admin One of the telltale signs of winter is the way your hands feel. After months of balmy weather, there inevitably comes a time when you notice a patch of dry, peeling skin on the side of your index finger or a tight, almost cracking sensation when you flex your palms. There’s only one place for your mind to go after that: Must. Get. Hand. Cream.
As with many skin-care products, hand lotion is one of those things you want to be particular about. If you grab the first tube off the shelf, you might end up with greasy fingers or a lingering scent you can’t stand. To help, we’ve rounded up the best hand creams to pop into the side pocket of your tote bag. Find them all, ahead.
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Nécessaire The Hand Cream
Scentless and chic, this indulgent hand lotion melts into skin almost on contact, so calluses and roughness soften over time — without making your rings slip off your fingers.
Nécessaire The Hand Cream, $, available at
Augustinus Bader The Hand Treatment
As a follow-up to The Cream, which quickly became a cult-favorite moisturizer in the luxury skin-care market, Augustinus Bader brings the same patented stem cell technology to a hydrating hand treatment.
Augustinus Bader The Hand Treatment, $, available at
Clarins Hand and Nail Moisturizing Treatment Cream
If you take nothing else away from this article, it’s that the French have perfected the art of hand cream. This Clarins one — a rumored favorite of the late Queen Elizabeth II — delicately hydrates hands and cuticles for soft, smooth skin.
Clarins Hand and Nail Moisturizing Treatment Cream, $, available at
Kiehl’s Ultimate Strength Hand Salve
This highly slept-on hand cream is a personal favorite for several reasons: It’s got a rich, buttery texture but somehow isn’t greasy. Next, there’s the light scent, which feels clean but not medicinal. Best of all, one tube lasts a surprisingly long time — easily taking you from winter to spring.
Kiehl’s Ultimate Strength Hand Salve, $, available at
Aesop Resurrection Aromatique Hand Balm
The refreshing scent of Aesop’s luxe lotion will have you wanting to slather it everywhere, from your cuticles to your ankles. It’s giving “quiet luxury” but make it hand cream.
Aesop Resurrection Aromatique Hand Balm, $, available at
L’Occitane Hand Cream
If good reviews are your guide, L’Occitane’s classic aluminum tube is among Sephora’s top-ranked hand creams. We like that it’s small enough to slip into our bag, desk drawer, and glove compartment — which is why we have one in all three.
L’Occitane Nourishing and Protective Shea Butter Hand Cream, $, available at
Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream
Keep your eyes peeled for the tiny Norwegian flag: The Scandinavian cross indicates Neutrogena’s most moisturizing option, designed to keep hands soft in the toughest conditions.
Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream for Dry and Rough Hands, $, available at Amazon
Chanel La Crème Main
We’re a sucker for good packaging, and nothing tops Chanel’s pristine, egg-shaped bottle of hand cream. It makes for a perfect stocking stuffer for the person on your list who loves a little luxury.
Chanel La Crème Main, $, available at
Malin + Goetz Vitamin B5 Hand Treatment
The natural almond extract in this hand cream gives it a subtly sweet smell and provides plenty of moisture without greasiness.
Malin + Goetz Vitamin B5 Hand Treatment, $, available at
Supergoop! Handscreen SPF 40
In this tube, you get all the benefits of a lightweight moisturizer plus added sun protection to defend the thin skin on the tops of your hands from signs of aging.
Supergoop! Handscreen SPF 40, $, available at
Eucerin Eczema Relief Cream
When it feels like your hands can never not be dry, a big ol’ tube of hand lotion might be the fix. This one can be used to heal the dry patches on your knuckles and provide instant relief for eczema flare-ups.
Eucerin Eczema Relief Cream, $, available at Amazon
Sidia Hand Serum
Technically, this is a serum — but for all intents and purposes, Sidia’s formula is a hand cream. It does all the things you want a hand cream to do minus everything you don’t. In other words, it hydrates and softens without feeling greasy or oily. (Plus, the citrusy-woody scent is all kinds of dreamy.)
Sidia The Hand Serum, $, available at
Karité Shea Butter Hand Cream
This hand cream — a longtime editor favorite — is made with raw, unrefined shea butter, giving the lotion a subtle nutty scent that’s 100% natural.
Karité Shea Butter Hand Cream, $, available at
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