Best Hand Creams for Soothing Dry and Chapped Skin
Much like your decadent moisturizers with SPF and ultra-soothing body lotions and body butter, using a smooth hand cream to help soothe the skin is always a good idea.
However, it’s not something we typically resort to unless we have severely dry and chapped hands — as is the case with lip balm — but, in reality, we should be using these travel-friendly skincare essentials more frequently.
The Most Important Feature of Hand Creams
“The most important feature of hand creams is the ability to adequately moisturize the skin,” Kristen Miller, MD, board-certified dermatologist at Spectrum Skin and Laser, told the New York Post. “Thick creams or ointments work best.”
Best Overall: Soft Services Theraplush Overnight Repair Treatment
- Pros:
- Multitasking formula with retinol, colloidal oatmeal, and panthenol
- Visible results in just 3 days
- Chic, refillable packaging with a clever magnetic lid
- Cons:
- May not be suitable for those with highly sensitive skin
- Investment
This overnight sensation has taken the handcare world by storm, and for good reason. Theraplush is more than just a hand cream; it’s a nightly ritual that transforms your hands while you catch some Z’s. The luxurious formula, packed with 0.05% retinol, 1% colloidal oatmeal, and 0.5% panthenol, works its magic to resurface, condition, and plump your skin.
Best Luxury: Chanel La Crème Main Hand Cream
- Pros:
- Luxurious, unique packaging
- Fast-absorbing formula
- Softens and smooths hands
- Pleasant, subtle scent
- Cons:
- Strong fragrance may not suit everyone
- May not be moisturizing enough for extremely dry hands
This iconic egg-shaped hand cream combines style and substance with its chic packaging and nourishing formula. Enriched with iris pallida and may rose wax, it promises to protect the skin barrier, diminish dark spots, and provide lasting hydration without stickiness.
Best for Cracked Hands: O’Keeffe’s Working Hands Hand Cream
- Pros:
- Heals severely dry skin
- Unscented
- Affordable
- Cons:
- Thick consistency may feel heavy
- Not ideal for those who prefer scented products
This powerhouse cream is like a construction crew for your hands, rebuilding your skin’s barrier with glycerin, allantoin, and paraffin. It’s designed to create a protective layer on your skin, sealing in moisture and promoting the healing of even the most stubborn cracks and calluses.
Best for Dry Skin: Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream
- Pros:
- Highly concentrated formula
- Fragrance-free
- Budget-friendly
- Cons:
- May feel slightly greasy initially
Inspired by the hardy hands of Norwegian fishermen, this glycerin-packed formula (we’re talking 40%!) is like a tall glass of water for your parched paws. With cetearyl alcohol and stearic acid thrown into the mix, it creates a moisture-locking barrier that would make even the driest skin say “Uff da!”
Best Absorbent: Augustinus Bader The Hand Treatment
- Pros:
- Lightweight yet deeply nourishing
- Fast-absorbing and non-greasy
- Targets fine lines, dryness, and hyperpigmentation
- Cons:
- Investment
- Fragrance-free may not be suitable for everyone
This fast-absorbing cream hydrates deeply while targeting fine lines and uneven tone. Its velvety texture leaves hands smooth and rejuvenated without feeling greasy.
How We Tested
A head, take a look at the criteria we kept in mind when assessing the best hand creams on the market. Pro tip: trying new formulations is a great idea; Commerce Writer Victoria Giardina “love[s] having one in my work tote and a different brand in my crossbody bag to try something new from time to time.”
FAQ
What are the benefits of using hand cream?
Of course, hand creams offer soothing relief when used on a consistent cadence. But, there are more benefits than you may think, especially if you have a skin condition.
What ingredients to look for in a hand cream, according to a dermatologist?
The short answer? You’ll want to look for emollients.
What ingredients to avoid in hand cream, according to a dermatologist?
“Hand creams that contain possible irritants or allergens such as fragrances or essential oil should be avoided as they can worsen dryness and even trigger a rash,” Miller notes.
Do hand creams offer sun protection?
“Hand creams mainly serve to moisturize and repair the skin on your hands and do not typically contain SPF,” Miller notes. Importantly, you’ll want to apply sunscreen to your hands at the start of the day and reapply every two hours to protect against sun exposure.
What should I look for in a hand cream if I have dry or chapped hands?
The golden question. As mentioned, emollients are the most important ingredient for cracked or chapped hands.
What is a good hand cream for aging hands?
A few key things to look for when it comes to anti-aging hand creams is retinol (a form of vitamin A known to reduce the appearance of fine lines over time), hyaluronic acid, glycerin, or shea butter for hydration, antioxidants such as vitamins C and E and Coenzyme Q10 to protect from free radicals that age skin, AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids) to exfoliate the skin and promote cell turnover, and, of course, SPF.
Conclusion
Hunting for a headline-worthy haul? Keep shopping with Post Wanted.
