I’ve Slathered My Hands in Dozens of Hand Creams to Find the Very Best

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Active ingredients:Peptides|Fragrance: Fragrance-free |Price:2.2ounces (Approx. $9/ounce)

When thinking of a hand cream that works well for most people, I kept a few things in mind. First (and most important), how effectively it moisturizes. I also considered hand-feel (nongreasy or sticky) and if it has any extras, like vitamin C or peptides to enhance skin. This one from Nécessaire ticks all the boxes and converted me into a verifiable hand-cream person. It’s the standard by which I rank all others. I’m currently on my third tube and hoard them whenever I can. The brand recently reformulated its hand cream, and despite a slightly thinner consistency, it’s still virtually perfect: rich and moisturizing without being greasy, no strange residue after it dries down. My hands still feel like, well, my hands, just more supple and moisturized. A peek at the ingredients list reveals lots of good-for-skin ingredients like peptides, niacinamide, vitamin C, and vitamin E. The packaging is also worth mentioning. It takes cues from Aesop’s statusy aluminum tubes and not only looks cool as you continue to crush it as it gets used up but makes for a fairly sturdy construction. And at $20, it’s a bit more expensive than the $5 lotion you might find at a drugstore, but it’s a small luxury that’s completely worth it.

Active ingredients:Vitamin E, vitamin C |Fragrance:Aloe|Price:3 ounces (Approx. $1/ounce)

For a more affordable option, I recommend this hand cream from Gold Bond, which is only $4 and punches well above its weight. It has a lotion-y consistency that sinks in easily and has a few key ingredients like vitamin E and vitamin C. Both help to protect skin from environmental stressors, particularly UV rays. Even though it doesn’t contain SPF, I like that it offers a bit of protection, especially since it’s easy to forget to apply (let alone reapply) sunscreen to hands. It’s also a favorite of dermatologist Dr. Karan Lal, who likes that it doesn’t need to be used too often. I like to keep this one in my car because it actually lasts through hand washes. It won’t keep your hands as supple as when you first apply, but they won’t go back to being bone dry either.

Active ingredients:Lanolin, shea butter, vitamin E, coconut oil |Fragrance:Coconut |Price:1.7 ounces (Approx. $9/ounce)

We’re longtime fans of lanolin here at the Strategist. The sheep-derived oil is a popular moisturizing ingredient, especially in diaper and nipple creams (many moms have recommended it to us in articles past). Of all the brands that make lanolin-infused products, Lano is probably the most ubiquitous. Its 101 Ointment is a staple for people with extremely dry skin, so it stands to reason that it makes a solid hand cream too. It uses triple the amount of lanolin as Lano’s regular formula along with vitamin E and shea butter for even more moisturizing properties. Despite the rich ingredients, it’s not the least bit greasy. This one comes recommended by my former boss, beauty expert Dawn Davis, who has been a beauty editor for two decades and has tried most everything as a result. “It has absolutely zero residue,” says Davis, “and somehow lasts through handwashing.” She’s partial to the coconut version (which also includes coconut oil), but if that doesn’t appeal, there are three other scents to choose from.

Active ingredients:Glycerin, paraffin |Fragrance:Unscented |Price:2.7 ounces (Approx. $3/ounce)

Whenever I poll my fellow Strategist staffers about what hand creams they’re loving, this one from O’Keeffe’s always comes up. It’s one of the most popular hand creams on Amazon (it has over 6,500 five-star reviews and counting), with reviewers crediting the cream with making the hands baby-smooth. The magic is in the ultraconcentrated ingredients, which include glycerin and dimethicone, a popular and effective skin protectant. It creates a barrier on skin and draws moisture in and also stops moisture from leaving skin.

Active ingredients:Dimethicone, glycerin |Fragrance:Unscented |Price:8 ounces (Approx. $0.36/ounce)

Lots of hand creams advertise that they stay on despite hand-washing, but few create a film like Gloves in a Bottle, which promises four hours of glove-like moisture before it starts to wear off. It’s popular with nurses and other medical professionals who are constantly needing to sanitize their hands, and it’s a favorite of cosmetic chemistDr. Julian Sass. “It’s great for anyone who wants more longevity with their hand cream,” he says. His one tip is to make sure you don’t reapply. When layered, the film has a tendency to pill. “Just put it on once, leave it for a couple hours, and it’ll still be moisturizing after you wash his hands.”

Active ingredients:Glycerin, niacinamide, glycerin, shea butter |Fragrance:Unscented |Price:1.69 ounces (Approx. $7/ounce)

I’m a longtime fan of La Roche-Posay for sensitive skin, because all of the products are formulated with soothing, gentle ingredients. The brand’s hand cream follows suit, containing ingredients like glycerin, niacinamide, and shea butter. It’s also a favorite of Strategist writer Lauren Ro, who describes it as a “thick gel more than a cream.” Ro says that the consistency makes it more effective and it actually moisturizes her “super-dry” hands. “It’s clingier,” she says. “It actually stays on and hydrates your hands instead of absorbing immediately and rubbing off.” It’s also important to note that the formula is fragrance-free, a known irritant for sensitive-skin types. Dr. Sass is also a fan. “Once it dries down, it’s a silky, moisturizing layer but not greasy,” he says.

Active ingredients:Shea butter, sesame oil, myrrh |Fragrance:Scented|Price:1.69 ounces (Approx. $7/ounce)

I’m scent-averse when it comes to hand creams, but I’m in the minority. Lots of people like nicely scented hand creams, including Strategist senior editor Hilary Reid, who told me about this one from Clarins she discovered while studying abroad in Paris. “It smells amazing and sophisticated,” she says. “Powdery but not old-ladyish.” Scent aside, it contains a nourishing blend of sesame oil, shea butter, and myrrh. The latter is an antioxidant that helps to protect skin from environmental damage and is anti-inflammatory too. “It keeps my hands moisturized for hours but is never sticky,” says Reid. “It actually makes your hands have a healthy glow.” Another bonus is that it’s not too heavily scented, so even those with sensitive noses (me) can enjoy it.

Active ingredients:Retinol, colloidal oatmeal, panthenol |Fragrance:Unscented |Price:1.7 ounces (Approx. $36/ounce)

As hands age, wrinkles and fine lines tend to appear. Using a regular moisturizer will help with this, but if you want something more targeted, you can use a hand cream that has retinol, a vitamin A derivative that’s essentially a catch-all for any and all skin issues, including hyperpigmentation, wrinkles, and crepey-ness. Recently, I’ve incorporated this hand cream from Soft Services into my routine, which contains retinol, colloidal oatmeal, and panthenol, a moisturizer that helps to reduce moisture loss. The combination is nice, and it delivers moisture without feeling at all heavy. Despite what I said about not liking a hand cream with a film, it does have a silky finish that isn’t at all off-putting. It also comes in a nice-looking container, which can be refilled. That makes it easier to justify the $62 you’re paying the first go-round.

Active ingredients:Bakuchiol, THD ascorbate, niacinamide, glycerin |Fragrance:Unscented |Price:1.6 ounces (Approx. $34/ounce)

This hand cream from Retrouvé uses bakuchiol, a plant-based ingredient often touted as an retinol alternative, to help with fine lines and wrinkles. Similar to retinol, bakuchiol helps to speed up cell turnover and tends to be better tolerated. It could be a good alternative for someone who finds retinol to be a little too sensitizing or wants to use a retinol-like product without the side effects and sun sensitivity. It comes recommended by esthetician and founder ofStälle StudiosElizabeth Hand, who has been using it for over three years. “There’s zero greasiness and it keeps your hands soft and hydrated all day,” she says. In addition to bakuchiol, it also contains vitamin C, an antioxidant that also brightens; niacinamide, another brightening ingredient; and glycerin, a humectant that soothes and helps skin to retain moisture.

Active ingredients:Lactic acid (15%) |Fragrance: Fragrance-free |Price:4.9 ounces (Approx. $3/ounce)

DermatologistDr. Alicia Zalkahas recommended this moisturizer to “legions” of her patients. It contains lactic acid, an exfoliant, which Zalka says helps skin maintain proper barrier function and gently exfoliates. It also comes recommended by Lal, who cited the inclusion of lactic acid and its moisturizing properties. While most anyone can use it, Zalka likes it for mature skin, which she says tends to be thinner and more fragile. Lal, on the other hand, likes it for dry, flaky skin, because the combination of lactic acid and moisturizing ingredients helps to smooth and nourish hands at the same time.

Fragrance: Fragrance-free |Price:4.9 ounces (Approx. $0.87/ounce)

If you’d prefer a product without actives, dermatologist Dr. Melanie Palm told me about her go-to — this utilitarian tub of Eucerin. “It’s got ceramide 3 in it, a cholesterol-derived chain that helps to restore and maintain the skin barrier. It’s got glycerin, it has triglycerides in it, everything you want to see in a barrier cream” she said. Eucerin products tend to be thick, but this one is lighter weight than the richest formulas they have, an ideal consistency for a hand cream. It’s also non-greasy — another ideal feature. One of the things I like about this is that it isn’t technically a hand cream. It can be used all over, so it’s the kind of cream you can keep in the car or in a bag and use on any dry, parched spots in a pinch.

Active ingredients:2% Colloidal oatmeal |Fragrance: Unscented |Price:3 ounces (Approx. $1.6/ounce)

There’s another Gold Bond option on this list because they’re cheap but effective. I personally don’t have eczema, so I asked someone who does: our beauty columnist, Rio Viera-Newton. Shediscovered this hand creamduring the height of COVID, when she was washing her hands upwards of ten times a day. It healed her dry eczema patches in just a few days thanks to ingredients like colloidal oatmeal, aloe, and vitamin E. “It has a thick, hydrating texture,” she says of the consistency, which works well to soothe dry patches and irritation.

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