12 best hand creams to keep palms silky smooth in 2024
Keep your hands healthy and nourished with our roundup of the best hand creams – including the viral L’Occitane hand cream that’s ‘thick like butter’.
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Newsflash: skincare doesn’t just stop at the face. Our hands are one of the first parts of our body that shows signs of ageing and considering how often we use and flaunt them, it’s important to give them the same amount of TLC that we’d give our face and then some.
It’s easy to overlook the condition of our hands but once we see how dry and chapped they are, especially during winter — it’s a humbling experience to say the least.
Luckily though, there are a tonne of hand creams out there that can easily help soothe, nourish and moisturise our delicate hands and we’ve curated a handy roundup of the best hand creams to rid you of all your hand concerns including the best-selling L’Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream that “saved my hands”.
So, if dry hands are the bane of your existence, keep on scrolling!
OUR TOP PICKS
EDITOR’S PICK: BEST HAND CREAM OVERALL
L’Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream 150ml, $52 at Adore Beauty
L'Occitane Shea Butter
Tried and Tested by Harriet Amurao, news.com.au checkout Shopping Writer
As someone who tends to pick at and peel the skin around their fingers, I try to be diligent in ensuring my hands are as moisturised as possible and this L’Occitane hand cream is the best I’ve ever tried – it genuinely saved my hands.
It’s formulated with 96 per cent natural origin ingredients and 20 per cent shea butter which is known for its moisturising properties, as well as a blend of argan and coconut oil for added nourishment, and jasmine and ylang-ylang for a subtle yet pleasant scent. It’s thick like butter, blends in easily, absorbs quickly, and leaves my skin soft and hydrated.
While it does come at a hefty price for what it is, a little goes a long way with this luxurious buy and it is 100 per cent worth the price. It’s my holy grail that I will happily continue to repurchase.
Still not convinced? This product alone has a 4.7-star rating with over 19000 reviews on Google and has reached cult-status on TikTok with many users attesting to its greatness. One TikTok user in particular posted a video raving about the hand cream and received over 300,000 likes – need I say more?
BEST HAND CREAM FOR SENSITIVE SKIN
Rare Beauty Find Comfort Hydrating Hand Cream, $35 at Sephora
Rare Beauty Find Comfort Hydrating Hand Cream
Tried and Tested by Harriet Amurao, news.com.au checkout Shopping Writer
Packed with vitamins and antioxidants like niacinamide and peach flower extract, this hand cream is not only soothing and hydrating, but it also acts as a natural de-stressor due to the ashwaganda extract incorporated into the formula. It has a lightweight and creamy texture that absorbs quickly into the skin and doesn’t leave a sticky or oily feeling, plus it smells amazing – we’re talking notes of lemon zest, cashmere wood and jasmine.
I especially love that it’s portable and comes in a uniquely shaped bottle that doubles as a hand massager which is a game changer! My one and only gripe is that the twist lid is easy to break as you only need to twist it halfway and not all the way (which is what my colleague did and ended up breaking it) – so do be careful with this guy.
BEST HAND CREAM FOR VERY DRY HANDS
Eucerin Advanced Repair Hand Cream, $21.90 at Amazon Australia
Eucerin Advanced Repair Hand Cream
What You Need To Know
It wouldn’t be a hand cream roundup if we didn’t mention the incredibly popular Eucerin Advanced Repair Hand Creme.
Eucerin is a dermatologist recommended brand, so it’s no surprise that this hand cream has earned quite the reputation. Formulated with goodies like lactic acid for gentle exfoliation, urea, glycerin and ceramides, as well as other natural moisturising factors – it repairs and relieves extremely dry skin to promote a smooth skin texture, plus it has a thick and creamy texture that’s fast-absorbing and non-greasy.
This hand cream has racked up a 4.7-star rating on Amazon Australia with 8000 five-star reviews hailing it “very effective” and the “best hand cream ever”.
“I have a problem with dry hands even in the summer when it’s humid out. I’m a frequent hand washer too. But this winter my hands are severely dry and cracking at the knuckles … So I looked for real relief from a good hand cream,” one wrote.
“My two biggest things to consider are the hand cream has to be non-greasy and leave no ‘coating film’ on my hands. This hand cream is actually the first hand cream I have ever used that truly lasts through handwashing. It’s not greasy and leaves a clean feel to your hands. It’s fragrance free so it does smell a little chemically but nothing strong or off putting. I am impressed … this is probably one of best quality hand creams I have used.”
BEST HAND CREAM FOR NAILS AND CUTICLES
Caudalie Vinotherapist Hand & Nail Cream, $25 at Sephora
Caudalie Vinotherapist Hand & Nail Cream
Tried and Tested by Harriet Amurao, news.com.au checkout Shopping Writer
Another hand cream that I needed to shout out is Caudalie’s Vinotherapist Hand & Nail Cream. Along with peeling the skin around my fingers, I also have a habit of biting my nails and peeling off my gel nail polish days after I get a manicure – so, you could probably gauge how short, weak and brittle my nails usually are.
However, this Caudalie hand cream has been the saving grace that I can fall back on time and time again. It provides instant hydration and lasts through hand washes, it has a lightweight and creamy texture that absorbs into the skin quickly, and a fresh scent with citrusy notes that isn’t overwhelming at all.
It’s enriched with avocado oil and olive oil – which are both highly nutritious for the skin and prevents dehydration, as well as the usual goodies like organic shea butter and grape-seed oil. I can confidently confirm that this godsend of a product truly promotes nail growth, and strengthens and nourishes my nails without the greasy or sticky feeling.
BEST HAND CREAM FOR DRY, CRACKED HANDS
O’Keeffe’s Working Hands Hand Cream, $11.19 (down from $15.99) at Amazon Australia
O'Keeffe's Working Hands Hand Cream
What You Need To Know
Made from a combination of allantoin, glycerin, beeswax and mineral oil, this popular hand cream has gained popularity for its ability to heal and repair dry, cracked skin as well as protect skin. It comes as a thicker texture that’s wax-like and effortlessly blends out thinly, and it’s fragrance free which is great for sensitive skin types and those that are sensitive to scents in general.
It boasts a 4.5-star rating on Amazon and a 4.6 on Google with many reviewers singing their praises for this heavy duty hand cream.
“Throughout the pandemic, I washed my hands and used hand sanitiser a lot and it really dried out my hands. It got so bad to the point where my fingers were cracking and peeling. My friend who was a nurse recommended this hand cream to me and it helped my hands heal completely over a couple of days … I like that it quickly gets absorbed and does not leave a sticky residue. It retains moisture if when you go to wash your hands after.,” one wrote.
“This cream works great. It seems to leave a protective layer that’s non-greasy on your skin that helps maintain skin hydration. After gardening without gloves, my fingers were a disaster. This fixed them up in no time. Highly recommend,” another wrote.
BEST HAND CREAM FOR DRY, FLAKY HANDS
Cerave Reparative Hand Cream 48g, $11.99 at Adore Beauty
Cerave Reparative Hand Cream
Tried and Tested by Marina Tatas, news.com.au checkout Shopping Writer
In the wintertime, my hands sometimes get dry, red, flaky and itchy, so to combat this, I need to slap on super thick and nourishing hand creams. This one from CeraVe is my top pick – it’s super repairing and under $12 – Who can complain about that? The formula is super basic, but it’s creamy and hydrating and doesn’t leave my hands feeling all gross and sticky.
BEST HAND CREAM FOR AGEING HANDS
Clarins Super Restorative Hand Cream 100ml, $82 at Myer
Clarins Super Restorative Hand Cream
What You Need To Know
With claims of diminishing signs of ageing and wrinkles, evening out your skin tone and strengthening your fingernails – this luxe hand cream from Clarins is chock full of anti-ageing ingredients.
It’s formulated with harungana to plump up your skin and lift wrinkles, montpellier rock-rose to target and lighten dark spots, baobab oil to nourish your nails and anti-ageing tetrapeptides to keep your skin texture feeling soft and supple.
Although it’s a pricey hand cream, it has garnered a 4.8-star rating on Myer with many shoppers agreeing that it’s “worth every penny”.
“Best hand cream ever. I’ve used this particular hand cream ever since trying it for the first time years ago. It is expensive but a little goes a long way and so it lasts for ages. It softens my ageing hands, sinks in without leaving any residual “tackiness” and smells great. Worth every penny!” one wrote.
“A treat for your hands and your soul. I use this as a night time treat for my hands and I think it’s not only good for my hands but good for my soul as well. During the day I use the classic hand cream. This may be expensive but it lasts for ages and so as I only use it once a day it represents good value for money. I would wholeheartedly recommend it to others.
BEST HAND BALM
Aesop Resurrection Aromatique Hand Balm, $43 at Myer
Aesop Resurrection Aromatique Hand Balm
Tried and Tested by Philippa Tonkin, news.com.au checkout Shopping Writer
This hand cream is definitely a luxury buy but in my opinion, it’s totally worth it. I’ve received it (along with the matching hand wash) as a gift a few times and it’s always deeply appreciated. Its distinctive scent is made up of crisp citrus notes and is seriously divine. If you’re looking for a gift or wanting to treat yourself, this is definitely the way to go.
BEST HAND SALVE
Ultimate Strength Hand Salve, $39 at Kiehl’s
Ultimate Strength Hand Salve
What You Need To Know
This thick and rich hand salve is formulated with avocado oil, eucalyptus oil and sesame seed oil for deep moisturising properties. It effectively soothes, conditions and moisturises dry hands and forms a protective skin barrier against moisture loss when met with water – so it can withstand hand washing without drying your skin out.
It’s earned a 4.7-star rating on the Kiehl’s website with many five-star reviewers singing its praises.
“I use a lot of hand creams, but Kiehl’s Ultimate Strength Hand Salve stands out. Its rich, thick texture provides intense hydration without feeling greasy, and it absorbs quickly, leaving a protective barrier on my skin,” one wrote.
“The only thing I don’t like is that the scent is too strong for me, but when I apply it, it quickly absorbs and makes my skin smooth. I also apply it on my elbows, and it leaves them smooth too. Though on the pricier side, the effectiveness and quality justify the cost, with a little going a long way. This hand salve is perfect for keeping my hands soft and nourished, especially during harsh weather conditions. Highly recommended for anyone seeking reliable, heavy-duty hand care.”
BEST SCENTED HAND CREAM
Glossier Hand Cream
What You Need To Know
With it’s stylish and playful packaging, this hand cream is not just about looks – it offers a nutrient-rich formula consisting of a botanical blend, meadowfoam seed oil, fermented coconut fruit extract and glycofilm pollustop to lock in moisture. Plus, it’s suitable for all skin types and will keep your hands smooth and hydrated.
It has a simple yet clean, fresh scent that is reminiscent of their popular fragrance “You” (which I love to death) but reimagined for your hands so it’s a little more subtle.
“The BEST. I absolutely love this hand cream. It smells incredible and feels so silky. I’m a nurse with very dry hands and I use this cream obsessively,” one five-star reviewer wrote.
“Absolutely love from top to bottom. The lotion itself has a lovely scent without overpowering your senses … My favourite part has to be the bottle itself. Surprisingly, it’s made of a soft material so it’s easy to squeeze and get all the good stuff out! Leaves you feeling soft and supple as soon as you put it on,” another wrote.
BEST BUDGET HAND CREAM
La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Hand Cream, $16.99 (down from $19.95) at Amazon Australia
La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Hand Cream
What You Need To Know
Formulated with shea butter, niacinamide and glycerin for soothing, moisturising and hydrating properties; it’s dermatologist-tested, fragrance-free and non-comedogenic – so it’s less likely to be irritating to sensitive skin types.
It has a 4.7 out of five-star rating on Amazon with one shopper hailing it “a winter saviour”.
“This is excellent hand cream for winter. Gives you a great barrier to the dry air and sinks into your skin leaving it soft for hours,” they wrote.
“My hands are always dry, no matter what lotion I’ve tried. Until I tried this wonderful hand cream, I never got lasting relief from any lotion or hand cream. The La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Hand Cream absorbs quickly, leaving a velvety moisturised feeling and instant relief for my very dry hands. It is unscented, which I like,” another wrote.
“Best of all, its wonderful moisturising effects last 24 hours or more, even with frequent hand washing and no additional applications of this hand cream … I highly recommend this very effective product to anyone who has struggled to find a hand cream that actually works.”
BEST LUXURY HAND CREAM
Chanel La Creme Main Nourish-Soften-Illuminate, $96 at Myer
Chanel La Creme Main Nourish-Soften-Illuminate
What You Need To Know
Iconic and luxurious, this Chanel hand cream is composed of naturally-derived and camellia-derived ingredients which promote moisturising and protective properties, as well as iris extract for a brightening effect. It has an incredibly silky, lightweight and creamy texture that is fast-absorbing and leaves your hands feeling soft and moisturised.
The unique packaging is eye-catching and travel-friendly, and makes for the perfect handbag or bedside table companion.
It boasts a 4.7-star rating on Google with many reviewers praising the rich hand cream.
“The La Créme main by Chanel is a wonderful hand cream. It’s lightweight and absorbs quickly into skin. A non-greasy formula. Some hand creams are to thick or greasy. Then I ended up feeling like I need to wash my hands. So if you’re the type of person that prefers a lightweight and velvety finish, you will fall in love with this! This cream not only softens skin but it brightens. My nails look very healthy when I use this hand cream regularly. The egg shaped bottle is cute,” one wrote.
“I love the scent, the absorption and texture is so smooth and silky! It sits so elegant and pretty on my vanity. Definitely the "It" girl hand lotion! I love displaying this on my vanity and pulling it out of my purse,” another wrote.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN BUYING A HAND CREAM
When it comes to buying a hand cream to treat dry, flaky or cracked skin, you should consider these factors:
Ingredients: Ideally you’ll want a hand cream that will keep your skin deeply moisturised and nourished, so opt for a product that has been formulated with moisturising ingredients like shea butter, glycerin, colloidal oatmeal, ceramides and natural oils.
Texture: Do you want a thick and rich cream or a lightweight cream? Are you after a hand cream, hand salve or hand balm?
Scent: If you’re sensitive to fragrances, you may want to opt for an fragrance-free product or one that is subtly scented. On the other hand, if you do prefer a scented hand cream, you should pick one that’s not overwhelmingly strong and has a more natural-like scent that’s easy for everyday.
Purpose: You should have an understanding of what type of hand cream you need as there’s a wide variety of hand creams that target different concerns. If your main concern is dry hands, nails and cuticles, you may want a hand cream that’s moisturising but lightweight, whereas if you have dry and cracked skin, you’ll want a thicker hand cream that will soothe and protect your skin.
HOW WE CHOOSE PRODUCTS
With an array of hand creams available in the market, it’s impossible to road test every hand cream out in the market. However, to help you find the best hand cream and narrow down your options, we tested some well-known hand creams from different brands and at different price points. In addition, our shopping team sifted through hundreds of customer reviews and looked at test results and ratings from product review sites to find the best hand creams from premium to budget to help you find the right one that will keep your hands soft, hydrated and nourished.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT CAUSES DRY HANDS?
There are a tonne factors that cause dry hands which include genetics, cold weather (especially Winter), frequent hand washing, exposure to harsh chemicals or detergents and lifestyle – just to name a few.
HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU APPLY HAND CREAM?
There’s no hard and fast rule for how many times you should apply hand cream, however regularly moisturising your hands is best. Generally, you’ll want to apply hand cream whenever your hands feel dry or after washing your hands to ensure they’re hydrated. You should aim to apply it at least two or three times a day for optimal hydration or as often as needed.
To make sure you get the most out of your hand cream, don’t forget to massage the cream into your hands, nails and cuticles too.
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