Our hands are put through the wringer, particularly during the winter, when cold weather can be drying. The best hand cream can make all the difference, thanks to soothing, hydrating and nourishing skincare ingredients.
For this review, a myriad of options were put to the test, from lightweight, fast-absorbing creams that don't leave a greasy residue on the skin, like Nuxe’s rêve de miel hand and nail cream (£9.50, Amazon.co.uk), to Neutrogena’s intense repair cica hand cream, (£7.80, Amazon.co.uk), which provided relief for especially dry, cracked skin. While some hand creams are made without fragrance, better suiting those with sensitive skin, I’ve also tried various olfactory delights from the likes of Glossier, Tropic and Chanel.
As for skincare ingredients to look for, consultant dermatologist Dr Catherine Borysiewicz recommends hydrating inclusions like ceramides and hyaluronic acid. “These are great at plumping the skin, and supporting the skin barrier”. She explains that we can think about the cells of a disrupted skin barrier like a “damaged brick wall”, where a moisturiser acts as “a supportive ‘temporary cement’ to hold the skin cells in place”. As for treating very dry skin, she refers to cream and ointment consistencies, and barrier creams which “offer additional benefits such as soothing and healing chapped or broken skin”.
Keep reading for my top tried and tested hand creams, tested over several months.
Read more: Best body moisturisers for hydrated skin, tried and tested by a beauty writer
The best hand creams for 2026 are:
- Best overall – E45 moisturising hand cream: £5, Boots.com
- Best fast absorbing formula – Nuxe rêve de miel hand and nail cream: £9.50, Boots.com
- Best for cracked knuckles – Neutrogena intense repair cica hand cream: £7, Amazon.co.uk
- Best SPF option – Hello Sunday the one for your hands SPF30 hand cream: £11, Johnlewis.com
- Best for frequent hand washing – Nursem caring hand cream: £9.99, Boots.com
- Best luxury buy – Chanel la creme main : £54, Boots.com
How I tested
I've been cycling through these hand creams for more than a year. I applied (and re-applied) them as often as needed throughout the day, and assessed them on factors such as how quickly they absorbed into the skin, and how comforting and hydrating they felt. You can read more about my testing criteria at the end of this review.
Read more: Best cuticle oils to strengthen and rejuvenate nails, tried and tested
E45 moisturising hand cream
Best: Hand cream overall
Size: 50ml
Key ingredients: Glycerin
SPF: No
Why we love it
- Feels lightweight
- Absorbs quickly
- Affordable
Take note
- No scent
My top pick comes from none other than E45. Its simple yet effective formula provides intensive nourishment while repairing the skin’s moisture barrier. During testing, I kept coming back to it thanks to its speedy absorption and reliable skin-quenching feel. It felt lightweight, not sticky, and it left my skin feeling smoother and less dry for hours after application. Plus, I didn’t feel the need to constantly re-apply.
It’s been tested for use on dry sensitive skin, and is free from fragrance, so suits a range of skin types. Sitting around the £5 mark, too, it’s incredibly good value. The only drawback to note is that it does not offer SPF.
Buy now £4.99, Boots.com
Nuxe rêve de miel hand and nail cream
Best: Fast absorbing hand cream
Size: 50ml
Key ingredients: Avocado oil, argan oil, shea butter, vitamin E
SPF: No
Why we love it
- Absorbs very quickly
- Velvety feel
- Soft scent
- Good price
If you despise greasy creams, then I can't recommend this one enough, thanks to a texture that’s velvety and not oily. Nuxe’s lip balm is hands down one of the most moisturising I’ve ever used, so I wasn’t surprised by how super hydrating its hand cream was.
With a soft, clean scent, it contains avocado oil and argan oil, plus shea butter which works to soothe and relieve the feeling of tightness in the skin. My skin quickly felt soft and supple, and I didn’t feel myself reaching for a top up very often at all. It would be even better if it had SPF.
Buy now £7.12, Nuxe.com
Neutrogena intense repair cica hand cream
Best: Hand cream for cracked knuckles
Size: 100ml
Key ingredients: Glycerin, panthenol
SPF: No
Why we love it
- Comforting
- Unscented
- A lot of product
Take note
- Oily residue
This formula is for extremely dry skin, so it was tried by a tester who experiences particularly dry hands with mild cracking on the knuckles. They found it to be loyal to what the brand promised: it brought relief, repair, strengthened the skin barrier and offered long-lasting protection against dryness.
Containing 45 per cent naturally-derived glycerin and centella asiatica – a plant known for its reparative effect on the skin – it has a buttery and rich consistency, almost reminiscent of Vaseline. The application is particularly comforting, however it’s worth noting that it did leave her hands quite oily, although supple. The new upgraded formula is also unscented, which is a plus for particularly sensitive skin.
Buy now £4.67, Amazon.co.uk
L'Occitane shea intensive hand balm
Best: Balmy hand cream
Size: 50ml, 150ml
Key ingredients: Shea butter, allantoin
SPF: No
Why we love it
- Thick
- Long-lasting hydration
Take note
- Expensive
This balm so ludocrously rich and thick, that I can hold a chunk of the formula between my fingers. It’s packed with 25 per cent organic and fairtrade shea butter, which is known for its hydrating and nourishing benefits, and creates a protective film over the skin.
Unlike creams with a thinner consistency, it doesn’t feel slippery upon application, although I did notice my hands feeling quite greasy more than an hour after application. However, the effects were marked. The skin on my hands felt noticeably comfortable, hydrated and velvety. This cream can also be used more liberally as an even more intensive treatment.
Yes, it’s expensive, but this massive tube (made from recycled aluminium) will last absolutely ages, as a little goes such a long way. I also enjoyed the soft hand cream scent, and like that it’s vegan.
Buy now £29, Cultbeauty.com
Glossier crème pour les mains
Best: Hand cream for bringing on the go
Size: 60ml
Key ingredients: Meadowfoam seed oil
SPF: No
Why we love it
- Conveniently slim packaging
- Addictive scent
- Lightweight
Take note
- Not the most intensively hydrating
This cream shares the utterly addictive scent of Glossier’s iconic you fragrance. Warm, floral and slightly sweet, it’s potent enough to linger on the skin long after application. During testing, my skin certainly felt softer and more hydrated, thanks to a concoction of anti-oxidant rich botanicals and ingredients that help to create a film over the skin, preventing moisture from escaping.
As someone who doesn't enjoy an overly thick and heavy hand cream, I appreciated the lightweight and quick to absorb formula. It’s worth noting that it doesn't feel as rich and deeply moisturising as some creams that I tried, so it may not be ideal for extremely dry skin. This being said, the brand says the formula is suitable for all skin types.
The conveniently flat packaging that fits snuggly into a compact shoulder bag or inner pockets of a tote bag is also a major bonus for everyday practicality.
Buy now £15, Sephora.co.uk
La Roche-Posay cicaplast baume hand cream
Best: Protective hand cream formula
Size: 50ml, 100ml
Key ingredients: Thermal spring water
SPF: No
Why we love it
- Leave skin feeling silky smooth
- Suitable for sensitive skin
- Fragrance-free
- Minimalist ingredients list
- Lightweight
Take note
- Small tube
- More of a balm than a cream
This cream provides a protective, glove-like layer on the skin, so the texture and feel are a little unusual – more of a balm than a cream. Despite this, it doesn’t feel heavy or sticky, but instead, like a silky-smooth veil over the skin. The ingredients are minimal, and include the brand’s soothing and hydrating thermal spring water.
The formula is hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic, fragrance-free (this doesn’t really smell of anything at all), and it’s also suitable for sensitive skin. It doesn’t contain SPF however, which is something to keep in mind. There’s not a lot of product in the tube, but I found that a little goes a long way.
Buy now £9, Cultbeauty.co.uk
O’Keeffe’s working hands hand cream
Best: Hand cream for overnight use
Size: 80ml
Key ingredients: Glycerin
SPF: No
Why we love it
- Relief for cracked knuckles
- Oily feel
Take note
- Faintly chemical scent
Another option for especially dry hands, this formula was used by a tester with dry hands and mild cracking on the knuckles. They noted that the texture itself is a lot richer than any other cream they’d tried, but not any less fast-absorbing. It felt heavy at first, but the formula disappeared into the skin almost immediately.
As a rich cream, though, it leaves the hands quite oily and clammy. With this in mind, it’s probably best to apply it before bed, as it gives the cream time to properly work on the dry and cracked skin without interfering with touch.
Severely cracked knuckles found almost immediate relief, and a little went a long way. However, the only downside of the cream is that it has a slightly chemical smell, even if the packaging states it should be unscented.
Buy now £8.99, Boots.com
Hello Sunday the one for your hands SPF30 hand cream
Best: Lightweight formula
Size: 30ml
Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, aloe vera, jojoba oil
SPF: SPF30
Why we love it
- Lightweight
- Isn’t greasy at all
Take note
- Not a lot of product in the tube
Suncare and hydration rolled into one? Say hello to Hello Sunday’s hand cream. With high protection SPF30, this enlists skincare-loving ingredients like hydrating hyaluronic acid, plus vitamin E and aloe vera – these nourish the skin and defend against the signs of photoaging. The consistency is very lightweight, so it doesn’t feel greasy or sticky at all, and takes almost no time at all to sink in.
For me, it didn’t feel quite as moisturising as some, and I felt the need to reapply fairly often, but reapplication every two hours is the recommendation for sun protection anyway. It smells fresh and clean with its super subtle orange, floral and musk fragrance, but bear in mind it won’t last too long as there’s only 30ml in the tube.
Buy now £11, Johnlewis.com
Chanel la creme main
Best: Luxury hand cream
Size: 50ml
SPF: No
Why we love it
- Soft scent
- Silky texture
- Compact
Take note
- Lid could be more secure
Undoubtedly an indulgent purchase, if you’re after a luxury hand cream, then it doesn't get much more premium than Chanel. It’s housed in a palm-shaped egg, which fits easily into my mini shoulder bag, although the lid isn’t as secure as I would have liked, especially when considering the high price tag.
The formula is a lot lighter and silkier than many of the creams I tried, and it leaves the skin feeling velvety rather than greasy. It didn’t feel as deeply hydrating as some creams I tried, so I wouldn't recommend it as a savior for extremely dry hands.
The scent is every bit as elegant as you might expect – soft, clean and floral. The applicator squeezes out a thin ribbon of cream, so I didn’t waste any product, no matter how overzealously I squeezed the tube. This means that although this certainly isn’t a cheap option, it will at least last a long time. If you're happy to splurge, this is a lovely gift (for someone else, or just for you).
Buy now £54, Boots.com
Tropic superfood hand therapy
Best: Vegan and cruelty-free hand cream
Size: 80ml
Key ingredients: Oat extract, olive squalane, papaya extract
SPF: No
Why we love it
- Strong scent
- Vegan and cruelty-free brand
Take note
- Rich consistency takes a little while to absorb
From vegan and cruelty-free care brand Tropic, this hand cream features a punchy, invigorating scent of bergamot, grapefruit, lime and mandarin essential oils. Although it’s potent, it doesn’t smell artificial.
It’s quite rich, so it took several minutes to absorb into my skin, which was glistening after application. However, the cream feels luxurious, with the addition of soothing oat milk. The addition of olive squalane also works to improve skin elasticity, prevent moisture loss and encourage cell regeneration, while papaya extract exfoliates the skin, to help with smoothness and glow. Plus, at 80ml, there’s a healthy amount of product in the bottle so it should last well.
Buy now £12, Tropicskincare.com
Nursem caring hand cream
Best: For frequent hand-washing
Size: 75ml
Key ingredients: Medical grade manuka honey, white willow extract, allantoin, pro vitamin B5, nourish, plant oils, glycerin
SPF: No
Why we love it
- Incredibly quick to absorb
- Original version smells lovely
- Convenient flat tube
Nursem co-founder, Antonia, experienced dry, sore and cracked as a result of frequent hand-washing while working as a paediatric intensive care nurse, so launched the brand. After applying the brand’s hand cream I was struck by how incredibly quickly it sinks into the skin. Within a minute or two my skin was left feeling matte and smooth. You only need a pea-sized amount to feel it’s doing its job too.
I tried the original formula (there’s also a non-fragranced option), which is naturally fragranced with bergamot, petitgrain and grapefruit essential oils and smells lovely – it’s very soft, with a hint of refreshing, sweet citrus. It contains a whole host of skin-loving ingredients (medical grade manuka honey and white willow extract, allantoin and pro vitamin B5), which work to moisturise and nourish the skin, while plant oils and glycerin help the hands to stay hydrated by restoring its protective barrier. It’s recommended for eczema-prone skin, psoriasis and sensitive skin.
I really like the flat shape of the tube, as it makes it easy to slot away neatly into a bag. The brand will also provide a nurse or midwife with a month’s worth of free Nursem with every product sold.
Buy now £9.99, Boots.com
Aveeno daily moisturising hand cream
Best: Hand cream for sensitive skin
Size: 75ml
Key ingredients: Oat
SPF: No
Why we love it
- Gentle on sensitive skin
- Sinks in quickly
Take note
- Medicinal smell
The star of the show in Aveeno’s skincare is the nourishing and soothing humble oat. This cream is meant to preserve the skin’s natural microbiome and bolster the skin barrier which, in turn, aids in keeping skin hydrated and strong.
It’s suitable for sensitive skin as well as for dry skin types, and its light to mid-weight consistency is easy to distribute across the skin. It sinks in quickly, too. While the formula is unscented, one thing I don’t love is its slightly medicinal smell. That said, at less than £5, this is excellent value for money.
Buy now £5.99, Boots.com
CeraVe reparative hand cream
Best: Non-comedogenic hand cream
Size: 50ml
Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, niacinamide
SPF: No
Why we love it
- Fragrance-free
- Feels very hydrating
- Soothing
- Protective, balm-like feel
Take note
- Might feel too heavy for some
CeraVe’s affordable and effective skincare has attracted a lot of attention, and this cream has those boxes ticked. Non-comedogenic and fragrance-free, it’s formulated to remedy extremely dry, rough and cracked skin. It has a thick, balm-like consistency but I found that it sank into the skin quite quickly, and didn’t make my hands feel overly greasy.
As for the formula, soothing niacinamide and ceramides feature to support the skin barrier. Thanks to the help of hydrating powerhouse hyaluronic acid, this cream left my skin feeling soft and hydrated throughout the day.
Buy now £7.59, Amazon.co.uk
Caudalie vinotherapist hand and nail repairing cream
Best: Scented hand cream
Size: 75ml
Key ingredients: Rape-seed oil, organic shea butter
SPF: No
Why we love it
- Gorgeous scent
- Sinks in quickly
- Non-greasy
- Skin felt smooth
- Vegan
Take note
- Scent may be too strong for some
The cream presents a sweet citrus scent that reminds me of grapefruit. It is quite a heady scent, so it won’t be for those who prefer clean-smelling skincare. When it came to the feel of the product, it has a mid- to lightweight consistency, and I found that it sank in quickly, and didn’t leave any residual greasiness on the skin.
The formula is vegan, with a focus on natural origin ingredients, and features nourishing grape-seed oil, shea butter, avocado oil and olive oil. In terms of immediate skincare results, I was impressed with its rapid skin-softening effect – my skin felt significantly more silky-soft from the first application. What’s more, this cream also gets to work strengthening the cuticles and nails.
Buy now £12, Cultbeauty.co.uk
Clarins hand and nail treatment cream
Best: Pampering hand cream
Size: 100ml
Key ingredients: Sesame oil, shea butter
SPF: No
Why we love it
- Spa-like scent
- Non-greasy feel
Take note
- Expensive
Clarins is a premium brand, so this product is undoubtedly an expensive one. Thanks to the cream’s fresh, spa-like scent, every application felt like a pampering moment and it wasn’t too heavy, sticky or greasy as it sinks into the skin.
It features sesame oil and shea butter, which helps to nourish, soothe and protect against environmental stressors, and on application, my skin felt supple and smooth. Plus, the fresh, delicate scent creates moments of calm for me and is every bit as luxurious as the cream’s price suggests it should be.
Buy now £28, Johnlewis.com
Fenty hydra vizor broad spectrum mineral SPF 15 sunscreen hand cream
Best: Mineral SPF hand cream
Size: 50ml
Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, aloe, baobab
SPF: SPF15
Why we love it
- Incredibly lightweight
- Sinks in quickly
- Tropical scent
- Vegan and cruelty-free
Take note
- Small tube
With a fresh, subtle scent that reminds me of summer (think florals and tropical fruits, sweet but not cloying), Fenty’s SPF15 hand cream is suitable for all skin types, and feels almost weightless, making it notably seamless and quick to apply.
Providing mineral SPF15, the consistency is one of the thinnest I’ve tried, so it glides across the skin with ease, and I appreciated how quickly it was absorbed, too. Vegan and cruelty-free, the formula features hyaluronic acid, aloe and baobab to hydrate, soothe and condition the skin, and leaves my skin feeling comfortable, supple and smooth to the touch. I just wish there was more product in the tube.
Buy now £9.33, Boots.com
Eucerin hyaluron-filler + elasticity age spot correcting hand cream SPF30
Best: Elasticity-boosting hand cream
Size: 75ml
Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid
SPF: SPF 30
Why we love it
- Hydrating
- A little goes a long way
Suitable for all skin types, this cream delivers all-important suncare with SPF30 and hyaluronic acid. It’s formulated to boost skin’s elasticity and firmness, and if you’re looking to address age spots on your hands, Eucerin says it can reduce and prevent them when it’s used regularly.
While my tester who is in her early 60s was impressed with the cream’s hydrating power, they didn’t use the product long enough to see any of these changes to their skin. However, they found that a little goes a long way (a little over a pea-sized amount is needed), and it sank in quickly, didn’t feel heavy, and delivered long-lasting hydration.
Buy now £12.93, Amazon.co.uk
What is the best hand cream?
My top pick, E45’s moisturising hand cream is effective and affordable. For a hand cream with SPF protection, Hello Sundays the one for your hands SPF30 hand cream is lightweight yet hydrating. Neutrogena’s intense repair cica hand cream is relieving for very dry skin and cracked knuckles, while the offerings from Glossier, Chanel and Caudalie are some of the more beautifully scented that I tried.
How the hand creams were tested
How often should you apply hand cream?
This will depend on your skin. “If you have a tendency to dry skin and hand eczema, I usually recommend applying a hand cream after each hand wash, especially in the winter months,” Dr Borysiewicz says. Otherwise, she recommends twice a day, and reapplying when your hands feel dry.
Should hand cream contain SPF?
“The skin of the hands is thin and prone to pigmentation such as sun spots and fine lines so I’d definitely recommend applying a good SPF in the same way we would apply a daily face sunscreen,” she explains.
What to look for in a hand cream if you have very dry hands
Dr Borysiewicz recommends looking for cream or ointment consistencies. “We often refer to ‘barrier creams’, these offer additional benefits such as soothing and healing chapped or broken skin”, she explains.
“If your skin is very dry and thickened, ingredients such as urea will also help break down thickened keratin build up on the skin, allowing hydrating ingredients to penetrate into the skin more effectively. Applying your moisturiser under white cotton gloves at night time can also help the absorption of the moisturiser.”
What to look for in hand creams if you have sensitive skin
“Avoid unnecessary ingredients such as fragrance or perfumes”, she says. “Some ingredients can be sensitising such as lanolin. If the skin is very sore or cracked, any moisturisers may feel sore or uncomfortable, if this happens try switching to an ointment.”
Why you can trust IndyBest reviews
With more than four years experience reviewing for IndyBest, Lois Borny is well versed in the beauty brands to know (and avoid). She’s tested everything from shampoo bars to lip balms and is across the most popular brands, including L’Occitane, Clarins and more. In her pursuit to find the very best hand creams, she even consulted a dermatologist to inform her picks. See her choices below, plus all the hand cream dos and don’ts from Dr Catherine Borysiewicz.
For more effective skincare finds, read our review of the best foot creams
