Editors Swear By These 7 Hand Creams to Keep Their Hands Nourished All Year Long (2024)

TL;DR

Our top pick for the best hand cream is the fast-absorbingGrown Alchemist’s Hand Cream. It’s full of nourishing ingredients we love without being sticky or greasy. If you’re shopping on a budget, check outBenton's Shea Butter and Olive Hand Cream. We love that it can improve overall skin texture without breaking the bank.

Our Top Picks

Key Ingredients: Glycerin, camellia seed oil, grapeseed oil | Size: 2.3, 16.9 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Grown Alchemist’s hand cream is formulated with a blend of nourishing ingredients—glycerin, camellia seed oil, grapeseed oil, and aloe plant extract—to moisturize and soothe dry skin without any lingering residue. Our tester loved this product’s lightweight yet plush consistency and found that a nickel-sized dollop was enough to make her hands feel soft and smooth (although she sometimes dabbed a little more onto extra-dry patches of skin). We also love that while this cream doesn’t contain synthetic fragrance (which can be irritating to some), it has a natural citrusy scent that smells fresh without being overpowering.

Elsie, tester: “One of my favorite things about this hand cream is that it’s perfectly moisturizing without being greasy or oily. It dries within 30 seconds of application, then I can touch my phone, clothes, bags, screens, and keyboard without worrying about the hand cream getting everywhere.”

Key Ingredients: Shea butter, castor oil | Size: 2.4-16.5 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Dry, cracked, and rough hands stand no chance against Aesop's hand cream. This herbaceous moisturizer is crafted with a blend of oils and butters, like castor and shea, to hydrate and replenish winter-weathered hands. The nourishing formula coats the skin in a silky, smooth formula that quickly absorbs, giving your complexion a much-needed boost. It instantly hydrates dull skin, and after long-term use, our tester's skin feels refreshed sans any dry spots. Plus, we love that we don't have to sacrifice nourishment for odd-scented creams, as this one is formulated with deliciously woody-smelling ingredients (patchouli, cedar atlas, and clove bud). We adore the chic aluminum bottle it comes in, but be sure to fold down the bottle with use to get every last drop.

Caitlyn Martyn, associate editor: "My coworker, Shannon, is obsessed with hand creams, and she recommended this one to cure the rough, dry skin on my hands. It immediately softens and nourishes my hands; long-term, it eliminates dryness and ensures my skin stays smooth and hydrated. Best of all, it sinks into the skin quickly—aka it doesn't leave a sticky or oily residue on my fingers that transfer onto my laptop or phone."

Key Ingredients: Shea butter, olive oil | Size: 1.8 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This budget-friendly option is formulated with shea butter and olive oil to nourish dry, cracked skin, and despite its ultra-moisturizing abilities, it’s not at all thick or heavy. Even with its lightweight texture, our tester. Mike, only needed a small amount of product—enough to cover a fingertip—to coat both hands. It absorbed in around two minutes with no sticky residue left behind, leaving Mike’s hands noticeably nourished.

Mike, tester: “The first time I used this hand cream, it felt like my hands devoured the product, and I even doubted whether I had put it on.”

Key Ingredients: Glycerin, shea butter, jojoba oil, camellia oil, iris extract | Size: 1.7 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

While Chanel’s La Crème Main is packed with classic moisturizers, including glycerin, shea butter, and jojoba oil, the brand highlights camellia as its star ingredient. This hydrating plant oil is high in antioxidants, helping protect the skin barrier. Additionally, iris extract (another antioxidant) helps even skin tone and boost radiance.Our tester says this cream was extremely rich but highly absorbent, drying within seconds so she could use her laptop and phone without leaving any greasy fingerprints behind. After using the cream, she felt an immediate improvement in her skin's softness and smoothness. The subtle scent and sleek egg-shaped packaging also added to the luxury experience.

Caitlyn Martyn, associate editor: “The chapped skin around my knuckles felt softer, and even the cracks in my palms seemed like they plumped out a bit.”

Key Ingredients: Shea butter, coconut oil | Size: 1, 5.2 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

This hand cream has been around for ages, and it’s no wonder so many people have raved about it for so long. Its rich texture (thanks to shea butter, coconut oil, and glycerin) deeply hydrates the skin while remaining lightweight and nongreasy.Our tester, Michal, loved the consistency of this cream. The formula spread quickly and easily over her hands, and no matter how much she applied, it entirely absorbed without any stickiness or greasiness. After slathering on the cream four times a day, Michal noticed a big improvement in the texture of her skin; dryness and roughness—especially between her fingers—were both visibly reduced.

Michal, tester: “It felt creamy and rich but not too heavy or sticky.”

Key Ingredients: Ceramides, vitamin E | Size: 3 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

This nourishing hand cream leans on ceramides, vitamin E, and jojoba esters to coat the skin in rich, buttery moisture. A dime-sized amount was all our tester needed to completely cover her hands, and she appreciated that it effectively nourished and smoothed her skin without leaving an oily residue behind.The formula does take one to two minutes to fully absorb, but once it does, it’s virtually undetectable, especially since it doesn’t impart a fragrance. While our tester's hands typically get very dry in the winter (especially those pesky cuticles), this cream worked wonders.

Maggie, tester: “Keeping this in my handbag and at my desk and applying one to three times a day has prevented cracks and dry spots on my hands.”

Key Ingredients: Glycerin, panthenol, murumuru and mango butters | Size: 1, 2.5 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Nighttime hand masks are often extremely thick and oily; while this one does have a rich texture, it’s far from greasy or slimy. Designed for pre-bedtime application, this hand treatment from Rihanna’s skincare line is packed with hydrating ingredients (like glycerin and a blend of nourishing butters), and it works beautifully to remedy dry patches, smooth skin texture, and significantly boost hand hydration.Our tester was impressed by its smooth, gel-like consistency and lavender squeeze bottle that dispenses the perfect amount of product each time. It absorbed easily in around two minutes and “worked like a gem,” hydrating ashy patches and leaving her skin noticeably more supple.

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 broken or sensitive skin—because fragrance can be an irritant.