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Here's something you probably don't think about often: Your hands take on a lot throughout the day. Whether they're scrubbing your hair in the shower, typing away at your computer, or constantly being washed, your hands can get dried out pretty dang fastโespecially in the winter time.
Plus, it turns out that having dry hands isn't only annoying for you. It's also a health risk. "Dry skin makes your hands more susceptible to irritation and allergic reactions from substances containing harsh chemicals or even just regular soap and water," says dermatologist Dr. Miriam Vega Gonzalez, MD.
Peep a few of the best hand creams, below:
While it's of course important to wash your hands frequently, you also want to make sure you're replenishing the natural oils that keep your skin hydrated and soft. Dr. Gonzalez says she loves lotions that have ceramides, because the the top layers of the skin are held together by them.
Other than that, she says to look out for the thickest possible hand lotions, because those will be the most moisturizingโespecially if you may be looking to smooth wrinkles. "Ointments are more moisturizing than creams, and creams are more moisturizing than lotions." Basically, if you've got super cracked skin, you'll want a thicker formula like these ones from L'Occitane or Aesop.
Ready to make dry hands a thing of the past? Look no further than these 13 expert-approved hand creams, balms, lotions, and salves.
1
Best Overall
L'Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream
Pros
- Has thousands of five-star reviews
- Thick without being greasy
Cons
- Pricey
L'Occitane's cult favorite non-greasy hand cream is made with 20 percent organic shea butter, organic spring honey, and skin-plumping omegas. The consistency is thick enough to keep your hands hydrated until their next wash, yet it absorbs fast enough that it won't leave a trail on your keyboard.
Key Ingredients | Shea butter, honey, almond extract, coconut oil |
---|---|
Formula | Cream |
Pros
- Good for sensitive skin
- Has ceramides
- Approved by a derm
Cons
- Not scented
Dr. Gonzalez says that CeraVe's hand cream is great at replacing the natural ceramides in your skin. This formula contains three types of ceramides for the skin barrier as well as hyaluronic acid for a truly therapeutic feel, as the name would suggest.
Reviewers say it's super gentle on sensitive skin, too.
Key Ingredients | Hyaluronic acid, ceramides, niacinamide |
---|---|
Formula | Cream |
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Pros
- Thick formula
- Affordable
- Extremely hydrating
Cons
- Not scented
Aquaphor is a great option for the driest of hands. Dr. Gonzalez says that ointments like these are great for locking in the skin's natural moisture and for healing super cracked knuckles and creases.
Smother your hands (and even elbows or lips) in it overnight to wake up with soft-as-a-baby-butt skin.
Key Ingredients | Petrolatum |
---|---|
Formula | Ointment |
Pros
- Lightweight and non-greasy
- Packed with hyaluronic acid
- Affordable
Cons
- Not the most hydrating
Neutrogena's gel formula is lightweight without skimping on its hydrating qualities. It won't provide the instant satisfaction that a thick cream, ointment, or lotion does, but the hyaluronic acid-infused formula is great for anyone who needs to relieve dryness in a non-greasy formula.
It has a refreshing feel that you'll love during the summer time, too.
Key Ingredients | Hyaluronic acid |
---|---|
Formula | Gel |
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Pros
- Clean formula
- Comes in three fragrance options
- Fragrance is all natural
Cons
- Some don't like the scents
- Formula has beeswax (is not vegan)
A lover of Weleda's iconic Skin Food Cream? With ingredients like sea buckthorn, sesame, and mandarin essential oil, this cream might be a worthy match for your rough AF hands.
Plus, the all-natural ingredients list make it a real fan fave.
Key Ingredients | Sea buckthorn extract, beeswax, sesame oil, |
---|---|
Formula | Cream |
Pros
- Paraben and cruelty-free
- Scent is pleasant yet light
- A little goes a long way
Cons
- Pricey
When someone pulls this Aesop hand balm out of their purse, you just know they have good taste. The brand is all about clean elegance in their packaging and formulas, and this is probably one of their most popular products.
It's not exactly cheap, but you do get a pretty large amount of product in a tube, and since this is a balm (rather than a lotion), just a pea-sized amount goes a very long way.
Key Ingredients | Mandarin rind, rosemary leaf, cedar, |
---|---|
Formula | Balm |
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Pros
- Super thick formula
- Affordable
- Features only one ingredient (beeswax)
Cons
- Some don't like how thick it is
Yet another ointment to put on your radar, this salve by bestselling brand Burt's Bees soothes uncomfortable cracks and skin breaks with a combo of botanical oils, herbs, and beeswax. Salves are def on the heavier side, but that's good because, again, it protects your skin barrier.
Reviewers say it helps to smooth out wrinkles if that's a goal of yours, too.
Key Ingredients | Beeswax |
---|---|
Formula | Ointment |
Pros
- Non-greasy formula
- Spa-like scent
Cons
- Pricey
Blended with replenishing lactic acid, hydrating andiroba oil, and more plant-based hydrating ingredients, Aveda's hand cream is loved for its therapeutic feel and relaxing, spa-like scent. It was specifically designed to decrease signs of aging (which are, obviously, totally normal, beautiful, and natural!).
It's an indulgent option to complete your at-home manicure routine.
Key Ingredients | Vitamin A, lactic acid, aloe, sunflower seed oil |
---|---|
Formula | Cream |
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Pros
- Contains SPF
- Small bottle makes it easy to carry around
- Non-greasy formula
Cons
- Pricey
It's true that hands show the first signs of aging, so don't skimp on the SPF. Supergoop's "Handscreen" is super easy to apply and reapply. It's pricey, but that's just because it's packed with tons of high-quality, skin-loving ingredients like sea buckthorn, sunflower, and argan oil.
You'll always want to keep some on-hand (literallyโsorry, couldn't help myself).
Key Ingredients | SPF, sea buckthorn, argan oil |
---|---|
Formula | Cream |
10
Best Overnight Hand Salve
Kiehl's Ultimate Strength Hand Salve
Pros
- Super thick formula
- Fragrance-free
- Good for sensitive skin
Cons
- Some say the natural scent smells medicinal
- Fragrance
This ultra thick hand salve will restore dryness ASAP. The fragrance-free formula is clean and great for anyone with sensitive skin. Wear it overnight to let the ingredients like avocado oil and glycerin sink in, then experience all the hydrating benefits the whole next day.
Key Ingredients | Avocado oil, eucalyptus oil, |
---|---|
Formula | Salve |
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Pros
- Thick formula
- Good for sensitive skin
- Affordable
- Unscented
Cons
- Some miss the fragrance
Dermatologist Dr. Harold Lancer, MD, recommends Eucerin's ultra recognizable hand cream. "It's an affordable, easy-to-find hand cream that helps lock in moisture," he says.
Free of both fragrances and dyes, it calms irritated, sensitive skin with ingredients like ceramides and shea butter. Reviewers swear by it for healing cracked, callous hands.
Key Ingredients | Ceramides, lactic acid |
---|---|
Formula | Cream |
12
Most Vitamin-Packed Formula
Jack Black Industrial Strength Hand Healer
Pros
- Absorbs quickly
- Heals dry cuticles
- Good price for the value
Cons
"This industrial strength hand healer is packed with Vitamins A and E and offers a light, clean scent," says dermatologist Dr. David E. Bank, MD. "Itโs actually great because it's packed with the perfect amount of emollients and absorbs quickly, leaving hands super soft."
He adds that it works wonders on cuticles, too.
Key Ingredients | Vitamin A, rice bran oil, eucalyptus oil |
---|---|
Formula | Cream |
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Pros
- Can be used all over the body
- Contains antioxidants
- Fragrance-free
- Non-greasy
Cons
- Not travel/purse-friendly
- Contains mineral oil
"Cetaphil's Restoring Lotion is not only great for the body, but for the hands, too, since it improves skinโs radiance and helps minimize the appearance of dark spots," says Dr. Bank. He also likes that it's fragrance-free, paraben-free, non-comedogenic, non-irritating, and non-greasy. That makes it a great option for sensitive skin.
Since you can use it all over the body, it's a great do-it-all lotion you'll love keeping on your bathroom vanity or nightstand.
Key Ingredients | Niacinamide, squalane |
---|---|
Formula | Lotion |
Neha Tandon
Former Senior Commerce Editor
Neha Tandon is the former senior commerce editor of Women's Health. She has written for New York Magazine, Cosmopolitan, BRIDES, Harper's Bazaar, Business Insider, Byrdie, and Well+Good.