This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll earn a commission should you choose to make a purchase through one of these links. This is at no extra cost to you. Read my full disclaimer here.
Had enough of sore, cracked hands? Me too! I’ve dealt with extremely dry hands for years and, because of this, I’ve tried SO many different hand creams to try and bring back some moisture to my skin.
Without being able to test out the formula before you buy, it can be pretty difficult to tell whether a hand cream is going to be hydrating enough to stop your skin from getting dry and irritated. I can’t count the number of times I’ve bought a product only for it to disappear into my skin providing absolutely no protection or moisture whatsoever.
Fortunately, there are hand creams out there that do work and I have five tried-and-tested products to share with you in this post. These are my top five hand creams i.e. the ones that I’ve found to be soothing and moisturising enough to repair extremely dry, cracked hands.
Burt’s Bees Almond & Milk Hand Cream
This is a firm favourite of mine: firstly, because it works so well and secondly, because it smells incredible. Think, cherry bakewell in a jar 😍
I love this because it doesn’t sting when you apply it – if your hands are seriously chapped, you’ll know the feeling! And it’s really nourishing – sweet almond oil and beeswax do a fantastic job of sealing moisture into the skin!
This is super thick and creamy, so it’s best used as an overnight treatment with moisturising gloves.
La Roche Posay Cicaplast Mains Barrier Repairing Cream
Looking for something lightweight? This is described as a cream but it’s actually more like a gel or balm.
This applies clear so it doesn’t even look like you’re wearing a hand cream! And, after a few minutes, it dries down to a velvety, semi-matte finish which means this isn’t going to interrupt your daily activities by sticking to everything!
Despite how light this feels, it keeps my hands feeling moisturised for hours. It also feels super cooling – sore, irritated skin will really appreciate this!
Nursem Caring Hand Cream
Nursem’s flagship product, the Caring Hand Cream, was specifically formulated to deal with over-washed hands. As a paediatric nurse, co-founder Antonia Philp found that the skin on her hands would often crack and bleed. The goal was to create a formula that was effective enough to restore moisture and soothe any soreness.
This hand cream is light, fast-absorbing and non-greasy which makes it perfect for daytime wear. Plus, for every product that’s bought, Nursem provides a month’s supply of hand cream to an NHS nursing team.
O’Keeffe’s Working Hands Hand Cream
If you’re searching for a no-frills, unscented hand cream, O’Keeffe’s is the way to go. This is a favourite of chefs, gardeners and health professionals as it’s formulated to prevent moisture loss from everyday wear and tear.
The brand suggests using Working Hands daily to help build up a protective layer on the skin’s surface. This stops the skin on your hands from getting quite so damaged by things like harsh soaps, dry air or cold weather.
The formula is hypoallergenic and non-greasy which means it’s suitable for even the most sensitive skin types.
The Body Shop Hard-Working Hand Protector
This hand cream is a Body Shop bestseller and it’s not hard to see why. It delivers intense hydration and relief to even the driest of hands, softening the skin and replenishing natural oils.
A little goes a long way with this and because it is so thick I prefer to use it overnight… though you could definitely use during the day too. This has an earthy, herby scent which may not be for everyone but I find it really comforting!
If you want something that’s fast-acting, I highly suggest giving it a go. It’s the type of cream that gives visible improvements in just one night of wear.
So, which hand cream should you pick?
I’d recommend all of these creams, but not necessarily for the same reasons. The Nursem and La Roche Posay hand creams are more versatile in that they can be worn during the day and at night. I mean, technically you could do this with the other hand creams on this list too but it’s just not as practical! These are lighter, less sticky and they tend to dry down quicker so that you can get on with other things during the day.
With thicker hand creams, like The Body Shop, Burt’s Bees and O’Keeffe’s ones, I often find that I’m very aware of them on my skin and I avoid certain tasks because I don’t want to get the product everywhere. This is why I prefer to apply these at night – it’s far less messy. By the morning the cream has mostly absorbed into the skin and your hands shouldn’t feel as sticky. For these types of creams I like to wear moisture gloves to avoid getting product all over the bed covers.
Which products do you recommend for dry, cracked hands? Let me know in the comments!
Leave a Reply