr Hextall. “Oils are an effective occlusal and work to seal the skin and prevent water loss. However, ideally a moisturiser has many other properties including ingredients that will draw moisture to skin, replace lost fats and oils and seal the skin barrier to reduce moisture loss.”
So, while coconut oil is perhaps not the cure-all panacea we wish it to be, it’s certainly a very handy ingredient to keep in your bathroom cupboard, providing relief to particularly dry, itchy skin. If you want to use coconut oil on your hands, we advise applying one of the best hand creams first, allow it to soak in for a few minutes then seal in those replenishing ingredients with a layer of coconut oil on top. Look for organic, virgin or cold-pressed coconut oil, which is less processed and therefore richer in nutrients.
What ingredients should you look for in a hand cream?
"A good hand cream contains a mixture of ingredients to provide hydration, replenish key components of the skin barrier (e.g ceramides), and lock in moisture," explains Dr Derrick. "When choosing a hand cream look out for products containing humectants, emollients and ceramides." Here are Dr Derrick's must-have ingredients when choosing one of the best hand creams to soothe dry skin.
- Occlusives: "These ingredients are an important consideration when managing dry skin conditions such as eczema. Occlusive ingredients create a protective barrier on the skin's surface, preventing water loss. Ingredients such as petrolatum (petroleum jelly) and dimethicone are effective occlusives. They help to lock in moisture and keep the skin hydrated."
- Humectants: "These are substances that attract and retain moisture, helping to keep the skin hydrated. They include glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and urea. These ingredients draw water into the skin adding volume and keeping the skin hydrated."
- Emollients: "They soften and smooth the skin by filling in gaps between skin cells. Look for ingredients like shea butter, cocoa butter, jojoba oil, and squalane. These emollients help to make the skin feel softer and more supple."
- Ceramides: "Naturally-occurring lipids in the skin that help maintain the skin's barrier function. Hand creams containing ceramides can help repair and strengthen the skin barrier, which is especially important for dry or damaged skin."
How to prevent dry hands
- Wear rubber gloves when doing the dishes and other household chores. “If hands come into contact with bleach, washing powders or household disinfectant wipes, the skin barrier is almost immediately affected and can quickly cause hand dermatitis,” says Dr Justine Hextall.
- Turn down the temperature of the tap when washing your hands. Hot water will damage the skin barrier so hands become drier.
- Apply a generous layer of moisturiser or one of the best hand creams after each time you wash your hands.
- Antonia Philp says, "Night-time is the perfect opportunity to allow your skin to replenish and I particularly love the technique of ‘skin slugging’, whereby you use a nourishing hand cream and then add another treatment layer with a thicker formula over the top."
- "Wear gloves outdoors to protect your hands from the cold and wind," suggest Dr Derrick.
Looking for more beauty advice? We've reviewed the best eye creams and rounded up a selection of youthful hairstyles to inspire your next trip to the salon. Our beauty team will also help you find the best long-lasting perfumes and the best five-minute face masks too.
Dr Derrick Phillips is a London based Consultant Dermatologist and CeraVe’s new medical tone of voice. From acne, rashes and rosacea; Dr Phillips has experience across a vast range of skin concerns.
Antonia is a specialist Pediatric Transplant Nurse at Freeman Hospital in Newcastle. After being forced to take 2 weeks off due to her cracked, bleeding hands from long shifts and repeated hand-washing, she developed Nursem together with her husband Jonny. The Caring Hand Cream took 7 years to develop.
Dr Justine Hextall is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and has been an NHS Consultant dermatologist for more than a decade.
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