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Are your hands sending out an SOS? Between constant washing, harsh weather, and dry indoor air, you need one of the best hand creams for dry skin to rescue them from their rough, cracked state. Our favorite, go-with-us-everywhere formulas go beyond basic hydration, packing in barrier-repairing ceramides, moisture-locking butters like shea and marula, and firming peptides.
Whether you prefer a lightweight lotion for easy reapplication throughout the day or a thick overnight treatment for seriously in-distress skin, we’ve rounded up the options our editors swear by for baby-soft hands and hydrated cuticles all year round.
Our Top Hand Creams
- Best Overall: Aesop Resurrection Aromatique Hand Balm, $35
- Best Scent: Cyklar Urea Hand Cream in Sacred Santal, $22
- Best Luxury: Augustinus Bader The Hand Treatment, $60
- Best With Retinol: Remedy Hand & Cuticle Repairing Butter Cream, $18
- Best for Cracked Hands: Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin Moisturizing Hand Cream, $25
- Cutest Packaging: Chanel La Crème Main, $62
- Best Overnight Hand Cream: Soft Services Theraplush Overnight Repair Treatment, $62
- Best for Eczema: Skinfix Eczema+ Hand Relief Cream, $25
Frequently Asked QuestionsLargeChevron
- What causes dry hands?
- Why should I use a hand cream?
- Meet the experts
- How we test and review products
- Our staff and testers
Best Overall: Aesop Resurrection Aromatique Hand Balm
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Aesop
Resurrection Aromatique Hand Balm
Nordstrom
Revolve
Bluemercury
Allure commerce producer Sarah Hoffmann applying Aesop Resurrection Aromatique Hand Balm.
Sarah Hoffmann
Why it's worth it: Ever wonder how one of the world’s most recognizable hand creams came to be? Fun fact: Aesop’s cult-favorite Resurrection Aromatique Hand Balm actually started as a hair product. Back in the ’80s, the brand’s founder—a Melbourne-based hairstylist—began mixing essential oils into his salon formulas to make them smell (and feel) a little better. What began as a small experiment for clients’ hair quickly turned into a global obsession for their hands. The now-iconic balm blends sweet almond, macadamia, and coconut oils to deeply hydrate, while shea butter and cocoa seed butter soften without any greasiness. Carrot root, rosemary, and aloe soothe and repair, and that signature mandarin rind, cedarwood, and lavender scent instantly transforms a simple act into a mini ritual. Bonus: It also comes in a jumbo 17-ounce jar with a pump, so you won't run out.
Tester feedback from commerce producer Sarah Hoffmann
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“I can't go to bed (or wake up, frankly) without reaching for this hand cream. It lives on my nightstand, and saves my hands from the lizard-like state they want to be in once it hits November. The scent is fresh and light but not so strong that it announces itself to the room. I've used it before bed so often that it functions like a sleep spray: It signals to my brain that it's time to wind down and hit the hay.” —Sarah Hoffmann, commerce producer
More to know
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- Key ingredients: glycerin, mandarin rind, rosemary leaf, cedar atlas, cocoa seed butter
- Scent: citrus, woody, herbaceous
Best Scent: Cyklar Urea Hand Cream in Sacred Santal
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Cyklar
Urea Hand Cream in Sacred Santal
Cyklar
Allure senior commerce editor Sarah Felbin applying the Cyklar Urea Hand Cream in Sacred Santal
Sarah Felbin
Why it’s worth it: If you’ve tried anything from Cyklar—from its body washes to its body oils—you already know the appeal isn’t just in the formulas, but in the compliment-inducing scents. At the top of our list is Sacred Santal, a refined blend of bergamot, cardamom, amber, velvet musk, and cashmere wood. The fragrance evokes an outdoor shower in the forest: clean and fresh, with a subtle, nature-forward warmth that never veers too musky. And while it smells divine, it treats hands just as well: Urea gently exfoliates dead cells, while glycerin, snow mushroom, and ectoin draw moisture into the skin. Smoother skin and healthier-looking cuticles without the stickiness? We’ll take three.
Tester feedback from senior commerce editor Sarah Felbin
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“In the winter, my hands are constantly dry (sometimes to the point of cracking). I slather this on any time they start to feel scaly. It sinks in quickly (no greasy finish here) and immediately makes my hands feel softer. I love the formula—rich and deeply hydrating, but not so thick that it sits on top of my skin. My hands look and feel visibly more moisturized right after I use it, and the more I apply it, the better. I also really like the packaging—it's a large tube, so I know it'll last me a few months, and the marbled cap looks so luxe. Plus, the Sacred Santal scent is divine! I was genuinely surprised that this hand cream is only around $20 a tube. The formula and packaging feel much fancier! I'd recommend it to people with super-dry hands who want a cream that not only performs well, but smells great, too.” —Sarah Felbin, senior commerce editor
More to know
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- Key ingredients: urea, glycerin, ectoin, squalane, snow mushroom
- Scent: bergamont, cardamom, amber, velvet musk, cashmere wood
Best Luxury: Augustinus Bader The Hand Treatment
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Augustinus Bader
The Hand Treatment
Amazon
Nordstrom
Dermstore
Allure editor in chief Jessica Cruel applying the Augustinus Bader The Hand Treatment
Jessica Cruel
Why it’s worth it: $60 for a hand cream can be tough to swallow, but an ultra-cushiony, fast-absorbing formula that instantly soothes chapped hands makes it easier to justify. Enter Augustinus Bader’s The Hand Treatment, powered by TFC8, a proprietary formula that acts as a GPS to deliver nutrients to your skin cells. Made up of naturally occurring amino acids, vitamins, and molecules, Bader’s signature blend promotes cellular renewal, repair, and a healthy glow. Rounding out the formula is a conditioning, moisture-locking blend of shea butter, white peony extract, vitamin E, and glycerin—as well as firming peptides to address signs of aging.
Tester feedback from editor in chief Jessica Cruel
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“This is the hand cream I keep in my expensive designer handbag, because one luxury item deserves another. I'm always using a nickel-size amount between meetings and subway stops. The consistency is like buttercream icing and easily melts into my hands. I've spent a lot of time focused on my face when it comes to skin care, but now that I’m 35, my attention turned to my hands. My usual drugstore hand cream didn't have the level of actives I need to keep age spots and wrinkles at bay. This one has peptides, niacinamide, vitamin E, and shea butter to moisturize hands instantly and help with signs of aging in the long run. A $60 hand cream is a high price to ask, but I will say that I'm three months in and haven't run out yet.” —Jessica Cruel, editor in chief
More to know
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- Key ingredients: TCF8, shea butter, white peony extract, vitamin E, glycerin
- Scent: none
Best for Barrier Repair: L’Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream
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L'Occitane
Shea Butter Hand Cream
Amazon
Sephora
Allure managing editor Alessandra Foresto applying the L’Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream
Alessandra Foresto
Why it’s worth it: The classics always deliver: L’Occitane Shea Butter Hand Balm is pretty much the Goldilocks of hand creams, rich yet never greasy. Its star ingredient, shea butter, is packed with omega-6 to deliver lasting hydration and heal cracked skin. Sunflower seed oil and glycerin join the nourishing lineup to leave hands soft, supple, and smooth all day. Plus, the light, fresh lemon scent keeps us coming back for more.
Tester feedback from managing editor Alessandra Foresto
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“As someone who goes through a lot of hand sanitizer (I live in New York City!), my hands are only soft because of this ultra-rich hand balm! But while the lotion is thick, it's not greasy—I promise you'll be able to tap your phone right after without leaving sticky stains. This super-rich lotion leaves my hands super soft and absorbs quickly. Because the balm is a little thick, you have to really press on the tube to get it out, but it's nothing a little tube squeezer couldn't help with. I have tried hundreds (no exaggeration) of hand lotions and this is just simply the best!” —Alessandra Foresto, managing editor
More to know
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- Key ingredients: shea butter, sunflower seed oil, glycerin
- Scent: lemon
Best With Retinol: Remedy Hand & Cuticle Repairing Butter Cream
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Remedy
Hand & Cuticle Repairing Butter Cream
Target
Allure beauty director Sarah Kinonen applying the Remedy Hand & Cuticle Repairing Butter Cream
Sarah Kinonen
Why it’s worth it: Beyond its cute, purse-friendly packaging and easy-squeeze delivery, Remedy’s Hand & Cuticle Repairing Butter Cream tackles signs of aging like a pro. The star ingredient is encapsulated retinol—a stabilized form of vitamin A that penetrates deeply without irritation—targeting dark spots, uneven tone, damaged cuticles, and rough, dry hands. Ceramides and shea butter offer rich moisture, so you wake up with unbelievably soft hands come morning. (Don’t forget to apply sunscreen after!)
Tester feedback from beauty director Sarah Kinonen
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“I don’t know what I love most about this hand cream: its squeezable, spherical packaging, the thick and creamy texture, or how moisturized it leaves my palms. And it doesn't have much of a scent, which is great for sensitive skin types, like me! It's a bit of a struggle to squeeze out the product at first, but once it warms up, it comes out just fine.” —Sarah Kinonen, beauty director
More to know
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- Key ingredients: 0.1 encapsulated retinol, ceramides, 20% shea butter
- Scent: none
Best for Cracked Hands: Dr. Jart Ceramidin Moisturizing Hand Cream
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Dr. Jart+
Ceramidin Moisturizing Hand Cream
Amazon
Allure senior news editor Nicola Dall’Asen applying Dr. Jart Ceramidin Moisturizing Hand Cream.
Nicola Dall'Asen
Why it's worth it: The primary emollient in Dr. Jart+’s Ceramidin Moisturizing Hand Cream is, you guessed it, ceramides. More specifically, this cushiony cream soothes stressed skin with ceramide NP, a skin-identical lipid that supports moisture retention and minimizes sensitivity. To up the ante on its skin-softening properties, Dr. Jart’s hand cream also contains glycerin to hydrate and antioxidant panthenol to soothe irritation.
Tester feedback from senior news editor Nicola Dall’Asen
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"My hands get unbearably dry and scaly in the winter, which wouldn't be such an issue if I didn't hate the sensory experience of having moist, cream-covered hands, especially while out and about. Thankfully, Dr. Jart's Ceramidin Hand Cream is light and fast-absorbing enough that I can apply it anywhere without any goopy, lingering wetness while still providing plenty of hydration, thanks to its barrier-building ceramides. Plus, the generous, three-and-a-half-ounce tube can last me months." —Nicola Dall’Asen, senior news editor
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- Key ingredients: ceramide NP, glycerin, panthenol
- Scent: floral
Cutest Packaging: Chanel La Crème Main
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Chanel
La Crème Main
Chanel
Nordstrom
Ulta Beauty
Allure commerce editor Sarah Han applying Chanel La Crème Main
Sarah Han
Why it’s worth it: The adorable, egg-shaped Chanel’s La Creme Main sits so pretty on your bathroom counter, but is also compact enough to toss into your bag or coat pocket for easy post-hand-washing moisture. But she’s not all about looks. At the heart of the luxurious formula is a blend of camellia-derived ingredients: Camellia ceramides help protect the skin barrier, camellia oil deeply nourishes and softens, and camellia yeast delivers lasting hydration. Iris extract adds brightening benefits, helping achieve a more even tone. Why reach for a $62 hand cream over any other? Because you’ll use it to the very last drop.
Tester feedback from commerce editor Sarah Han
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“I'll be honest: I've long overlooked the importance of hand care and hand cream—sometimes to the point of painfully cracked hands. This winter, I'm undoing my wrongs and slathering up with hand cream right before I go to bed, and as often as I can manage during the day after washing my hands. One of my go-tos is Chanel La Crème Main, which instantly softens my hands without leaving them feeling greasy—my main gripe with most hand creams. It also has the perfect level of floral notes that's not too subtle nor overwhelming. I can't get enough!” —Sarah Han, commerce editor
More to know
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- Key ingredients: camellia oleifera seed oil, glycerin, sodium hyaluronate, iris pallida root extract, shea butter
- Scent: soft floral
Best Overnight Hand Cream: Soft Services Theraplush Overnight Repair Treatment
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Soft Services
Theraplush Overnight Repair Treatment
Sephora
Soft Services
Allure contributing commerce editor Deanna Pai using Soft Services Theraplush Overnight Repair Treatment.
Deanna Pai
Why it's worth it: The key ingredient in Soft Services Theraplush, a dense overnight hand cream, is retinol, which you might be familiar with from your wrinkle-reducing skin-care routine. This active ingredient is considered the gold standard for treating aging and discolored skin because it regulates collagen production and helps boost skin thickness—so long, sun spots and wrinkles. The cream is infused with calming colloidal oatmeal and panthenol to moisturize and keep active ingredient-related irritation to a minimum. To protect the formula from bacteria and oxidation, it comes in an air-tight, pump-top container that’ll look great on your nightstand.
Tester feedback from contributing commerce editor Deanna Pai
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“I have hand cream everywhere—my car, my desk, my purse—but this is my ride or die. Everything about it is perfect, from the beautiful, sculptural tub to the soft scent. I also appreciate the addition of retinol for my rapidly aging hands. It’s enough to keep them smooth, but not so much that I’ve ever experienced irritation.” —Deanna Pai, contributing commerce editor
More to know
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- Key ingredients: 0.05% retinol, 1% colloidal oatmeal, 0.5% panthenol, ceramide NP, glycerin
- Scent: floral
Best for Eczema: Skinfix Eczema+ Hand Relief Cream
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Skinfix
Eczema+ Hand Relief Cream
Sephora
SkinFix
Allure contributing commerce writer Christa Joanna Lee using the Skinfix Eczema+ Hand Relief Cream.
Christa Joanna Lee
Why it’s worth it: Raise a (cracked, dry) hand if you’re dealing with red, irritated, or eczema-prone skin. Skinfix's Eczema+ Hand Relief Cream, with the seal of approval from the National Eczema Association, was made for exactly that. The formula combines 1% colloidal oatmeal with a 1.5% Triple Lipid Complex of ceramides, sterols, and fatty acids to mimic your skin’s natural barrier and lock in hydration. “I love this because it hydrates deeply without feeling greasy,” says Pooja Rambhia, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City. “It contains colloidal oatmeal, shea butter, and allantoin to soothe irritation while strengthening the skin barrier, making it a great choice for anyone with sensitive skin.”
Tester feedback from contributing commerce writer Christa Joanna Lee
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“With two kids, I wash my hands about 4,543 times a day, and they’re as cracked, patchy, and red as ever. This formula is as nourishing as can be—maybe a tad slick for my palms, but since the real irritation is on the back of my hands, that’s where I focus it. Even my nails feel stronger and less dry since I started using it.” —Christa Joanna Lee, contributing commerce writer
More to know
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- Key ingredients: 1% colloidal oatmeal, 1.5% Triple Lipid Complex (ceramides, sterols, fatty acids)
- Scent: none
Best Long-Lasting: Mienne Fleurir Hand Crème
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Mienne
Fleurir Hand Crème
Revolve
Allure designer Briana Rengifo applying Mienne Fleurir Hand Crème.
Briana Rengifo
Why it’s worth it: Launched just this year, Mienne Fleurir Hand Crème is already catching everyone’s eye (and nose) here at Allure HQ. While we usually think of hand cream as a utilitarian part of our routine, this one takes hand care to a whole new—dare we say—sensual level. The brand calls its approach “aphrodisiac skin care,” with ingredients meant to awaken the senses through touch and scent. Maca root extract and ylang-ylang oil lend a warm, romantic feel, while ginger, rosehip, and passion flower oils smooth and nourish. Shea and mango butters, ceramides, and sodium hyaluronate keep hydration locked in for hours. Every time you use it, your hands feel silky, smell amazing, and suddenly, moisturizing feels less like a chore and more like a treat.
Tester feedback from designer Briana Rengifo
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“A staple in my purse since the tube is stunning and sleek. It's such a sensual and smoky hand creme that it transforms such a mundane task into a self-care ritual, leaving my hands hydrated and with a pearl effect.” —Briana Rengifo, designer
More to know
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- Key ingredients: ceramides, passion flower, ylang ylang, aloe
- Scent: floral
Best Multipurpose: Malin+Goetz All-Purpose Moisture Balm
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Malin + Goetz
All-Purpose Moisture Balm
Nordstrom
Malin + Goetz
Why it’s worth it: Malin+Goetz’s All-Purpose Moisture Balm isn’t just for the hands—it can be used all over the body to support the skin barrier and deliver lasting hydration. Formulated with 17 botanicals and butters, including meadowfoam seed oil, plum seed oil butter, and sunflower seed oil, this rich balm melts into a lightweight, dry-touch oil, soothing dry patches, chapped lips, and rough cuticles, and even smoothing hair ends and slicking back strands. It never feels heavy—just like a comforting hug for your skin. You’ll want it in your bag, bedside table, and at your desk at all times.
Tester feedback from social director Kassidy Silva
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“With chronically dry skin, keeping my hands moisturized during the winter months is a four-to-five-month battle. Finding a hand cream that doesn't leave my hands feeling tacky or oily is an even bigger challenge. The Malin+Goetz cream has been getting me through this extra-cold winter. It’s lightweight, has no sticky residue, and since it’s all-purpose, I work whatever is left into my neck for some extra hydration during the day.” —Kassidy Silva, social director
More to know
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- Key ingredients: meadowfoam seed oil, plum seed oil butter, sunflower seed oil, rice bran extract, jojoba oil, avocado oil
- Scent: none
Best Drugstore: Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream
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Neutrogena
Norwegian Formula Hand Cream
Amazon
Walmart
Why it’s worth it: Inspired by Norwegian fishermen who spent their days braving icy Arctic seas, Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream was made to handle parched, overworked hands. The formula is refreshingly simple—just a few ingredients centered around super-hydrating glycerin. “Glycerin powerfully attracts and seals in moisture even after multiple hand washings,” says Dr. Rambhia. The texture is thick and dense at first, but don’t let that fool you. It sinks in fast and leaves behind an invisible shield of softness. “It creates a protective layer that restores cracked, over-washed hands, perfect for anyone who washes or sanitizes often. I’ve used this one since residency and always keep it in my white coat pocket,” says Dr. Rambhia.
More to know
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- Key ingredient: glycerin
- Scent: none
Frequently Asked Questions
What causes dry hands?
Like anywhere else on your body, dry skin can develop on your hands from environmental changes as the weather becomes colder. "Winter is particularly harsh, as cold, low-humidity air can cause skin to dry out and become itchy, cracked, and irritated," Ross C. Radusky, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Dallas, previously told Allure. "Cold air also tightens pores, reduces circulation, and reduces sebum production." Also worth keeping in mind: General dehydration can lead to dryness, so make sure you’re staying hydrated to keep your skin at its plumpest. “When we're hydrated, our skin cells swell, and this can be a great thing,” he says. “It minimizes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.”
Why should I use a hand cream?
Hand creams are formulated with some of the best moisturizing ingredients available to soothe, comfort, and moisturize dry skin. Usually, they contain a mix of humectants (ingredients that draw water to the surface layer of skin), emollients (lipids that fill in “gaps” in your skin’s moisture barrier), and occlusives (essentially moisture-sealing cling wraps for your skin) to provide softening moisture at different levels of the skin.
Meet the experts
- Audrey Kunin, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist in Kansas City.
- Ross C. Radusky, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist based in Dallas.
- Pooja Rambhia, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist at UnionDerm in New York City.
- Joshua Zeichner, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City.
How we test and review products
When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinize brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing each and every product that's included in each and every review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas.
For our list of the best hand creams, we considered each product's performance across five primary categories: product ingredients and efficacy, packaging, fragrance, texture, and product wear. Every product was determined to have excelled in each category by our editorial team, which is composed of in-house writers and editors as well as contributors, along with special consideration from dermatologists. To learn more information on our reporting and testing processes, read our complete reviews process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine. You may simply be browsing for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.
After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the “best” for people over 50 if the only testers we’ve solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We’re proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.