The Best Hand Creams

Buying Guide

If you don’t take care of your skin properly, it can get dry and itchy — and left untreated, dry skin can crack, flake and bleed. These symptoms can be especially noticeable with your hands, since they’re more exposed to causes like sun damage, harsh soaps, and cold or dry weather during work and daily tasks such as gardening and washing dishes. 

Using hand cream regularly will hydrate your skin and create protective barriers to keep needed moisture in. The best ones often include ingredients like shea butter (rich in fatty acids), hyaluronic acid, ceramides, lanolin, jojoba oil and vitamins. Look for hand creams that have at least three of these ingredients.

Good hand cream may be thick or thin, depending on your preference. Thinner creams spread more easily and absorb into the skin more quickly, leaving hands soft and smooth. They’re great in summer, when a lighter-weight lotion is desirable. A thicker cream, which will likely be oil-based, provides extra coverage for people with extra-dry skin and can nourish problem skin in colder temperatures. Thicker creams can also feel really good on your hands.

Fragrant hand creams can be pleasant, but if your skin is sensitive or you have allergies, opt for one that has no scent. And if you find yourself needing to frequently reapply your hand cream, you may want to shop for another brand that will perform better for you.

If you wash your hands a lot, keep a good hand cream by your sink and get a travel-sized version to accompany you when you go out. Or, purchase one that’s meant to stay effective through multiple washings. If you are having excessive trouble with symptoms of dry skin, try a hand cream that works overnight; before bed, apply the lotion and cover your hands with soft gloves. You may have to experiment a bit to find what hand cream routine works the best for you.

• If your hands are bleeding, put on some antibacterial ointment and let it dry before using your hand cream.
• Don’t forget to treat your nails and cuticles, too, since these will also get dry.
• Apply moisturizers right after washing; you don’t have to dry your skin thoroughly before using these products.
• Don’t dry your hands or body roughly with a towel after washing; blot your skin instead.
• You don’t have to use a ton of hand cream at a time; use a pea-sized amount per hand and see how that works first. 
• Don’t wash your hands with very hot water, and wear protective gloves when washing dishes.