But that’s where a good hand cream comes in — and the best formulas do more than smell and feel nice: Like skincare for your face, they help replenish moisture, support the skin barrier, and keep rough, cracked hands feeling soft all season long. Ahead, shop my hand cream hall of fame — aka the 10 balms, serums, and treatments worth keeping within hands' reach this fall and winter.
At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.Remedy Firming Peptide Whipped Hand Cream
Not only is the packaging (complete with a satisfying thumb hole) a solid 10/10, but the hand cream itself is unlike anything else I’ve tried. Dermatologist-founded Remedy combines the luxurious texture of a whipped lotion with short-chain signal peptides and a hydrophobic lipid complex, so it doesn’t just feel good — it’s also designed to help soften skin and strengthen the skin barrier with continued use.
Remedy Firming Peptide Whipped Hand Cream, $, available at RemedyDrunk Elephant Therabu Buttered Reparative Hand Cream
I reviewed Drunk Elephant’s hand cream last year and loved it so much that I converted my mom and sister, too. A year later, it’s still one of my top picks to keep on my bedside table for a generous pre-bedtime application. Thanks to its nourishing one-two punch of marula and shea butters, I wake up to soft, smooth, happy hands.
Drunk Elephant Therabu™ Buttered Reparative Hand Cream, $, available at SephoraKiehl's Ultimate Strength Hand Salve
When the coldest, driest days of winter hit, it’s time to break out the big guns — and for me, that means Kiehl’s Ultimate Strength Hand Salve. Nothing I’ve tried works as well to revive cracked, bone-dry skin. Fair warning: It’s definitely thick, so I like to apply it under gloves before heading outside or slather it on at night for some serious overnight TLC.
Kiehl's Ultimate Strength Hand Salve, $, available at NordstromSephora Collection Moisturizing & Smoothing Hand Mask
While not technically a hand cream, I absolutely swear by these Sephora Collection hand masks, which are essentially sheet masks for your hands. Each glove is saturated with glycerin, macadamia seed oil, and coconut fruit extract to quench the driest of hands.
Sephora Collection Moisturizing & Smoothing Hand Mask, $, available at SephoraGlossier Hand Cream
When I’m out and about, Glossier’s Hand Cream is one of my favorite options to toss in my bag — and not just because of the cute packaging. The flip-top, squeeze-to-dispense design makes it easy to apply on the go, and I love that the formula comes in several scents, so there’s an option for every mood.
Glossier Hand Cream, $, available at GlossierNeutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Hand Gel Cream
If you're not a fan of a thick hand balm, another option I love is this hand gel-cream from Neutrogena's HydroBoost line. Like the bestselling face cream, this stuff is packed with hyaluronic acid to trap water within the skin's surface and boost hydration.
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Hand Gel Cream, $, available at Amazon54 Thrones Mini African Beauty Butter
Not only does this vanilla-honey shea butter hand cream smell good enough to eat, but it leaves my hands feeling healed and soothed for hours on end, thanks to jojoba oil, shea butter, and baobab oil.
54 Thrones Mini African Beauty Butter, $, available at SephoraOlive & June Hand Treatment
I swear by Olive & June for at-home manicures, and this hand treatment has earned a permanent spot in my routine. Formulated with shea butter, pomegranate, and gentle fruit acids, it leaves my hands feeling soft and looking smoother — a welcome bonus when dryness and fine lines start to show up with the colder weather.
Olive & June Hand Treatment, $, available at Olive & JuneSidia The Hand Serum
Hand serums are a relatively new category, but one with plenty going for it: They tend to be lightweight while still delivering skincare ingredients, making them ideal for daytime use. I’ve gone through multiple tubes of Sidia’s scented Hand Serum, which is formulated with avocado oil, shea butter, aloe, and prickly pear seed oil. Best of all, it leaves my hands feeling moisturized without coating my phone or keyboard in a greasy film.
Sidia The Hand Serum, $, available at RevolveLa Roche-Posay Cicaplast Hand Repair Cream for Dry Hands
Whether it’s acne-fighting spot treatments or ultra-light sunscreens, I trust pretty much anything from La Roche-Posay — and this hand cream is no exception. The brand’s Cicaplast line is all about soothing and repairing the skin barrier, making it a go-to for dry, chapped hands. The formula features niacinamide, glycerin, and the brand’s signature thermal spring water sourced from France to help keep skin feeling comfortable and hydrated.
La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Hand Repair Cream for Dry Hands, $, available at Ulta Beauty
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