The 10 Best Hand Creams, According to Real People With Dry Skin (2024)

The best hand cream is rich but sinks into your skin quickly. It has a light, pleasant scent that's not overwhelming when you apply it discretely on the subway or at a restaurant waiting for your friend to join you. You want it to protect your hands from sun spots and wrinkles and prevent the painful signs of dryness (hangnails). If you're prone to eczema, it should help treat flare-ups, too.

Shop The Best Hand Creams for Dry Skin

With cold weather and flu season coming, it's smart to have a hand cream stashed in your purse or bedside table. "Cold air holds less moisture, leading to low humidity, which dehydrates the skin," esthetician Emme Diane Burg tells Bazaar. "But it’s not just the cold. Indoors we’re cranking up the heaters, which also zap moisture from the air, leaving the skin even more vulnerable to dryness and dehydration. Additionally, people use hotter water when it’s cold, and hot water strips the skin of its natural oils. And because we tend to wash our hands more often during cold and flu season, the hot water combined with hand soap can be pretty harsh on our hands."

We have high standards for hand creams (face and body creams, too), so we consulted expert dermatologists, estheticians, beauty editors, and real reviewers to find the 10 best hand lotions for dry skin.

Best Hand Cream Overall

Eau Thermale Avène Cicalfate Hand Cream

The 10 Best Hand Creams, According to Real People With Dry Skin (7)

Pros
  • The 10 Best Hand Creams, According to Real People With Dry Skin (8)Award-winning formula
  • The 10 Best Hand Creams, According to Real People With Dry Skin (9)Lasts through 5 hand washings
  • The 10 Best Hand Creams, According to Real People With Dry Skin (10)Award-winning formula
Cons

    This Avéne hand lotion was the clear favorite among the dermatologists and estheticians we polled. The key ingredient is thermal spring water, which has been clinically shown by 150 studies to soothe, soften, and calm the skin. It's simple, affordable, and effective.

    One reviewer says: "I used to struggle with cracked, split skin on my fingertips as soon as the temperature dropped below freezing. But since I began using the Cicalfate hand cream, I no longer have to deal with skin damage from dehydration. My hands look smooth and even younger than they should." -Barb G.

    Best Hand Cream With SPF

    Supergoop! Handscreen SPF 40

    The 10 Best Hand Creams, According to Real People With Dry Skin (11)

    Pros
    • The 10 Best Hand Creams, According to Real People With Dry Skin (12)Contains SPF 40
    • The 10 Best Hand Creams, According to Real People With Dry Skin (13)Rich in omega-7 fatty acids to help condition skin
    Cons
    • The 10 Best Hand Creams, According to Real People With Dry Skin (14)Allow 30 seconds for product to absorb

    Like the rest of your body, hands should be slathered with SPF even during winter. You can use a facial sunscreen or a body formula, but we'd recommend the Supergoop! Handscreen, a nongreasy SPF 40 formulated specifically for the delicate skin on the hands. Bonus: It can protect your hands from UV exposure during a gel manicure.

    One reviewer says: "I had multiple skin spots removed on the top of both hands for cancer concerns and needed a sunscreen to protect the new skin. This cream not only protected my skin but felt wonderful on too. I highly recommend using it." -Janet S.

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    Pros
    • The 10 Best Hand Creams, According to Real People With Dry Skin (16)Formulated with squalane, glycerin and snow mushroom for long lasting hydration
    • The 10 Best Hand Creams, According to Real People With Dry Skin (17)Fast-absorbing formula
    Cons
    • The 10 Best Hand Creams, According to Real People With Dry Skin (18)Scent is noticeably less potent than the Missing Person perfume

    First packaged as a perfume, Phlur Missing Person broke the internet, and the brand put it into a body oil, lotion, and this small-sized hand cream. The tube fits in your smallest purse, leaves hands softer after one use, and the scent is warm and familiar to anyone who wears it.

    One reviewer says: "I’m usually disappointed by new hand creams I impulse buy on the internet, but Phlur’s has the perfect intensity of smell (not overpowering) and non-oily, soft feel after using. Good purchase for me." -Hannah P.

    Best Drugstore Hand Cream

    CeraVe Therapeutic Hand Cream

    The 10 Best Hand Creams, According to Real People With Dry Skin (19)

    Pros
    • The 10 Best Hand Creams, According to Real People With Dry Skin (20)Fragrance-free formula
    • The 10 Best Hand Creams, According to Real People With Dry Skin (21)National Eczema Association Seal of Acceptance
    • The 10 Best Hand Creams, According to Real People With Dry Skin (22)Under-$12 price point
    Cons

      Fragrance-free and formulated with hyaluronic acid to restore moisture to the skin and ceramides to seal it in, this CeraVe lotion is a foolproof pick for anyone with dry hands or sensitive skin.

      One reviewer says: "I love this hand cream! It soaks in fast, super moisturizing, and doesn't leave my hands feeling greasy. It's a great size for my purse or my desk at work." -Kristine C.

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      Best Hand Cream For Eczema

      Gold Bond Ultimate Skin Protectant Hand Cream for Eczema Relief, 2% Colloidal Oatmeal

      The 10 Best Hand Creams, According to Real People With Dry Skin (23)

      Pros
      • The 10 Best Hand Creams, According to Real People With Dry Skin (24)Specially formulated for eczema-prone skin
      • The 10 Best Hand Creams, According to Real People With Dry Skin (25)National Eczema Association Seal of Acceptance
      • The 10 Best Hand Creams, According to Real People With Dry Skin (26)Fragrance-free formula
      • The 10 Best Hand Creams, According to Real People With Dry Skin (27)Under-$10 price point
      Cons
      • The 10 Best Hand Creams, According to Real People With Dry Skin (28)May take a minute for formula to fully absorb

      For those with eczema or hand dermatitis (about 10 percent of the population), a medicated hand cream might be the way to go. This one comes highly recommended and contains several humectants and ceramides, nourishing antioxidants, and two percent colloidal oatmeal which can soothe irritation and help reduce inflammation.

      One reviewer says: "I get eczema patches on my fingers and arms when I’m stressed out, so I don’t need to use this lotion every day but I find myself reaching for it anyway because it’s moisturizing and absorbs nicely. It’s a thicker lotion but it still sinks into the skin quickly. It helps my skin to feel less itchy and the eczema patches 'heal' faster (until I get stressed out and they come back, but you get what I mean)." -Jacquline R.

      Best Hand Cream For Sensitive Skin

      La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Hand Repair Cream

      The 10 Best Hand Creams, According to Real People With Dry Skin (29)

      Pros
      • The 10 Best Hand Creams, According to Real People With Dry Skin (30)Moisturizes hands for up to 48 hours
      • The 10 Best Hand Creams, According to Real People With Dry Skin (31)Fast-absorbing formula
      • The 10 Best Hand Creams, According to Real People With Dry Skin (32)Fragrance-free formula
      • The 10 Best Hand Creams, According to Real People With Dry Skin (33)Under-$12 price point
      Cons
      • The 10 Best Hand Creams, According to Real People With Dry Skin (34)May take a minute for formula to fully absorb

      La-Roche Posay's hand cream contains niacinamide to fade hand discoloration, while shea butter helps repair the skin's hydrolipidic barrier. We particularly love this for chronically chapped hands in the winter.

      One reviewer says: "This is the best hand cream I have ever used. It is not thick, just the right consistency to do the job. It feels like it absorbs deep and hydrates the hands from within." -Tereza G.

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      Best Hand Cream With Aromatherapy

      rare beauty by selena gomez Find Comfort Hydrating Hand Cream

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      Pros
      • The 10 Best Hand Creams, According to Real People With Dry Skin (36)Creative hand-massaging compact
      • The 10 Best Hand Creams, According to Real People With Dry Skin (37)Calming scent
      • The 10 Best Hand Creams, According to Real People With Dry Skin (38)Hydrates hands for up to 16 hours
      Cons
      • The 10 Best Hand Creams, According to Real People With Dry Skin (39)Some may find the scent potent

      Selena Gomez formulated her Rare Beauty hand cream with a calming scent of jasmine and lemon zest. The cute little packaging doubles as a hand massager, releasing any tension held in the palm.

      One reviewer says: "Absolutely love this hand cream, everything from the packaging to the scent to the moisture. The scent truly relaxes me during my stressful work." -Ella

      Best Hand Cream For Treating Signs Of Aging

      EltaMD Skin Restore Hand Cream

      The 10 Best Hand Creams, According to Real People With Dry Skin (40)

      Pros
      • The 10 Best Hand Creams, According to Real People With Dry Skin (41)Fragrance-free formula
      • The 10 Best Hand Creams, According to Real People With Dry Skin (42)Reduces the appearance of skin discolorations
      • The 10 Best Hand Creams, According to Real People With Dry Skin (43)Brightens the appearance of skin tone
      Cons
      • The 10 Best Hand Creams, According to Real People With Dry Skin (44)For best results, use regularly

      This cream contains ceramides, vitamin E, glycerin (a great humectant), and jojoba esters to moisturize the skin. It also contains clary sage extract, which reduces pigmentation, brightens, and evens the hand’s skin tone.

      One reviewer says: "This hand cream is great! What it says on the bottle…it actually delivers! I like that it’s fragrance-free, so it doesn’t interfere with any perfume I might have on. It absorbs right away and isn’t greasy, so you can rub it in and get on with your day! I like that it has ceramides and antioxidants in it too. I’m becoming more aware of the skin on my hands the older I get!" -Katie R.

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      Best Hand Cream For Dry Hands & Nails

      Caudalie Hand and Nail Cream

      The 10 Best Hand Creams, According to Real People With Dry Skin (45)

      Pros
      • The 10 Best Hand Creams, According to Real People With Dry Skin (46)98% natural origin ingredients
      • The 10 Best Hand Creams, According to Real People With Dry Skin (47)Fully recyclable packaging designed using recycled plastic and glass
      Cons

        Caudalie's hand cream is specifically formulated to treat dryness in hands and nails, so you won't need to add additional cuticle oil to your routine. It's the perfect hand cream to keep at your bedside.

        One reviewer says: "I picked this up at the airport and was worried I wouldn’t find it online. Here it is. It’s transformative and I will have it delivered regularly. My hands, nails and cuticles love this." -Krissy

        Most Portable Hand Cream

        L'Occitane Shea Hand Cream

        The 10 Best Hand Creams, According to Real People With Dry Skin (48)

        Pros
        • The 10 Best Hand Creams, According to Real People With Dry Skin (49)Award-winning formula
        • The 10 Best Hand Creams, According to Real People With Dry Skin (50)Immediately soothes skin
        • The 10 Best Hand Creams, According to Real People With Dry Skin (51)Free from silicones
        • The 10 Best Hand Creams, According to Real People With Dry Skin (52)Portable compact
        Cons

          Beloved for a reason, the L'Occitane hand cream comes in a chic compact (they used aluminum packaging before it was trendy), and it leaves hands softer after one application.

          One reviewer says: "This lotion does not fail. It is so thick and hydrating so it lasts forever — I don't have to constantly keep reapplying. It is a staple to carry around with me everywhere and I love to gift it to my friends and family as gifts!" -Eunice

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          Meet the Experts

          The 10 Best Hand Creams, According to Real People With Dry Skin (53)

          • Omer Ibrahim, M.D., F.A.A.D., is a board-certified dermatologist at Chicago Cosmetic Surgery and Dermatology.

          • Emme Diane Burg is an esthetician and the founder and CEO of Emme Diane Skincare.

          What should I look for in a hand cream?

          The 10 Best Hand Creams, According to Real People With Dry Skin (54)

          According to board-certified dermatologist Omer Ibrahim, an effective hand cream will include occlusive ingredients, like shea butter and coconut oil, and barrier-strengthening ingredients, like ceramides or squalane. The list above checks these boxes. However, some people, like those with eczema or extra dry skin, may prefer petroleum jelly. "Some people may even require thick salve-like balms like Albolene or Aquaphor," says Ibrahim.

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          How can I stop my hands from getting dry?

          The 10 Best Hand Creams, According to Real People With Dry Skin (55)

          The best way to avoid dryness is to moisturize your hands regularly, "ideally right after washing your hands when they are still slightly damp," says Diane Burg. "I also recommend applying a thicker hand cream or ointment at night to deeply hydrate and repair any fissures or cracks from extreme dryness."

          In addition to stocking up on hand cream, consider a gentle, pH-balanced hand soap for your bathroom and kitchen." Opting for a gentle, fragrance-free soap and rinsing with lukewarm water is best to prevent stripping your hands of their natural oils," adds Diane Burg. "And although convenient, avoid using hand sanitizers that have a high alcohol content as they will just make matters worse."

          Lastly, protect your hands. "Wearing fleece gloves outdoors, especially if you live in or are visiting a cold climate, can shield your skin from the harsh elements. Additionally, always use rubber gloves when cleaning or doing dishes to minimize prolonged contact with water and cleaning products," the esthetician adds. But if you can't remember to wear your gloves daily and notice early signs of dryness, using your hand cream can work wonders.

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          The 10 Best Hand Creams, According to Real People With Dry Skin (56)

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          Why trust Harper's Bazaar?

          The 10 Best Hand Creams, According to Real People With Dry Skin (57)

          For more than 150 years, Harper’s Bazaar has been the preeminent fashion and beauty resource for women at every age. We cover what’s new and what’s next in beauty by working with the world’s leading authorities in dermatology, plastic surgery, cosmetics, skincare, haircare, and fragrance. Every story we publish has been thoroughly researched and vetted by our team of beauty editors and industry experts.

          The 10 Best Hand Creams, According to Real People With Dry Skin (58)

          Megan Decker

          Megan Decker is a beauty and lifestyle writer and editor, and the former beauty editor at Refinery29, where she oversaw the site’s beauty trend coverage. In addition to regularly contributing to Harper's Bazaar, she also writes for Refinery29, Byrdie, PS, various newsletters, and other publications. She lives on the Upper East Side and you can often find her reading, picnicking, or strolling in Central Park.

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