Suppose you find yourself searching for the best hand lotion to soothe parched and cracked hands. In that case, you'll want to focus on ingredients that lock in moisture by creating a protective barrier—dimethicone and beeswax are two that come to mind. Butters and oils (i.e., shea, cocoa, almond, jojoba) and moisture-attracting hyaluronic acid also serve to quench dehydrated skin and heal damage. From luxe, gift-worthy lotions to long-lasting creams geared toward hard-working hands, we've rounded up some of our favorites for any situation.
O'Keeffe's Working Hands hand cream - 3.4 ounces
Visible results after one use
O'Keeffe's unscented Working Hands cream is quite thick, more of a balm than a lotion, but that's exactly why it's so popular. If your career or hobbies are rough on your hands (i.e. landscaping, cooking, or woodworking), its concentrated formula is powerful enough to show visible results after a single application. It's available in a value-sized tub (double the quantity of this smaller jar), as well as in a more intense, overnight treatment formula for maximum healing.
L'Occitane en Provence shea butter hand cream - 5.2 ounces
Lasts nearly forever
L'Occitane is among the top brands known for quality ingredients and deeply nourishing skincare. Their shea hand cream is no exception. Pure, sustainably harvested shea nut butter is the main emollient in this silky cream, and the lightly scented formula sinks right into your skin. Coconut and almond oil, and honey round out its humectant ingredients, and the 5.2-ounce value size makes it worth gifting. You can apply it as often as you want, but a single application easily lasts hours between hand washing.
J.R. Watkins natural moisturizing hand cream - 3.3 ounces
Natural fragrances
Five botanical scents and a shea-rich formula makes J.R. Watkins's over 90-percent natural hand lotion an excellent choice if you prefer clean beauty and genuine fragrance. Chock-full of plant extracts and purposely missing toxic additives like phthalates, parabens, and dyes, it has the Leaping Bunny stamp of approval and absorbs quickly. Green tea is a powerful antioxidant; this cream pairs it with skin-loving comfrey and chamomile to pamper dehydrated hands.
Neutrogena Norwegian Formula hand cream - 2 ounces
Trusted for decades
Clinically proven, fragrance-free, and dermatologist recommended, Neutrogena's Norwegian Formula has been a mainstay in the drugstore lotion aisle for years. When the National Eczema Association approves of a product, you can trust that it'll soothe even the roughest of hands. A 24-hour moisturization barrier between your hands and drying substances is exceptional. It's purse-sized, and you only need a tiny dab; that 2-ounce tube will go a long way.
Weleda revitalizing evening primrose hand cream - 1.7 ounces
Renew, hydrate and protect
As we age, our skin can appear duller as our cell turnover speed decreases over time. Weleda, the creator of the cult-favorite Skin Food body cream, offers hand lotions equally capable of deep and lasting hydration. There are four varieties to choose from, but we gravitated to their evening primrose hand lotion—it's known for its renewing and revitalizing effect upon aging skin. Its fragrance, comprised of sandalwood, magnolia, and cardamom, is exquisite.
Bottom line
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Knowing what ingredients and formulations to aim for makes picking out the best hand lotions and creams a lot easier. For hands that are exceptionally dry, cracked, and even bleeding, O'Keeffe's unscented Working Hands cream is your best bet for healing them. If you work with your hands, you know that they can become terribly rough depending on what you touch. Our tip is to put on this cream at night, under a pair of cotton gloves; your higher body temperature while sleeping will help it to penetrate your skin.
If lighter-feeling moisturizers are what you prefer or a long-lasting but not excessive fragrance, then give Weleda's evening primrose hand cream a shot. It's rich without feeling heavy and beautifully scented with natural extracts. It's certified vegan as well, which is a nice perk.