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The hands are some of the hardest-working parts of the body, with the fragile skin exposed to constant wear-and-tear, but they’re often not given the care of other skin (like the face).
Enter hand creams, which are a must for keeping the delicate skin soft and free from dryness, especially if you frequently wash your hands or live in a dry or cold climate. But Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty, Health & Sustainability Lab testing has found that not all hand creams are equally effective at hydrating dry hand skin. But our list of the best hand creams features our beauty scientists’ top picks that proved to be best you can buy to heal and moisturize in our tests.
BEST OVERALL HAND CREAM – Curél Extreme Dry Hand Relief Cream
“Cure” even the most dehydrated skin with Curél’s plant oil-infused lotion, the hands-down winner in GH Beauty Lab hand cream testing. Created to last through hand washing, it boasts one of the highest increases in skin moisturization the Lab has ever measured. In Lab assessment with the Corneometer device, which calculates skin moisture levels, the formula raised hydration by a record 64%.
Though a few users said they would prefer a thicker texture, a full 100% of testers agreed the lotion left their skin feeling soft to the touch and it scored high for not being tacky. “It cleared up dry, scaly spots and stays on even when I rinse my hands,” a user commented. Another agreed: “I wash my hands at least a dozen times a day, and my hands felt and looked noticeably smooth.”
BEST VALUE HAND CREAM – Vaseline Radiant X Deep Nourishment Hand Butter
True to its name, rich and buttery Vaseline earned top marks in GH Beauty Lab evaluations for deeply moisturizing dry hand skin. The formula, blended with shea butter and coconut oil, was also a tester favorite, receiving raves for its “warm, vanilla-like” fragrance.
It elevated skin moisturization by a strong 56%, second only to the winner in Beauty Lab Corneometer calculations and rated best with testers for its “pleasant” scent. Two called the formulation “thick and creamy” and “very moisturizing” (a few users said it felt oily, though). Another reported: “My friends asked to use it because it smells so good.”
BEST HAND CREAM FOR WRINKLES AND DRYNESS – Eucerin Advanced Repair Hand Cream (Pack of 3)
A GH Beauty Lab test winner for even extremely dry, crepey and wrinkled skin, Eucerin’s combination of ingredients — glycerin, urea and sunflower seed oil — helped increase skin moisturization by an impressive 51%, according to measurements with the Corneometer device, which gauges skin hydration levels. In addition, testers gave it high marks for spreading easily and loved that it’s purse-sized.
Another standout feature of the bargain-priced drugstore formula is that it contains alpha hydroxy acids, anti-aging ingredients that increase cell turnover to smooth skin texture. “It left my hands feeling actually moisturized,” one consumer tester reported. And the compliments didn’t stop there, with others saying it “felt silky,” “made my hands smooth” and even helped moisturize cuticles. Note that some testers found it left their hands feeling sticky or oily after application.
BEST HAND CREAM FOR AGING HANDS – Reserveage Hydrating Hand & Foot Cream
Combat signs of aging on hands with Reserveage’s formula, recommended by GH Beauty Lab Executive Director Birnur Aral, Ph.D. “This rich-textured cream soaks right into skin and makes hands immediately feel silky-smooth,” she says. “Thanks to the encapsulated copper peptides in its formula, it is designed to also work over time and help build collagen in skin.” The icing on the cake? “It has a lovely scent which smells like a cross between cucumber and coconut,” Aral notes. It’s on the pricier side, but the formula does double duty and can be applied on feet as well.
BEST DERMATOLOGIST-RECOMMENDED HAND CREAM – Karité Crème Mains Nourishing Hand Cream
Not only recommended by a dermatologist, this Karité hand cream was created by one, Naana Boakye, M.D., along with her two sisters, who source sustainably-harvested raw shea butter from their native Ghana. In GH Beauty Lab testing, the formula scored high for leaving hands soft and testers reported that it provided lasting moisturization. Lab Corneometer calculations confirmed that it raised skin moisturization levels by a strong 39% over six hours after application.
While the cream has no added fragrance, most testers didn’t like the natural aroma, which some said was reminiscent of coconut. “I have several fingers that were very dry to the point of peeling and this lotion helped them tremendously,” a tester raved.