These nourishing formulas will bring your dry, cracked hands back to life.
We rely on our trusty hands for just about everything we do — every text, double tap, and crucially important right swipe — but we rarely give them the much-needed TLC they deserve. Plus, with all that exposure to the elements, it’s no wonder they’re the first place to show signs of weathering.
Luckily, though, there’s an abundance of skin-softening, nourishing, and ultra-hydrating hand creams on the market that, when used consistently (this is key), ward off signs of damage from daily wear and tear, especially when hand-washing and frequent use of hand sanitizer dry us out. And, the best part is there are excellent formulas available across retailers like Amazon, Ulta, and Nordstrom, so this list contains a healing hand cream at every price point.
With the latest innovations landing at our front doors at an ever-rapid rate, you could say we’ve tried our fair share of the lot, which means we’ve got a good idea of the lotions that work, as well as the ones that aren’t truly worth it. Curious about the ones we can’t stop slathering on right now? Check out what we believe to be the best hand creams — which fit into every budget — below.
Dionis Milk & Honey Hand & Body Goat Milk Cream
When one editor stocked a guest bathroom with Dionis’s Milk & Honey Hand & Body Goat Milk Cream, it got rave reviews — and a family member even asked if they could take it home. The nourishing, skin-loving formula is nongreasy, hand-cream perfection, soothing knuckles and softening skin. The subtle and sweetly warm scent is a relaxing bonus.
Evolvetogether Hydrating Hand Cream
Evolvetogether’s Hydrating Hand Cream entered the nonsticky hand cream hall of fame when it picked up a Best of Beauty Award. Not only is this nutrient-packed hand cream virtually residue-free, but it also comes in three delicious scents: rosy Monaco, earthy Havana, and soothing Provence, a lavender-vanilla blend. Come for the fast-absorbing formula, and stay for the delicate scents that cemented Evolvetogether’s 2022 win.
CeraVe Therapeutic Hand Cream
Allure editors and dermatologists alike love CeraVe’s affordable, effective skin-care products for taking care of our faces and bodies, so it’s hardly surprising that the brand makes a stellar hand cream, too. This drugstore darling contains three essential ceramides and hyaluronic acid, which help the skin retain moisture to prevent chapped and cracked hands. “Cerave Hand Cream delivers a blend of hydrating and protecting ingredients along with ceramides to help repair the skin barrier,” says New York-based board-certified dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, MD.
O’Keeffe’s Working Hands Hand Cream
During the height of the pandemic when everyone was obsessed with washing their hands, O’Keeffe’s Working Hands Hand Cream brought commerce producer Sarah Hoffmann’s cracked skin back from the brink. “The custard-like texture is satisfying on its own but this stuff really works,” she says. “My knuckles were super raw and itchy before I started carrying a jar around with me — it completely alleviated painful dryness and stinging.”
L’Occitane Shea Butter Intensive Hand Balm
When the cold weather starts chapping hands, L’Occitane’s heavy-duty cream delivers a long-lasting dose of hydrating refreshment to the skin without leaving behind a greasy residue. Kansas City-based board-certified dermatologist Audrey Kunin, MD recommends this one for tackling dryness because the formula contains 20 percent shea butter. “This hand cream is not only luxurious but works its magic to help soften dry hands,” she tells Allure.
Eucerin Advanced Repair Hand Cream
Dr. Zeichner also commends the moisturizing powers of Eucerin’s Advanced Repair Hand Cream. “It contains skin-repairing ceramides with natural moisturizing factors to pull in hydration to the other skin layer,” he writes. The only thing better than this no-frills formula is the sub-10-dollar price tag.
Skincare LDEL Cosmetics Retinol Hand Cream
If you’re in the market for a moisturizing hand cream that also targets wrinkles, Dr. Kunin recommends Skincare LDEL’s Retinol Hand Cream. “Retinol and vitamins C and E help fight aging skin changes such as wrinkles and age spots while its rich base helps moisturize dry hands and cuticles,” she says. Since retinol makes skin more sensitive to sun damage, don’t forget to add your favorite SPF on top for extra protection.
Soft Services Theraplush Overnight Repair Treatment
If a regular hand cream is the hand equivalent to a daily moisturizer, Soft Services’ Theraplush Overnight Repair Treatment is the hand equivalent of a sleeping mask. Apply this cushiony treatment as a final step before bed and wake up to moisturized hands and soothed cuticles. Colloidal oatmeal’s anti-inflammatory powers alleviate irritation while retinol in the formula targets discoloration and dark spots.
Skinfix Eczema Hand Repair Cream
Skinfix’s Eczema Hand Repair Cream is an ultra-rich formula chock full of soothing colloidal oatmeal, beeswax, and shea butter — works overtime on stressed, super-dry skin caused by eczema. It’s also won an Allure Best of Beauty Award two times, so you know much we love it.
Kiehl’s Ultimate Strength Hand Salve
Made with olive oil to soothe, moisturize, and condition skin, the Kiehl’s Ultimate Strength Hand Salve is a dream for rough, working hands. Apply a pea-size amount of the rich cream to your palms immediately after hand-washing (yes, while hands are still damp) and you’ll reap its moisturizing benefits for hours.
Augustinus Bader The Hand Treatment
Consider Augustinus Bader’s The Hand Treatment the Rolls Royce of hand creams. Its formula consists of nourishing ingredients, such as vitamin E, glycerin, and shea butter, as well as honey and white peony extract — both of which also have natural antibacterial properties. It’s a little bit of a splurge, but we think its lavish, thick texture is worth the extra cash.
Beneath Your Mask Heal Whipped Skin Soufflé
Housed in a glossy black tube, Beneath Your Mask’s Heal Whipped Skin Soufflé feels just as luxurious as it looks — hence why it took home an Allure Best of Beauty award in 2019. Enriched with soothing shea butter, avocado, and sweet almond oils, as well as bacteria-fighting tea tree oil, it comforts dry, cracked hands like nobody’s business.
Aquaphor Advanced Therapy Healing Ointment
You may have used Aquaphor’s Advanced Therapy Healing Ointment for your dry lips or cuticles before, and while it’s great for curbing chapped lips, we especially love this miracle treatment for our cracked hands. Its thick texture repairs, protects, and soothes all skin types, including sensitive and eczema-prone (thanks to the fragrance-free formula).
Ouai Hand Lotion
The lightweight formula in Ouai’s Hand Lotion is made of rosehip, avocado, and jojoba oils that work together to replenish and moisturize dry hands. Not to mention, the treatment is scented with the brand’s signature Dean Street fragrance (notes of citrus fruits and rose) — giving it a delightful floral vibe.
Chanel La Crème Main
One of the priciest of the bunch (thanks to its $50 price tag), Chanel’s La Crème Main is luxurious to its core. Rose wax softens, while iris pallida brightens skin — together, they’ll leave hands supremely smooth (and never sticky).
Lano Everywhere Multi-Cream Allover
Lano’s Everywhere Multi-Cream Allover can, as its name suggests, be applied all over but is key for our thirsty hands. Made with lanolin, a wax-like texture derived from wool, to moisturize, a little goes a long way. Just squeeze out a pea-sized amount and gently rub it into any dry areas. After a few seconds, you’ll reveal your softest hands, dare we say, ever?
Tatcha Indigo Soothing Silk Hand Cream
Like the rest of Tatcha’s Indigo line, its Tatcha Indigo Soothing Silk Hand Cream specifically targets dry, sensitive skin, and works wonders on rough patches and/or minor rashes.
Eau Thermale Avène Cold Cream Hand Cream
Designed for those with sensitive skin, Eau Thermale Avène’s Cold Cream for hands is a lightweight lotion that instantly soothes dry, chapped areas on the hands, thanks to glycerin and thermal spring water.
Weleda Sea Buckthorn Hand Cream
With a subtle fruity scent and soothing ingredients like beeswax, sesame, and sea buckthorn oils, hands feel immediately moisturized and supple post-application with Weleda’s Sea Buckthorn Hand Cream.
