You know the feeling. It starts at your fingertips, working its way up to your wrist until you can’t focus on anything beyond hunting down the best hand creams for dry skin. It could have been the work of an especially astringent soap or particularly desert-y air, but there’s only one solution—hopefully, it’s lying within an easily accessible pocket near you. Here’s the thing though: your hand cream of choice has to be good. And because you don’t want to be slathering on something that evaporates moments later, or stays so slick you have to wash your hands (a vicious cycle), the moment also calls for a quality cream, which comes armed with a higher concentration of oils than typical lotions. Finding a perfect hand cream is like discovering your own personal holy grail—a feeling matched only by rolling on a truly solid chapstick. Ahead, we break down the 25 absolute best hand creams for dry skin money can buy in 2022, from vegan formulas and budget-friendly finds to luxurious additions to keep in your purse. Featured image of EADEM co-founder, Marie Kouadio Amouzame by Belathée Photography.
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Image by Belathée Photography
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What are the hand cream ingredients for dry skin? Though our 25 picks cater to a variety of concerns and budgets, there are a few things all great hand creams have in common. “The main ingredients to look for are ceramides, glycerin, dimethicone, and petrolatum for very dry skin,” shares board-certified dermatologist Dr. Elizabeth Geddes-Bruce. “If the skin is thick and scaly, I might also opt for lactic acid or urea.”
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Image by Teal Thomsen The Best Drugstore Hand Creams Under $10
CeraVe Therapeutic Hand Cream The non-greasy formula from this derm-favorite brand immediately soothes with zero slickness.
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Eucerin Advanced Repair Hand Cream Thousands of five-star reviews don’t lie—the brand’s unscented, ceramide-infused formula goes gentle on hands but works hard to repair dry, cracked skin.
Gold Bond Hand Cream for Eczema Relief Another affordable option with unbeatable reviews, Gold Bond’s formula is a prime drugstore pick when tackling eczema.
La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Hands This budget-friendly French cream features hydrating niacinamide and absorbs quickly for instant relief that lasts.
O’Keeffe’s Working Hands Hand Cream Armed with glycerin and emollient mineral oil, O’Keeffe’s highly concentrated cream can bring even the most cracked hands back from the brink.
Public Goods Hand Cream A chic standby to keep handy in your purse, Public Goods’ cream is loaded with glycerin, essential oils, and shea butter.
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Image by Belathée Photography The Best Luxury Hand Creams
54 Thrones African Beauty Butter A little goes a long with 54 Thrones’ ultra luxurious cream, packed with ethically-sourced shea butter and baobab and jojoba oils.
Aesop Resurrection Aromatique Hand Balm With an alluring citrusy-woody scent and natural butters, Aesop’s luxe cream earns its “resurrection” claim.
Chanel La Creme Main The only evidence this favorite, fast-absorbing formula leaves behind is a soft floral scent and beautifully moisturized hands.
La Mer The Hand Treatment This bestseller is infused with the iconic brand’s signature, nutrient-dense “Miracle Broth” for an ultra silky solution.
Le Labo Hinoki Hand Pomade For a plant-based formula with a rich, evocative scent, you can always count on Le Labo.
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Image by Emma Bassil The Best Unscented Hand Creams for Sensitive Skin
ATTITUDE Hand Cream with Oatmeal for Sensitive Skin Care The Canada-based brand known for its natural, hypoallergenic personal care products delivers with an avocado- and oil-infused formula that keeps dryness at bay.
Cetaphil Eczema Restoraderm Soothing Moisturizer When you’re dealing with serious eczema, you need a clinically proven brand you can trust.
Nécessaire The Hand Cream Packed with peptides and vitamin C, Nécessaire’s fragrance-free formula goes above and beyond in the hydrating department.
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Image by Ka Vang The Best Anti-Aging Hand Creams
Jan Marini Marini ReNu Corrective Hand Complex This retinol-infused cream targets fine lines and wrinkles while nourishing hands with deeply hydrating ingredients.
Mario Badescu Special Hand Cream with Vitamin E The antioxidant-packed cream feels intensely rich, especially considering the price tag. Vitamin A, vitamin E, and wheat germ oils deliver a moisture boost for silky-soft hands.
Natura Bissé Diamond Extreme Hand Cream This ultra-luxe cream is formulated with niacinamide, hydrolyzed collagen, antioxidants, and rich, buttery oils to fortify your hands’ moisture barrier.
Perricone MD Cold Plasma Plus+ Hand Therapy Perricone MD formulas—including their hand therapy cream—are miracle workers when it comes to mature, crepey skin.
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Image by Claire Huntsberger The Best Hand Creams With SPF
Deborah Lippmann Rich Girl – Broad Spectrum SPF 25 Hand Cream This multifaceted cream is packed with shea butter, brightening botanicals, and broad spectrum SPF to hydrate and protect.
Unsun Cosmetics Hand Cream SPF 15 Hydrating, gentle emollients, coconut oil, and anti-aging extracts combine with mineral SPF for a perfect everyday hand cream.
Supergoop! Handscreen SPF 40 This crowd-pleasing cream targets loss of firmness with powerful antioxidants while protecting the delicate, sun-exposed skin on your hands.
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Image by Belathée Photography The Best Vegan Hand Creams for Dry Skin
Aveda Hand Relief Moisturizing Cream Hydrating plant emollients and antioxidants combine for a fuss-free, ultra hydrating cream that always gets the job done.
Grown Alchemist Intensive Hand Cream The cult-loved brand’s upped the power of their gorgeous vegan hand cream with this intensive formula, featuring rose and argon extracts.
SPARITUAL Citrus Cardamom Vegan Hand Salve The spa-inspired cream offers a heavenly scent that nourishes with antioxidant-rich Marula oil, shea butter, and honeybush extract.
Weleda Soothing Sensitive Skin Almond Hand Cream This beloved, skin strengthening formula works hard on sensitive hands and leaves a lovely fresh scent.
Do you have a favorite, tried-and-true hand cream? Share your recommendations in the comments!
