Dry, cracked hands are most commonly a nuisance during the dead of winter, but those who suffer from chronic dry skin are stuck with this problem all year long. Not only is it annoying and uncomfortable, but it can be embarrassing.
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, dry skin is actually a medical condition that will only get worse if not treated properly.
Now you may be wondering:
What causes dry skin? Dry skin can result from a variety of causes. For some, dry skin may result from an actual skin condition, such as Eczema, or other medical conditions, like diabetes or hyperthyroidism. But for others, dry skin can be caused by chlorine, sun damage, lack of humidity, hot showers, or even certain medications.
Now:
What can you do to treat dry skin? The easiest, and least expensive, option: hand cream. However, if you’re on the market for the best hand cream, we at Lovablepicks have got you covered.
We’ve spent hours upon hours researching the best hand creams, reading reviews, and even testing products to determine which hand creams truly make the cut. We promise that your hands will love every product on our list.
Eucerin Advanced Repair Hand Creme
- Dermatologist recommended
- Non-greasy and fast-absorbing
- Noticeably smoother hands after just one use
Pros
Cons
For over 100 years, Eucerin has pioneered skincare innovation and are recognized and trusted by dermatologists as one of the leading and most recommended brands. Eucerin Advanced Repair Hand Creme is designed to protect, repair, and enhance skin health, providing radiant and healthy looking skin for the whole family. And for those of you who regularly use Neutrogena, this stuff provides all the same benefits but you do not need to apply it nearly as frequently. As the most hydrating hand cream on our list, we highly suggest this product for those with clinically diagnosed dry skin.
Although exfolitation can be a beautiful thing, be sure to use sunscreen and/or avoid sun exposure for a week after using this product.
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Ingredients
Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Moisturizing Hand Cream
- The cream is fragrance-free
- Soothes and softens extremely dry skin
- Only a small dose is needed
Pros
Cons
This dermatologist recommended moisturizing hand cream hydrates hands and provides relief for dry, irritated skin. The cream is odorless and colorless and the two-ounce tube contains more than 200 applications.
Some reviewers don’t like how thick the cream is and feel it is too heavy when applied on the skin.
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First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream
- Can be used anywhere on the body, including the face
- Contains Antioxidant Booster
- Works on eczema
Pros
Cons
First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream provides immediate relief and visible improvement for distressed skin and eczema. Additionally, FAB Ultra Repair Cream can be used all over the body and even on the face.
Although the reviews for this product are overwhelmingly positive, some reviewers with intensely dry skin report that this product does not work quite as well as advertised.
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L’Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream
- Award winning hand cream
- Enriched with 20% Shea Butter
- Protects, repairs, nourishes, and moisturizes
Pros
Cons
Users describe this product as a life-changing beauty must-have, essential for home, work, and on the go. The number one benefit of this hand cream? Keeping hands moisturized all day long without feeling greasy or heavy. But don’t just take our word for it, this hand cream has been recognized by Essence Reader’s Choice Beauty Awards 2012, InStyle Best Beauty Buys 2012; and Harper’s Bazaar Beauty Hot 100—Today seems to think pretty highly of it as well! Seriously, what more could you ask for?
The scent may be a bit too strong and feminine for some.
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AHAVA Mineral Hand Cream
- Delicious fragrance
- Heals, moisturizes, and soothes
- Leaves skin looking younger
Pros
Cons
AHAVA Mineral Hand Cream moisturizes, protects, and soothes hands while also revitalizing skin to make it appear smoother and younger. Overall, this the perfect hand cream for daily use.
The scent can be a bit strong and too sweet for some.
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Aveeno Intense Moisture Skin Relief Hand Cream
- Non-greasy
- Hypoallergenic and fragrance-free
- Lasts for a full 24 hours
Pros
Cons
This unique, non-greasy and fragrance free hand cream is rich in emollients to help heal dry skin and protect against the elements. Unlike ordinary hand creams, Aveeno Intense Relief Hand Cream protects and moisturizes skin for 24 hours and even lasts through hand washing.
Thought users have very few negative things to say about this product, some reviews state it does not work for individuals with Eczema. In that case, you will need to consult your doctor for available treatments.
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Hand Cream Tips & Advice
When we think of the word “skincare,” we immediately think of the skin on your face. Somehow, overlooking the skin on our hands seems to be the norm.
We’d happily shell out cash for the best serums and moisturizers, but hand creams are often a mere afterthought. In spite of that, the fact remains that paying attention to our hands is just as important.
Even if you successfully maintain a flawless, wrinkle-free face as you age, extending a dry and wrinkly hand as you reach out for a handshake is a dead giveaway.
To add, few things make a better first impression than soft, smooth, and youthful hands. Fortunately, taking care of our hands can be as simple as religiously using a reliable hand cream. Hand care is even more important for those of us who live in harsh weather conditions. Germophobes who wash their hands very often shouldn’t skip the hand cream aisle, either.
We’ve created this buying guide to help you get into the habit of using a hand cream or lotion. And what better way to do so than by hooking you up with a product that you’ll absolutely love?
So sit back, relax, and read on. Trust us, your hands will thank you for it.
Why is Hand Cream Essential?
We can all agree that the hands are easily the busiest body part. You depend on them for a huge chunk of your daily activities. They’re in constant contact with different objects and other people. You use them to pick things up, to exercise, and in all-important handshakes.
Because of this, the hands are also the most frequently-washed body part. And every time you use antibacterial soap, you dry out your hands—leaving your skin vulnerable to cracks, dehydration, and aging.
If you compare your hands to the rest of your body, you’ll notice that the skin on the hands is much thinner. This makes them even more vulnerable to dryness and rough spots.
Also, we don’t usually think of our hands when we’re talking about sun protection. And many of those who do use sunscreen tend to forget to reapply after handwashing. Considering that our hands are one of the first body parts to show signs of aging, incorporating a hydrating and nourishing hand cream into your everyday routine becomes even more important.
When to Apply Your Hand Cream
- After a shower. Your hands come in contact with soap and shampoo while you’re in the shower, and cleansing agents like these can dry out the skin.
- After washing your hands. Every time you wash your hands with soap and water, you remove the protective layer of moisturizer on your hands. This is why reapplication is important.
- After doing chores that involve water. Exposure to harsh cleansing agents isn’t limited to the bathroom. When you use your bare hands to do the laundry and wash the dishes, your hands lose moisture, too.
- Before going out. Applying some hand cream before you step out will protect your hands from harsh environmental elements like the wind.
- Before bed. Applying a hand cream right before you go to bed is a great way to pamper your hands overnight. You’ll wake up to smooth and silky hands—and we all want that, right?
What Causes Dry Hands?
If you’re experiencing extreme dryness on your hands, it’s always best to pinpoint the exact cause of the problem. Addressing the root of the issue will enable any hand cream to give better and longer-lasting results.
Some potential causes of dry skin include:
- Frequent hand washing, especially if you use a harsh soap and hot water
- Hard water, which contains a lot of minerals that might be sucking moisture out of your skin
- Use of harsh sanitizers and rubbing alcohols
- Smoking, which dries out the skin in general
- Poor diet—specifically, a diet that is low in essential fatty acids from food sources like salmon, avocado, almonds, and tuna
- Extreme weather conditions
- Harsh personal care products, which strip moisture off your skin
A Guide to Hand Cream Ingredients
Different hand creams boast various ingredients to solve our hands’ woes. The sheer variety of possible hand cream components might make the entire shopping process daunting, but they can actually be categorized into a few categories.
So, what should the best hand creams contain? And what exactly do these ingredients do? Check out this brief guide to learn more.
- Water. The main point of using hand creams, after all, is to hydrate our hands. Most products contain an oil-water emulsion which ensures that water is absorbed into our hands instead of evaporating into the air.
- Emollients. Emollients are ingredients that give the skin that soft, silky feel. Some examples of emollients that are commonly used in hand creams are shea butter, cocoa butter, lanolin, beeswax, jojoba, and squalene.
- Humectants. Humectants are prized ingredients in skincare because they pull moisture from the air and into the skin. Some examples of humectant ingredients are glycol and glycerin.
- Occlusives. Occlusives, as the name suggests, form a barrier that prevents moisture from escaping from the skin. Paraffin, mineral oil, lecithin, and other oils are examples of occlusive ingredients.
- Exfoliating acids. Some hand creams contain exfoliating acids to help slough off dead skin cells. Doing so will let moisturizing ingredients penetrate the skin better. Some examples of exfoliating acids are lactic and glycolic acid.
- Vitamins. Many manufacturers add vitamins into their hand cream formulations for added skin benefits. These vitamins nourish the skin and help fight skin aging. Popular vitamins in hand creams are Vitamins A, C, and E.
How to Choose the Best Hand Cream
Here are the factors you should consider when shopping for a hand cream:
How much moisture you need
Hand creams offer varying levels of moisture. Some hand creams are super emollient to cater to extremely dry hands. On the flip side, some boast a lighter formulation for milder concerns.
Scent
When it comes to skincare, we tend to overlook our hands a lot. But if you have a hand cream that smells great, you’ll likely find yourself using it more often. Luckily, dozens of different scent options abound in the hand cream aisle. Make sure to select a product that agrees with your nose.
Ingredient sensitivity
If you have sensitive skin, you should stick to hand creams that contain mild and hypoallergenic ingredients. Although the world of creams and lotions can be a delight to the olfactory nerves, you might also want to stick to fragrance-free products, as well.
Exfoliation
Do you have flaky hands that need exfoliation? Or is hydration your only concern? If you suspect that your hands might be playing host to accumulated dead skin cells, purchasing a hand cream that contains alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) like lactic and glycolic acid is a good move. That said, don’t forget to lather up on SPF to protect your newly-exfoliated skin.
The weather
As we’ve mentioned in the previous section, some hand creams contain humectants that pull moisture from the air and into the skin. This is a great way to keep your hands hydrated. However, if you live in a dry climate, there might not be enough moisture in the air for the humectants to absorb. The result? These humectants might pull moisture from the deeper layers of your skin instead—therefore worsening dryness.
Best Hand Cream For Aging Hands
As you age, you’ll start to notice wrinkles, age spots, and other fine lines forming on your hands. To help counteract the signs of the years, using a good anti-aging hand cream is important.
When choosing a hand cream for aging hands, look for ingredients that eradicate cracked skin. Some examples of this are urea and allantoin. You can also go for products that contain Vitamin C, as Vitamin C is known to help stimulate collagen production.
Meanwhile, antioxidant ingredients also help combat aging by helping neutralize free radicals. Free radicals are harmful molecules that damage our cells and speed up the aging process. Antioxidant ingredients, which are either added vitamins or plant-based components, will help manage their harmful effects.
How to Get the Most Out of Your Hand Cream
We use hand creams in hopes of achieving soft, smooth, and youthful-looking hands. Using the best hand cream for your needs and lifestyle is already a huge help, but adopting more hand-friendly habits will give you the best results.
So, how exactly do you get the most out of your hand cream? Follow these tips.
- Apply sunscreen on your hands every day. The sun is one of the biggest contributors to the skin’s aging process. That said, it’s important to apply sunscreen not only on your face but on the rest of your body, as well—including your hands!
- Don’t forget to reapply your hand cream after handwashing. And if you’re going to get sun exposure, reapply your sunscreen, too. The hands aren’t as protected as the rest of the body (by clothing) from the aging effects of the sun, so reapplication is super important.
- Use gloves while doing house chores—that is, chores that involve harsh chemicals, such as washing dishes and doing the laundry. Frequent exposure to water and detergents can seriously dry out your hands.
- Use spa gloves for extra hydration. During the winter season, your hands might be craving for some extra TLC. We recommend applying an extra-rich cream on your hands and topping it off with a spa glove once a week. Leave the spa glove on for at least an hour. You’ll end up with super soft and extra-hydrated hands.
- Avoid using hot water. Whether we’re talking about activities in the bathroom or in the kitchen, avoid using hot water to protect the skin on your hands from drying out. Warm water is fine if a cold shower isn’t an option, but anything more than that can parch your skin real fast.