There are very few things in life we could achieve without using our hands, so it’s about time to finally give them the TLC they deserve. Enter: the best hand creams. According to dermatologist Dr. Marisa Garshick, they’re great for people with naturally dry skin or conditions like eczema or psoriasis. But even if you don’t have any of these concerns, the best hand creams can also help reverse dryness due to frequent hand-washing or simple exposure to harsh winter weather. Not to mention, they’re basically your key to perfecting the glossiest #nailfie if you’re always rocking trendy press-ons or a fresh manicure.
“Many factors can contribute to dry, cracked skin on the hands, including genetics, environmental and occupational exposures, and daily wear and tear,” says Dr. Garshick. “Hand creams help to improve the look and feel of dry hands by boosting moisture and supporting the skin barrier to prevent moisture loss.”
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When shopping for the best hand creams, Dr. Garshick suggests choosing options with “humectants like hyaluronic acid and glycerin that hydrate, emollients such as squalene to help soften and smooth, ceramides to strengthen the skin, and occlusives like petrolatum—which provide a barrier to protect the hands from external irritants.” And for those worried about fine lines and dark spots, she mentions there are a variety of formulas to address those, too. “Moisturizing the hands regularly can help improve the overall appearance of [the] skin; however, it’s important to remember that similar anti-aging ingredients can be used on the hands as are used on the face,” she says. “These ingredients may include retinol to boost collagen production, antioxidants to protect against free radical damage, peptides to help strengthen and firm the skin, and sunscreen to protect against UV rays that can cause discoloration.” She adds that certain exfoliating ingredients, like lactic acid, may also help keep hands looking more youthful by eliminating dead skin cells and combatting dullness.
Regardless of your age or skin type, Dr. Garshick mentions you should always apply SPF to your hands—whether in the form of a classic sunscreen or targeted moisturizer—to prevent future damage.
Ahead, find your guide to the 18 best hand creams for soft, supple skin. Included are a range of Dr. Garshick’s expert picks and top-rated options customers are raving about. Plus, we even included one of our personal favorite selects.
1
Best Overall Hand Cream
Andalou Naturals
Lavender Hand Cream
| Active Ingredients | Organic lavender, shea butter, cocoa butter, glycerin |
|---|---|
| Benefits | Nourishes, soothes |
| Skin Type | All |
| Size | 3.4 fl. oz. |
2
Best Overnight Hand Cream
Vaseline
Petroleum Jelly
| Active Ingredients | Petrolatum |
|---|---|
| Benefits | Protects, hydrates |
| Skin Type | All |
| Size | 1.69-13 fl. oz. |
3
Best For Damaged Skin
Tammy Fender
Natural Intensive Repair Balm
| Active Ingredients | Helichrysum, white lily, lotus oil |
|---|---|
| Benefits | Repairs & restores dry, damaged skin |
| Skin Type | All |
| Size | 1.7 fl. oz |
4
Best With Sunscreen
Supergoop!
Handscreen SPF 40
| Active Ingredients | Argan oil, sea buckthorn fruit extract, meadowfoam seed oil |
|---|---|
| Benefits | Protects, nourishes, brightens |
| Skin Type | All |
| Size | 1 fl. oz. |
5
Best Anti-Aging Hand Cream
StriVectin
Volumizing Hand Cream
| Active Ingredients | Hyaluronic acid, NIA-114 |
|---|---|
| Benefits | Boosts skin barrier, brightens, moisturizes, may help minimize wrinkles |
| Skin Type | Dry, aging |
| Size | 2 fl. oz. |
6
Best For Sensitive Skin
CeraVe
Therapeutic Hand Cream
| Active Ingredients | Hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, ceramides |
|---|---|
| Benefits | Hydrates, protects |
| Skin Type | All, sensitive |
| Size | 3 fl. oz. |
7
Best Light Scent
L’Occitane
Butter Hand Cream
| Active Ingredients | Shea butter, glycerin, almond oil, coconut oil |
|---|---|
| Benefits | Hydrates |
| Skin Type | All |
| Size | 5.2 fl. oz. |
8
Best For Working Hands
O’Keeffe’s
Working Hands Hand Cream
| Active Ingredients | Glycerin, stearic acid |
|---|---|
| Benefits | Repairs, nourishes, protects |
| Skin Type | Very dry, cracked |
| Size | 3.4 fl. oz. |
9
Best For Eczema
Gold Bond
Hand Cream for Eczema Relief
| Active Ingredients | Collodial oatmeal, vitamin E, aloe |
|---|---|
| Benefits | Hydrates, relieves itchiness & irritation |
| Skin Type | Dry, itchy, inflamed |
| Size | 3 fl. oz. |
10
Best Hand Cream for Dry Skin
Eucerin
Advanced Repair Hand Cream
| Active Ingredients | Urea, lactic acid, glycerin, ceramides |
|---|---|
| Benefits | Hydrates, exfoliates, protects |
| Skin Type | Very dry |
| Size | 2.7-16 fl. oz. |
11
Best With Retinol
Skincare L&L Cosmetics
Retinol Hand Cream
| Active Ingredients | Retinol, glycerin, vitamin C |
|---|---|
| Benefits | Hydrates, brightens, may help reduce wrinkles |
| Skin Type | Aging |
| Size | 3.52 fl. oz. |
12
Best Multipurpose Hand Cream
Aquaphor
Healing Ointment
| Active Ingredients | Petrolatum, glycerin, lanolin alcohol, provitamin B5 |
|---|---|
| Benefits | Hydrates, repairs, protects |
| Skin Type | All |
| Size | 7 fl. oz. |
13
Best For Flaky Skin
AmLactin
Ultra Smoothing Cream
| Active Ingredients | Lactic acid, glycerin, petrolatum |
|---|---|
| Benefits | Exfoliates, hydrates, protects |
| Skin Type | Flaky |
| Size | 4.9 fl. oz. |
14
Best Luxury Hand Cream
Chanel
La Créme Main Texture Riche
| Active Ingredients | Glycerin, shea butter, rose wax, iris pallida |
|---|---|
| Benefits | Hydrates, may help fight wrinkles |
| Skin type | All |
| Size | 1.7 fl. oz. |
15
Best Drugstore Hand Cream
Burt’s Bees
Hand Cream
| Active Ingredients | Honey, cupuacu butter, grapeseed oil, macadamia oil |
|---|---|
| Benefits | Nourishes, helps brighten |
| Skin Type | All |
| Size | 2.6 fl. oz. |
16
Best Scent
Aesop
Resurrection Aromatique Hand Balm
| Benefits | Hydrates, may help reduce fine lines and wrinkles |
|---|---|
| Skin Type | All |
| Size | 2.53 fl. oz. |
| Active Ingredients | Glycerin, coconut oil, stearic acid, rosemary oil |
17
Best Vegan Hand Cream
Nécessaire
The Hand Cream – With Peptide
| Active Ingredients | Squalane, shea butter, peptides, niacinamide |
|---|---|
| Benefits | Nourishes, brightens |
| Skin Type | All |
| Size | 2.2 fl. oz. |
18
Best For Dark Spots
EltaMD
So Silky Hand Creme
| Active Ingredients | Glycerin, ceramides, vitamin E, sclareolide |
|---|---|
| Benefits | Hydrates, protects, brightens, may ward off wrinkles |
| Skin Type | Dry, discolored, aging |
| Size | 3 fl. oz. |
Dr. Marisa Garshick is a dermatologist practicing at MDCS Dermatology in New York and New Jersey.
Sam Peters is a seasoned commerce writer and editor with over five years of experience covering beauty, fashion, and lifestyle topics. For this roundup, she consulted dermatologist Dr. Garshick about what to look for in the best hand creams for different skin concerns and her favorite products. Additionally, the author analyzed dozens of top-rated hand creams on the market, pouring over customer reviews and referencing studies to verify brand claims about ingredients. Items across price points were also considered.
Sam Peters Commerce Editor Sam Peters is a Commerce Editor at Hearst covering fashion, beauty and more.
