13 best hand creams for dry hands, reviewed by editors
With cold winds to contend with outside, and dehydrating central heating indoors, finding the best hand cream for dry hands is particularly high up on our list of priorities during the winter months. Although, as far as we're concerned, good hand care is essential year-round – which is why you'll never catch us without a trusty tube close-by.
“You should be reapplying a hand cream with SPF as often as you can throughout the day, as the hands are one of the few areas of skin constantly exposed to the elements,” explains manicurist Georgia Rae – who was the mastermind behind Sofia Richie's wedding nails. “On a busy day, I’ll use an SPF cream in the morning, and then a rich, nourishing formula in the evening as the final step in my nighttime routine.”
From constant washing and sanitising, to regular exposure to pollution and UV lamps, it's easy to forget just how much we put our hands through on a day-to-day basis. But with these nourishing formulas, you'll have no problem keeping your hands looking and feeling smooth and hydrated – whatever the weather. Besides – there's no point in trying out the latest Spring nail colour trends, if you're just going to keep your hands hidden away.
Glamour's top hand creams, at a glance:
Featured in this article
How I tested the best hand creams:
When pulling together this edit, it made it my mission to try out all the top hand creams – from recently trending ones, to long-standing staples. And to ensure that each cream was put through its paces across different skin types and age groups, I even enlisted a few other members of the Glamour team to assist with the testing process.
Each cream was assessed not just on its ingredients list and price point, but also on the overall experience. How easy was it to apply from the packaging? Did our hands look and feel noticeably more nourished after both single and repeated use? Was the scent particularly noticeable? These were just some of the key things that each tester took into consideration.
The result? A line-up of hand creams that we all agreed that we'd happily reach for again and again. And best of all, there are options to suit all budgets. Read more about how we test at Glamour here.
Why you can trust me:
I've spent the best part of the last decade writing about all things skincare and beauty, which means that I've tested hundreds of products, and written up reviews for the likes of Glamour, GQ, Marie Claire, and Metro. With this in mind, I've built up a wealth of knowledge on what to look for in body and skincare products – therefore, I'm definitely up to the challenge of finding the best hand cream for dry hands.
On a personal note, I also have the kind of mum who's always got a hand cream close by – so, it's no surprise that I've now also gone on to develop an obsession. As someone with dry skin who's a stickler about hand-washing, I've always got a trusty fast-absorbing tube in my handbag, and a more luxurious formula on my bedside table.
Below, the best hand creams for dry hands – according to our beauty editors.
- Key ingredients: Glycofilm pollustop, meadowfoam seed oil, and botanical extracts.
- Fragrance: The ‘Glossier You’ fragrance.
- Size: 60ml.
- Cruelty-free? Yes.
Why we love it: Lovely and lightweight, this Glossier hand cream is seriously fast-absorbing, and comes packaged in a stylish, palm-sized pod that's great for using on-the-go. Packed with nutrients, the formula provides essential daily hydration with its antioxidant-rich blend of softening and protecting botanical extracts – while meadowfoam seed oil and Glycofilm Pollustop work together to form a protective barrier that'll help lock-in moisture.
“I chucked this hand cream in my bag the day I got it, and now I find myself reaching for it on a regular basis when I'm out-and-about, as it's silky rather than greasy, and rubs in really easily,” says Freelance Commerce Writer, Georgia Lockstone. “Best of all, it's been infused with the famous Glossier You fragrance – so applying it is a real treat for the senses.”
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La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Soothing Hand Cream
- Key ingredients: Glycerin, niacinamide, and shea butter.
- Fragrance: Fragrance-free.
- Size: 50ml.
- Cruelty-free? No.
Why we love it: If anyone knows skincare, it's La Roche-Posay. Enriched with thermal spring water as well as niacinamide and glycerin, this soothing hand cream was designed to work on sensitive skin, banishing both dryness and dryness caused by environmental aggressors. If you've ever forgotten your sun protection in a warm climate and experienced sore, burnt hands, this is also lovely and soothing for aftercare.
Glamour Beauty Contributor Rebecca Fearn says it's the option she reaches for when she experiences sensitivity: “From time to time in the winter, I can get really sore, sensitive hands thanks to the cold weather, but this not only hydrates them, but also doesn't antagonise them further.”
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L'Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream
- Key ingredients: Shea butter, argan oil, and coconut oil.
- Fragrance: Nutty floral.
- Size: 150ml.
- Cruelty-free? No.
Why we love it: Formulated with a high concentration of organic fair-trade shea butter, this rich occlusive cream cream was designed to work on especially dry skin – helping people restore their natural skin barrier. 95% of what's inside comes from natural origins, and it's suitable for vegans. Fast-absorbing and deeply nourishing, it leaves hands feeling soft and smooth all day – no wonder it’s one of L’Occitane’s best-sellers.
“Most evenings, I reach for the iconic L’Occitane hand cream," says Commerce Writer, Shani Cohen. “It’s deeply nourishing, and I always wake up with baby-soft hands. It’s a bedside table staple, and I keep minis tucked into every bag and pocket.”
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Hello Sunday The One For Your Hands Hand Cream
- Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, aloe vera, jojoba oil, and panthenol.
- Fragrance: Orange, florals, and musk.
- Size: 30ml.
- Cruelty-free? Yes.
Why we love it: As well as moisturising the skin, this ultra-lightweight SPF cream provides SPF 30 protection from UVA and UVB rays – making it a must-have if you want to prolong the youthful appearance of your hands. Enriched with hydrating hyaluronic acid, cooling aloe vera, and silky-smooth jojoba oil, it leaves your hands feeling noticeable more soft and supple – while vitamin E and SPF 30 work together to prevent the breakdown of collagen, as well as the appearance of any pesky sun spots.
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Sephora Collection Hand Balm Nourishing & Repairing
- Key ingredients: Glycerin, shea butter, and coconut extract.
- Fragrance: Coconut.
- Size: 30ml.
- Cruelty-free? No.
Why we love it: All Sephora Collection hand balms are made with 10% shea butter – meaning that they're designed to instantly soften and smooth rough hands, and also form a protective seal to help lock-in moisture. There are three different types to choose from – and they're all formulated with 95% ingredients from natural origin – but the one that's enriched with coconut extract is our favourite, as it leaves the skin feeling seriously nourished.
“Definitely a balm-cream hybrid, I love that this formula is packed with waxes and butters – but somehow still doesn't feel too sticky,” Georgia says. “In general, I find tubes with fully detachable caps a little too fiddly – but because the balm didn't leave my hands feeling overly greasy, I had no problems putting the cap back on after use.”
Ameliorate Transforming Hand Therapy
- Key ingredients: LaB6 Skin Clearing Complex, omega oils, and shea butter.
- Fragrance: Soft rose.
- Size: 100ml.
- Cruelty-free? Yes.
Why we love it: Fans argue that Ameliorate's hand therapy isn't just a hand cream, but an intense treatment for even the sorest of skin – and we have to agree. The formula is primarily powered by the brand’s LaB6 Skin Clearing Complex – which includes gently exfoliating lactic acid to encourage cell turnover, anti-inflammatory white willow bark, and hydrating marine extracts. Meanwhile, omega oils and shea butter work together to provide serious conditioning and comfort. If you’re after a hand cream that'll leave dry and rough hands noticeable smoother, consider this your go-to.
Soap & Glory Hand Food Hand Cream
- Key ingredients: Shea butter, macadamia oil, and marshmallow root extract.
- Fragrance: Pink rose and bergamot.
- Size: 125ml.
- Cruelty-free? Yes.
Why we love it: If you’re after a budget-friendly hand cream that still feels like a little luxury, Soap & Glory’s Hand Food deserves a spot on your radar. It’s perfectly sized to slip into any handbag (or even your pocket), and while the price tag is low, the formula is anything but basic – delivering an instant hit of hydration and smoothing thanks to ingredients like shea butter, macadamia oil, and marshmallow root extract. Plus, the gorgeous scent is noticeable enough that you'll catch a strong whiff of it whenever you simply take off the cap.
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- Key ingredients: Coconut oil, shea butter, and murumuru seed butter.
- Fragrance: Violet gardenia musk.
- Size: 90ml.
- Cruelty-free? Yes.
Why we love it: Thanks to a beautiful blend of coconut oil, shea butter, and murumuru seed butter – which is a powerful emollient loaded with fatty acids that'll nourish and soothe dry skin, OUAI’s vegan hand cream promises proper hydration and nourishment. Rich in conditioning emollients, it smoothes the skin – but doesn't leave it unpleasantly greasy. Instead, it's got far more of a silky and luxurious feel – and it glides on effortlessly, leaving skin soft, nourished, and considerably more supple.
“My favourite thing about this hand cream has to be its light and floral fragrance," Georgia explains. “Scented with violet, gardenia, ylang ylang, and white musk, it's light yet floral – and the smell sticks around all day.”
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Caudalie Vinotherapist Hand & Nail Cream
- Key ingredients: Grape seed oil, shea butter, avocado oil, and olive oil.
- Fragrance: Fruity and floral.
- Size: 75ml.
- Cruelty-free? No.
Why we love it: Not just a treat for the hands, this cream also promises to properly nourish the nails and cuticles – making it a top product to include in your nail prep before an at-home manicure. A botanical-focused formula, grape seed oil conditions and moisturises the skin, and is also packed with powerful antioxidants that'll help to protect and nourish the cuticles and nail edges. When applied, it has a rather rich and velvety feel – and its infused with with the delicious scent of bitter orange.
Eucerin UreaRepair Plus 5% Urea Hand Cream
- Key ingredients: Urea, ceramides, and glycerin.
- Fragrance: Fragrance-free.
- Size: 75ml.
- Cruelty-free? No.
Why we love it: This dermatologist-backed hand cream is a must for seriously dry and rough hands that are prone to cracks and flakes. Enriched with barrier-repairing ceramides, and intensely hydrating urea – which also helps to break down dead skin cells thanks to its mildly exfoliating properties – it's a formula that promises to deliver up to 48 hours of moisture. Completely fragrance-free, it's also a safe option for sensitive or eczema-prone skin.
“This cream instantly smooths and soothes my skin like no other – but also absorbs immediately, and leaves behind absolutely no greasiness,” Georgia says. “Especially during the winter months, it's one of my favourite formulas to apply before I go to bed.”
- Key ingredients: Fatty acids, pro-vitamin B5, and glycerin.
- Fragrance: Bitter floral.
- Size: 60ml.
- Cruelty-free? Yes.
Why we love it: New beauty brands appear all the time, but even the savviest beauty buffs might not have Frama on their radar yet. We first spotted the Danish label at Copenhagen Fashion Week, and its hand cream has been a staple in our collection ever since. Fragrance is at the heart of the formula, with notes of vetiver, black pepper, bitter orange and tuya, while fatty acids, pro‑vitamin B5 and glycerin get to work hydrating skin, cuticles and nails. It also looks impossibly chic perched on the bathroom counter.
Grown Alchemist Restorative Hand Cream
- Key ingredients: Camellia oil, grapeseed oil, and aloe.
- Fragrance: Vanilla, orange, and mandarin.
- Size: 65ml.
- Cruelty-free? Yes.
Why we love it: This botanical-based formula smooths and soothes the appearance of dry skin with its triple-oil blend of hydrating rosehip seed, moisturising camellia kissi, and nourishing sea buckthorn – all of which are also rich in antioxidants. Lovely and lightweight, it absorbs surprisingly quickly without any leftover grease or stickiness – but thankfully, its uplifting scent of vanilla, orange, and mandarin will linger for a while longer.
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ESPA Bergamot and Jasmine Hand Lotion
- Key ingredients: Shea butter, coconut sugars, and sweet almond oil.
- Fragrance: Bergamot and jasmine.
- Size: 250ml.
- Cruelty-free? Yes.
Why we love it: The perfect hand lotion to place beside your bathroom sink, this lightweight fluid softens and conditions the skin with its gorgeous formula of deeply hydrating and moisturising shea butter and sweet almond oil, and naturally exfoliating coconut sugars. Best of all, it's infused with Bergamot and Jasmine essential oils – meaning that it leaves behind a really lovely scent.
“I was searching for a bathroom hand lotion that smelt amazing, and looked really chic – and I'm so glad that I picked this ESPA one,” Georgia says. “I opted for the refillable glass bottle option for added spa vibes, and I constantly get compliments from guests.”
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FAQs
What should you look out for when buying hand creams?
With so many hand creams out there to choose from, it can be really tricky to figure out which one is right for you. But you can simplify the whole process by just thinking about two key areas; the ingredients your hands would most benefit from, and the ideal texture and finish of your chosen cream.
The best formulas primarily contain three different types of ingredients; hydrating humectants like glycerin and hyaluronic acid, softening and smoothing emollients like shea butter and plant oils, and occlusives like petrolatum and beeswax that'll help lock in all that moisture. Got some slightly more specific concerns? Gentle exfoliants like lactic acid tackle rough texture and calluses, while ceramides and niacinamide strengthen and repair an irritated skin barrier. Finally, mature skin will particularly benefit from a cream that contains SPF filters, and antioxidants like vitamin C and grape seed oils.
In terms of texture and finish, you'll want to think about when you'll be using this hand cream. Fast-absorbing formulas that don't contain too many greasy ingredients are great for on-the-go use, while a richer formula feels better-suited to a luxurious pre-bedtime pamper.
What causes dry hands?
From cold weather and wind, to moisture-reducing central heating, there are lots of environmental factors that can play a role in causing dryness – particularly during the winter months. And frequently washing your hands can also dry them out – especially if you leave them to drip-dry, rather than properly towelling them off.
So, choose a thoroughly nourishing hand cream that'll help keep the skin plump, smooth, and hydrated. And crucially, use it every single time you wash your hands to add the moisture back in. If your hands are feeling sensitive, it's best to opt for a fragrance-free option.
And if your hands and nails are in need of a proper pampering session, be sure to pair your hand cream with a quality cuticle oil and finish everything off with a deeply nourishing hand mask.
How often should you use a hand cream?
Georgia Rae applies hand cream at least twice a day – an SPF-infused formula in the morning (and top-ups depending on the weather), followed by something richer and more hydrating at night. It’s a routine worth copying if you’re looking to really elevate your hand care game. For most of us, though, it’s more instinctive: reaching for a tube when our hands feel dry, tight, or straight after washing them. So it's always helpful to have one to hand.
What ingredients should you avoid in a hand cream?
Now, talk of which ingredients to avoid can divide beauty fans into two camps. ‘Clean’ beauty lovers who prefer to avoid parabens, perfumes, alcohols, silicones and PEGs (polyethylene glycols) – all ingredients found in some hand creams – and those who are happy to use whatever falls under the legal realm of ok. This, of course, comes down to personal preference and each person will have a different stance.
Looking to stock up on more skincare and bodycare products? Check out our guides for the best shower gels and body washes, best face exfoliators, best body scrubs, best bath oils, best moisturisers and the best sunscreens.
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