“This is the only hand cream that doesn’t break my skin out into hives,” SELF’s senior commerce writer Sara Coughlin says, adding that she buys it in the fragrance-free version. “It immediately sinks in and doesn’t feel greasy or distracting at all.” (Read: It won’t turn your steering wheel or keyboard into a Slip ‘N Slide.) It’s made with moisturizing shea butter and glycerin, but its star ingredient is goat milk, which contains lactic acid that exfoliates and smooths the skin.
Size: 3.4 fl oz
Other notable ingredients: Glycerin, moisturizing jojoba seed oil, isopropyl palmitate and cetearyl alcohol (emollients)
Read Coughlin’s full review here.
Best for Sun Protection: Eucerin Daily Hydration Hand Cream SPF 30
Pros
- Protects from sun damage
- Fragrance-free
Cons
- Some Amazon reviewers say it pills
You already know you need to wear sunscreen on your face and body, but you might not think about intentionally applying it to the backs of your hands to prevent skin damage. “You can get a lot of what we call ‘cumulative UV exposure’ just from day-to-day activities, like driving,” Marisa Garshick, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology and clinical assistant professor at Cornell University in New York City, previously told SELF.
This cream gives your hands the moisture they need while also protecting them from UV rays with SPF 30. It gets its anti-inflammatory properties from licorice root extract, while cetearyl alcohol and glycerin help it hydrate.
Size: 2.7 fl oz
Other notable ingredients: Avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, octocrylene (sunscreen)
Find more great hand creams with SPF here.
Best for Very Dry Skin: Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream
Pros
- Super moisturizing
- Safe on eczema
- Fragrance-free
Cons
- Leaves a film on your hands
Neutrogena’s Hand Cream has a thick texture that’ll coat your hands to repair cracks and soften calluses. “It has a high concentration of glycerin, which is an excellent humectant that draws moisture into the skin and keeps it hydrated,” Dr. Turegano says, adding that it’s great for anyone whose hands have been exposed to harsh environmental conditions.
This treatment is also a go-to for Gabriella Vasile, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist and owner of Réforme Dermatology and Aesthetics in Charleston, South Carolina: “I am constantly recommending this thicker ointment for my patients with extra dry skin or eczema.”
Size: 2 fl oz
Other notable ingredients: Cetearyl alcohol
Best for Healing Cracks: O’Keeffe’s Working Hands Hand Cream
Pros
- Fragrance-free
- Softens skin
- Very protective
Cons
- Some reviewers say it’s too oily
“This cream is specifically designed for severely dry, cracked hands,” Dr. Turegano says, adding that it’s great for anyone who puts their hands through a lot, like construction workers, gardeners, or healthcare workers. “It creates a protective layer on the skin’s surface, locking in moisture and preventing further dryness.” It hydrates with glycerin, soothes with allantoin, and supports the skin barrier with urea and mineral oil.
