Winter weather is here which means it's time to stock up on the best hand creams and spread them around my apartment to ensure that a tube is never out of reach. My hands are dry year-round, but during these colder months my skin texture turns into something I can only describe as sandpaper-like.
Over the years, I’ve tested dozens of hand creams in search of products that will lock in moisture, even after I wash my hands or do the dishes (the two activities that dry out my hands the most).
Below, myself and more Shop TODAY editors have rounded up our go-to hand creams. Plus, we asked medical experts to share their top picks for different skin care concerns.
How to pick the best hand cream
Dermatologists are quite picky about hand creams and which ones they recommend to patients. Of course, the perfect hand cream depends on the state of your hands and your specific skin care concerns.
“There are many choices out there, and we can help choose by knowing what we are treating, such as dry skin, aging skin, sun protection and sensitive skin,” says Dr. Jordan Carqueville, medical director of the Derm Institute of Chicago.
“Based on what we are treating, we can look for certain ingredients within the product.”
Ingredients to look for in the best hand creams
Depending on your biggest issues, whether eczema, dark spots, or extreme dryness, you’ll want to look for certain ingredients. For example, occlusives (such as shea butter and dimethicone) are wonderful for dry skin, retinol is ideal for aging skin and SPF is important for sun protection.
Consistency matters, too. “Water-based moisturizers have a primary base of water, and typically are light and thin,” says Carqueville. “They contain typically humectants, such as glycerin and hyaluronic acid, which attract water to the surface of which they are applied."
Carqueville continues, "Oil-based moisturizers have more oil than water ratios, and are therefore thicker and more occlusive." Oil-based creams are ideal if your skin is damaged or extremely dry, "as they will serve to repair the skin barrier and protect it in harsh winter or dry climates."
Best hand creams, according to experts
Another great option for frequent hand-washers, this thick hand cream is a favorite of Dr. Allyson Brockman-Bitterman of Schweiger Dermatology because it contains a whopping 40% glycerin.
Dr. Angela Lamb, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City, also finds it “highly effective” for extremely dry skin. “It’s formulated with glycerin, which provides intense moisture and helps to restore the skin’s natural barrier,” she says. “The consistency is thick, but it absorbs well and offers long-lasting relief, making it a great choice for very dry or chapped hands.”
Deeply moisturizing with a gentle exfoliant to smooth hands, this bestselling Eucerin hand cream feels luxurious on the skin (without any greasiness). “This hand cream is both effective and cosmetically elegant,” says Strachan. “It keeps hands smooth and hydrated without making them sticky.”
For extremely dry and cracked hands, O’Keeffe’s is a tried-and-true hand cream that seals in moisture by creating a protective layer on the skin’s surface. “This is my go-to hand cream for people with fissures and severe dryness of the skin,” says Dr. Dina Strachan, a New York City board-certified dermatologist. “It sticks really well to provide a protective barrier to the hands.” She notes that O’Keeffe’s is also an excellent choice for people with severe hand eczema or psoriasis.
Dr. Ranella Hirsch, a board-certified dermatologist in Cambridge, Massachusetts, loves this drugstore cream and calls it a “glycerin-based bargain.”
Plus, Sierra Hoeger, an associate editor at Shop TODAY, highly recommends this cream. "I was introduced to O'Keeffe's by my dad, who swears by it during bitter, brisk Iowa winters. I too rely on it during the wintertime, as someone whose hands constantly feel dry and need some salvation from the way I pick at them. A little goes a long way, which usually helps a container last a whole season for me personally."
With a National Eczema Association Seal of Acceptance, this hand cream is a deeply moisturizing option for rough hands. It absorbs quickly and doesn’t leave the skin feeling slick or slippery.
Dr. Houshmand, a board-certified dermatologist based in Dallas, Texas, loves this product because it’s fragrance-free and “has barrier repair ingredients like ceramides, niacinamide and hyaluronic acid,” she says. Plus, “it has a creamy formula that absorbs nicely into the skin without being greasy.”
Whenever my face feels dry or irritated, I sleep with a layer of this dense, multi-purpose balm on top of my moisturizer as an overnight treatment, and my skin wakes up feeling nourished and refreshed. With soothing shea butter and panthenol, the product locks in moisture on any type of skin (including hands).
“It’s not designated as a hand cream but I love it, especially for patients with eczema,” says Brockman-Bitterman. “It has a balm-like texture, reduces irritation, and helps prevent scarring.”
Lamb, notes that the cream’s madecassoside “is a key ingredient derived from centella asiatica, which is renowned for its ability to promote skin regeneration and repair.”
Overnight hand treatments are a smart way to hydrate your skin while you sleep, and Houshmand recommends this “luxurious and rich” hand cream for people with very dry hands, particularly those who have to wash them frequently (like healthcare workers).
“This one is great to leave on overnight as a treatment,” she says. The lovely-smelling cream contains fatty acids, antioxidants and vitamins that hydrate, soften and plump the skin.
This luxurious Supergoop hand cream offers SPF 40 to help prevent signs of aging, all while nourishing the skin with argan oil and glycerin.
“This is my favorite hand cream that is hydrating with the added bonus of having sun protection,” says Brockman-Bitterman. “We don’t want our hands to give away our age!”
If you struggle with dark spots on your hands, this hand cream targets hyperpigmentation with brightening active ingredients, in addition to deeply hydrating the skin.
“This product is great for dry skin and has antioxidants and brightening ingredients like licorice root extract and vitamin C,” says Houshmand, who recommends this cream for minimizing the appearance of dark spots.
Best hand creams, according to editors
If you want a hand cream that is just right, try this one from Vaseline that associate editor Kamari Stewart-Jackson loves. "I recently started using this and I was immediately surprised by how good it felt on my hands," she says. "It's not too thick or too thin in consistency, perfectly balancing both worlds. I also find it to be very moisturizing! I have eczema so using a lotion that's truly hydrating/nourishing is key for me. Plus, it has a faint shea butter smell that's not too overpowering but still very pleasant."
Around for over 125 years, this iconic, versatile balm soothes the skin from head to toe. Former production coordinator Camryn Privette loves how this balm aids everything from chapped lips to tattoo care. She’s even gifted a tin to her dad and he now uses it daily — which she says is no small feat!
Editorial assistant Annie Shigo uses this hand cream and loves how it does not leave hands feeling greasy. She says, "I used to get my friends to buy me this in Japan, and then I found out you can get it online. It is by far the best hand cream I have tried. I keep going back to it."
Editor Vivien Moon says this scented hand cream feels luxurious sans the price tag. “I love how lush this hand lotion is, so much so that I have one at my work desk and one by my bedside. I’m big into a nice scent, and this one is so lovely, which makes applying it even more pleasant. It’s not greasy and gently nourishes my skin, which is so important to me,” shares Moon.
Editorial operations manager Jillian Ortiz has come to love this hand cream. "Literally feels like a drink for your skin. I use it on my hands because they are so dry they crack and it makes them feel so much better. Go Vanicream!" she says.
Deputy managing editor Jess Bender has been hooked on this brand since the early 2010s. "Their quality has stood the test of time ever since they came across my radar. Their goat milk products feel so luscious on the skin from immediate contact, and they manage to lock in hydration for as long as my skin needs it. I have a tube of their hand cream in just about every purse and tote bag I own, mostly in their vibrant Meyer lemon/rosemary scent," she adds.
Editorial assistant Madison San Miguel also swears by this brand because she says they craft the best scents. "One of my favorites is their iconic Missing Person scent because it is a bit musky and has a touch of jasmine and other light notes," she notes.
"I use this hand cream when I wear the body mist for scent layering." Although the scent is light in the hand cream, you can still smell some notes. Plus, it has two of my favorite ingredients, squalane and glycerin, which are incredible for soothing my dry spots," she explains.
This is another favorite from Bender’s hand cream collection and says, “My hands tend to get really chapped whenever I have to commute to the office. (There’s just something about subway air that suck all the moisture out of my skin!) I have this hand cream waiting for me at my desk to revive my appearance and texture ahead of the rest of the day. I also adore how it targets rough cuticles just as well as the rest of my skin.”
I adore this ultra-nourishing hand cream because it softens every square inch of my dry hands, including my cuticles. It’s packed with so many lovely ingredients known for deep moisturizing and protection, like marula oil and squalane, and my hands feel plumper and more nourished after each use. I’ve now made this cream an essential part of my self-manicure routine.
Last winter when my hands were extra sensitive and dry from chemotherapy, you would never find me more than two feet away from the nearest tube of this longtime best-selling hand cream, which not only intensely moisturized and protected my hands from future dryness, but also soothed some of the irritation I was experiencing.
The cream is super thick and really successfully seals in moisture, and I noticed my hands became noticeably softer after a few weeks of use. It’s a godsend in the wintertime.
This product may be for your face, but if you struggle with scents and want something that is very simple, try this hand cream. Shop TODAY associate editor Erica Marrison says, "I actually use it as a hand and elbow cream, and it’s quickly become my top pick in my dopp kit. This emollient cream is fragrance-free and truly locks in the moisture, which I desperately need in Northeastern winters. I’m prone to dry cuticles and hangnails, and this keeps them at bay.”
If you don't like greasy hand lotions, try this one from Le Labo. Moon uses this and says, "I was using this over winter break because my parents live in a dry city (Las Vegas) and I would keep this near the couch so I could reapply when watching TV and I could feel myself reach for it every time because I loved how lightweight it was and how soft it kept my hands. I am prone to really dry hands because I wash the dishes all the time and use hand sanitizer every chance I get so having a hand cream that can keep my hands smooth without feeling greasy is key."
Production associate Audrey Eckman gives this formula a thumbs up for its packaging and longevity. "The packaging is both gorgeous and genius — it's designed to live discreetly on your nightstand, with a pump-top applicator and non-slip base, and it even has a lid that doubles as a ring catch-all. I've been using it nightly for months through winter and spring dryness and it has genuinely made a noticeable difference in the hydration and softness of my hands, knuckles and cuticles. Plus, the retinol in it has anti-aging benefits, fading the look of dark spots and wrinkles," she says.
It’s rare to find a retinol product that successfully tackles barrier repair and hydration, but this do-it-all anti-aging cream from Dr. Barbara Sturm treats so many of my biggest skincare concerns, from hyperpigmentation to moisture retention. Each use left my hands feeling plumped and smoothed, and over a few months of use, I noticed my hand skin had improved elasticity. It’s definitely a splurge, but the payoff has been worth it for me.
How we chose
Shop TODAY enlisted the expertise of dermatologists who shared their recommendations on products and ingredients that treat a variety of hand skin concerns.
We also took their advice on which key ingredients to look out for in hand creams and took into account customer reviews. In addition, we’ve tested many of these products personally.
Meet the experts:
- Dr. Dina Strachan is a New York City board-certified dermatologist.
- Dr. Elizabeth Houshmand is a board-certified dermatologist based in Dallas, Texas.
- Dr. Jordan C. Carqueville is the medical director of the Derm Institute of Chicago.
- Dr. Allyson Brockman-Bitterman is a board-certified dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology.
- Dr. Ranella Hirsch is a board-certified dermatologist in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
- Dr. Angela Lamb is a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City.
