One of the telltale signs of winter is how your hands feel. After months of calm weather, there inevitably comes a time when you notice a patch of dry, flaky skin on the side of your index finger, or a tight, almost popping sensation when you flex your palms. There’s only one place for your mind to go after that: You have to. I get. Hand. Cream.
As with many skin care products, hand lotion is one of those things you want to pay extra attention to. If you pull the first tube off the shelf, you might end up with greasy fingers or a scent you can’t stand. To help you out, we’ve rounded up the best hand creams to fit in the side pocket of your handbag. Find them all, ahead.
At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this vast world. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by our editorial team. If you purchase something we’ve linked to on our site, Refinery29 may earn a commission.
For more can’t-miss shopping stories delivered straight to your inbox, subscribe to our newsletter for the most wanted.
Nécessaire The Hand Cream
Fragrance-free and elegant, this indulgent hand lotion melts into skin almost on contact, so calluses and roughness soften over time—without making your rings slip off your fingers.
Necessary The Hand Cream, $, available at Sephora
Augustinus Bader The Hand Treatment
As a follow-up to The Cream, which quickly became the favorite moisturizer in the luxury skincare market, Augustinus Bader brings the same patented stem cell technology to a moisturizing hand treatment.
Augustinus Bader The Hand Treatment, $, available at Augustinus Bader
Clarins Moisturizing Hand and Nail Care Cream
If you take nothing else away from this article, it’s that the French have perfected the art of hand cream. This Clarins – a reputed favorite of the late Queen Elizabeth II – gently hydrates hands and cuticles for soft, smooth skin.
Clarins Moisturizing Hand and Nail Care Cream, $, available at Clarins
Kiehl’s Ultimate Strength Hand Salve
This super sleepy hand cream is a personal favorite for many reasons: It has a rich, buttery texture but is somehow not greasy. Then there is the light scent, which is clean but not medicinal. Best of all, one tube lasts a surprisingly long time — taking you from winter to spring with ease.
of Kiehl’s Ultimate Strength Hand Salve, $, available at Sephora
Aesop Resurrection Aromatique Hand Balm
The invigorating scent of Aesop’s luxurious lotion will make you want to slather it all over, from your cuticles to your ankles. It gives “quiet luxury” but make it a hand cream.
Aesop Resurrection Aromatique Hand Balm, $, available at Nordstrom
L’Occitane hand cream
If good reviews are your guide, L’Occitane’s classic aluminum tube is among Sephora’s top hand creams. We love that it’s small enough to fit in our purse, desk drawer, and glove box—that’s why we have one in three.
L’Occitane Shea Butter Nourishing and Protective Hand Cream, $, available at Sephora
Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream
Don’t forget the tiny Norwegian flag: The Nordic cross signifies Neutrogena’s most hydrating option, designed to keep hands soft in the toughest conditions.
Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream for Dry and Rough Hands, $, available at Amazon
Chanel La Crème Main
We love good packaging, and nothing beats Chanel’s pristine, egg-shaped hand cream bottle. It’s a perfect stocking stuffer for the person on your list who loves a little luxury.
Chanel La Crème Main, $, available at Chanel
Malin + Goetz Vitamin B5 Hand Treatment
The natural almond extract in this hand cream gives it a subtly sweet scent and provides plenty of moisture without greasiness.
Malin + Goetz Vitamin B5 Hand Treatment, $, available at Malin + Goetz
Supergoop! Hand screen SPF 40
In this tube, you get all the benefits of a lightweight moisturizer and extra sun protection to protect the delicate skin on the tops of your hands from the signs of aging.
Supergoop! Hand Screen SPF 40, $, available at Revolve
Eucerin Eczema Relief Cream
When you feel like your hands can never not is dry, a large tube of hand lotion can be the solution. This can be used to treat dry patches on your joints and provide instant relief for eczema flare-ups.
Eucerin Eczema Relief Cream, $, available at Amazon
Sidia Hand Serum
Technically, this is one serum — but for all intents and purposes, Sidia’s formula is a hand cream. It does everything you want a hand cream to do minus everything you don’t. In other words, it hydrates and softens without feeling oily or greasy. (Plus, the citrusy-woody scent is all kinds of dreamy.)
Sidia The Hand Serum, $, available at Revolve
Karité Shea Butter Hand Cream
This hand cream—a longtime editor favorite—is made with raw, unrefined shea butter, giving the lotion a subtle nutty scent that’s 100% natural.
Shea butter Shea Butter Hand Cream, $, available at Shea butter
Do you like what you see? How about something more R29, here?
How to fix dry skin around the eyes
Meet the most innovative skin serums of 2020
Glow Recipe’s new serum is Dwy Skin In A Bottle
