Proper skin care extends beyond your face
Skincare below the neck is often overlooked, but when it comes to the hands, taking the extra moment to care for them can make a massive difference in how they look and feel. According to board-certified dermatologist Diane Madfes, MD, FAAD, a break in the skin barrier on the hands can contribute to dryness and discomfort. “This can be caused by trauma, repetitive hand washing, allergic reactions, and underlying genetics, i.e. eczema,” she explains. “When the barrier is compromised, the skin no longer effectively retains hydration, and its ability to protect itself is also weakened.”
The solution? Consistently applying a hydrating hand cream. Though arguably not the most exciting category in the skincare realm, hand creams aren’t as basic as they seem, and finding a really great one isn’t as easy as you might think. Some are watery and not nearly moisturizing enough, while others are overly thick and greasy.
So, we made it our mission to find the best hand creams on the market by testing out more than 30 different options. Our testers each took one home for two weeks and used it multiple times daily in order to evaluate it on several factors: how quickly it absorbed, how moisturizing it was, how smooth it left their hands looking, and how it smelled. We ranked each product in each category, and those that earned the highest scores appear on this list.
Best Overall: Grown Alchemist Hand Cream Vanilla Orange Peel
Hand creams seem like relatively basic products, but those that have tried tons of different options know that many of them are either too slippy and not actually moisturizing or so thick and greasy that they leave a residue on everything you touch. This hand cream strikes the perfect balance, earning it our best overall pick. In addition to having a pleasant consistency that’s lightweight and easy to work into the skin, it fully absorbs in about 30 seconds before drying down and leaving the hands moisturized and residue-free. Once it dries, you can go about your day and not have to worry about getting your phone, clothing, or anything else greasy. It’s formulated with a blend of nourishing ingredients, like glycerin, camellia seed and grapeseed oils, and aloe plant extract to moisturize and soothe dry skin. We also love that while it doesn’t contain synthetic fragrance, it does have a natural citrusy scent that smells fresh without being overpowering.
It’s excellent for smoothing and moisturizing dry skin without feeling heavy, though it’s worth noting that if you have extremely dry or cracked skin or you’re dealing with freezing weather conditions, this one likely won’t be rich enough for you.
Best Budget: Benton Shea Butter and Olive Hand Cream
If you use it consistently, hand cream is a product you’ll go through quickly—so having a solid budget option is an absolute must. This one is fantastic regardless of the price. It’s formulated with shea butter and olive oil to nourish dry, cracked skin, though, despite its really moisturizing formula, it’s not at all sticky or thick. One of our testers experienced a lot of cracking and extreme dryness from Crossfit workouts, and he raved about how well this cream restored his skin and brought his hands back to life.
Though the herbal scent derived from essential oils is a bit heavy, we appreciate that this formula doesn’t contain synthetic fragrance, which can be an irritant to the skin. Considering how moisturizing, easy to rub in, and budget-friendly this hand cream is, we can’t recommend it enough.
Best Luxury: Chanel La Crème Main
If little luxuries bring you joy, we recommend getting your hands (quite literally) on this Chanel hand cream. In addition to the chic packaging that looks aesthetically pleasing on any bedside table, the formula is absolutely fantastic. Though it comes out of the tube with quite a rich texture, it absorbs surprisingly fast and dries down to a super soft, almost powdery finish. After just a few uses, it works to deeply hydrate the hands and smooth dry patches on the knuckles, all while remaining lightweight. Perhaps the best part is that despite being rich and deeply nourishing, it doesn’t leave behind any residue at all, making it totally possible to go about your daily routine without worrying about greasy hands.
If we could change one thing about this product, it would be the size. It fits in the palm of the hand, and while it’s absolutely a nice luxury to have, we wish it came with more product given the steep price tag.
Best Fast-Absorbing: Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Touch Hand Cream
Hand creams shouldn’t be reserved for the dry, cold winter months, but people often neglect to use them year-round due to thick and greasy formulas that simply aren’t necessary during mild seasons. We love this one because it’s lightweight, a little bit goes a long way, and it absorbs into the skin in seconds without creating any sort of greasy finish. Though it does a really nice job of smoothing and hydrating the skin on the hands, it’s not super rich, and therefore, it’s best for more moderate climates. It’s a great option for post-hand washing, keeping in your bag, or applying before bed, and we love that it features the brand’s iconic fragrances without being too strong and headache-inducing.
Best Consistency: L’Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream
This hand cream has been around for ages, and it’s no wonder why so many people have raved about it for so long. It has a rich texture that includes shea butter, coconut oil, and glycerin to deeply hydrate the skin, yet it somehow remains lightweight and non-greasy. We were really impressed by how quickly it absorbs into the skin, given how rich it is, and although you can’t feel any sort of residue once it’s rubbed in, it provides some seriously long-lasting hydration. We also love that it comes in a mini size in several different fragrances, so you can choose one that appeals most to you and pop it in your bag.
Best Fragrance-Free: EltaMD So Silky Hand Creme
If you generally prefer unscented products or you like to opt for fragrance-free hand creams that won’t compete with your perfume, this is a great option for you. It has a lightweight and creamy texture that’s deeply hydrating thanks to ceramides, vitamin E, and jojoba esters. Just a dime-size amount is enough to completely cover the hands, and we appreciate that it effectively nourishes and smooths the skin without leaving an oily residue behind. Note that it does take one to two minutes to fully absorb, but once it does, it’s non-greasy. An added bonus is that it really works to smooth and hydrate dry cuticles, making it a great product to use in between manicures.
Best for Nighttime: Fenty Skin Hydra’Reset Intensive Recovery Glycerin Hand Mask
Nighttime hand masks are often extremely thick and oily, and while this one does have a rich texture that’s best reserved for bedtime application, it’s far from being overly greasy. It’s packed with hydrating ingredients, like glycerin and a blend of nourishing butters, and it works beautifully to remedy dry patches, smooth skin texture, and majorly boost hand hydration. We love that it has a smooth, gel-like consistency, and despite taking a few minutes to absorb into the skin, it remains comfortable and non-gloopy. If you deal with really dry hands and you like pampering them at night, we highly recommend checking this out.
Best for Eczema: Skinfix Eczema Hand Repair Cream
Those that deal with eczema know how difficult it can be to find a product that adequately moisturizes the skin while also helping to relieve itching and burning sensations that come along with an eczema flare-up. This cream is excellent for anyone with dry hands, but especially those with eczema, thanks to the inclusion of colloidal oatmeal in the formula, which is known to provide relief from eczema symptoms.1 It also contains allantoin, a hydrating humectant, and sweet almond oil, a nourishing oil that works to moisturize and smooth the skin. The texture is quite rich, though it remains easy to work into the skin, and it’s surprisingly not greasy, given how rich the formula is. It does feel a bit heavier on the hands compared to the other creams on this list, but given how effective it is and that it doesn’t leave an oily residue behind, we still highly recommend it.
Final Verdict
The Grown Alchemist Hand Cream is our favorite hand cream. It’s smooth, fast-absorbing, non-greasy, and highly effective at smoothing and moisturizing the hands. But if you’re dealing with extreme dryness or eczema, we recommend the Skinfix Eczema+ Hand Repair Cream.
How We Tested
In order to determine which hand creams are the best, we put more than 30 options to the test in the real world over the course of two weeks. Each tester took home one hand cream and used it consistently during the testing period, evaluating it based on how well it absorbed into their skin, how moisturized it left their hands feeling, how smooth it left their hands looking, and how it smelled. We then scored each product in every category, and those that scored the highest across the categories appear on this list.
Other Options We Tested:
Unsun Cosmetics Hand Cream SPF 15
We love that this SPF hand cream protects the skin from sun damage, but we noticed that it left a strange-feeling, powdery residue on the hands, which made it uncomfortable to wear throughout the day.
CeraVe Therapeutic Hand Cream
We appreciate the lightweight consistency of this affordable hand cream, but we didn’t feel like it provided long-lasting hydration.
Augustinus Bader The Hand Treatment
There’s no doubt that this luxury formula softens and moisturizes the hands, but it takes a while to absorb and it does create a residue on the skin.
What to Look for When Buying a Hand Cream
Ingredients
In order to ensure you’re selecting a hand cream that will be truly effective for improving your dry skin, Dr. Madfes says it’s important to look for formulas that contain humectants (like hyaluronic acid and glycerin) as well as ceramides and lipids. Her favorite ingredients in hand creams are shea butter, coconut oil, glycerin, and hyaluronic acid. The Grown Alchemist Hand Cream is packed with glycerin, one of the reasons we love it so much.
Texture
While the texture of your go-to hand cream is really a matter of preference, it’s still an important factor to consider. If you’re looking for a hand cream that you can use on the go, try something lightweight and non-greasy, like the Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Touch Hand Cream. If you prefer something richer, the Skinfix Eczema+ Hand Repair Cream is a great choice.
FAQ
How often should you use hand cream?
You should apply hand cream as often as you feel is necessary, but keep in mind that Dr, Madfes recommends using it at least twice daily and after every hand washing.
What ingredients should be avoided in hand cream?
Just like it’s important to seek out certain ingredients in hand creams, the opposite is also true. According to Dr. Madfes, it’s best to avoid synthetic fragrances—especially if you have sensitive or broken skin—because fragrance can be an irritant.
How often should you apply hand cream?
Regular hand washing can dry out your skin, but following with a hand cream can help keep hands feeling smoother and softer.2If your hands are dry or feel rough, you should apply hand cream each time after you wash your hands.
How We Researched
To compile this list, our team of editors and contributors spent hours researching the best products on the market in this category, evaluating their key features—like ingredients, shade range, or design—in addition to reviews from customers and other trusted sources. We then used this research to assign a star rating from one to five (five being the best; one being the worst) to certain products on the list.
