The 13 Best Hand Creams of 2020

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Skincare brands focus almost all of their energy and time on creating products that hydrate, nourish, and protect facial skin, which is funny considering that the vast majority of your skin isn't on your face. Body skin is just as important and deserving of some TLC, which is why you should invest in products that pamper skin from head to toe.

Hand products are a big part of that equation. Think about it: Our hands are constantly being exposed to environmental aggressors, sunlight, and the like (anyone who gets super-dry, chapped hands seasonally knows this to be true). Subsequently, they require products that will treat and prevent damage, not to mention the signs of aging that go along with it. That's why we rounded up the top-rated hand creams to give dry, tired paws some life.

Read on for the best hand creams available today.

Best Overall: Aesop Resurrection Aromatique Hand Balm

Aesop, the all-natural brand that makes highly sought-after personal care items, is responsible for one of our all-time favorite antioxidant-rich hand creams. Just as the name implies, this hand cream is super fragrant thanks to active botanicals and natural ingredients (it smells like a mix of lavender, citrus, and wood).

It's basically like a personal aromatherapy session packaged down into a travel-friendly bottle, which is why it deserves a spot in every carry-on bag, purse, and gym bag, and on every nightstand, desk, and vanity.

Best Budget: J.R. Watkins Anti-Aging Hand Cream

This drugstore hand cream is antioxidant-rich and full of vitamins, which work together to provide an anti-aging effect as well as environmental protection. Since it's so affordable, we don't feel bad buying it in bulk to store in every spot we could possibly need it.

Best with SPF: Supergoop! Forever Young Hand Cream SPF 40 PA+++

supergroop forever young hand cream — Courtesy of Supergoop!

Harmful UV rays are everywhere and exposure is inevitable, especially for hands. Don’t let them go neglected. Protect your hands just as you would your face.

This cruelty- and paraben-free hand cream boasts SPF 40, which is almost unheard of for a hand cream. It also contains antioxidants and omegas (as well as the buzzy skincare ingredient sea buckthorn) to target signs of hand aging like loss of firmness and hyperpigmentation. Stash it in your bag or purse to hydrate the skin and keep hands protected from any rogue UV exposure that happens throughout the day.

Best Portable: Glossier Hand Cream

Yes, this moisturizer from Glossier packs a punch in terms of hydration—thanks to ingredients like meadowfoam seed oil and coconut fruit extract—but its design is what sets it apart even more. Its adorable pale pink packaging is ergonomically designed for on-the-go use, and its click-to-close cap prevents any leaking in your bag. Also, if you're a fan of Glossier's debut fragrance, You, you're in luck—the brand reimagined the scent for the hands, here. This product is also dermatologist-tested, cruelty-free, and suitable for all skin types.

Best Fair Trade: Alaffia Coconut Reishi Hand and Body Cream

This nourishing hand cream has ingredients that are good for your skin, and good for local artisans. The fair trade coconut oil and reishi mushrooms work together to hydrate your skin and protect against the elements. The creamy formula absorbs quickly into the skin yet, which is super important for a quality hand cream, yet it's powerful enough to heal even the driest, cracked hands.

Best Luxury: Sisley-Paris Sisleÿa L’Integral Anti-Age Hand Cream

This is definitely the most luxurious (and expensive) hand cream on this list, but that's to be expected as it comes from Sisley, the Parisian brand known for its high-end skincare (like the ever-popular Black Rose Face Mask). It's famous for tackling the visible signs of aging like wrinkles, firmness, radiance, and more for more youthful-looking hands. And between us, it makes for the chicest addition to a vanity.

Best Anti-Aging: StriVectin Volumizing Hand Cream

StriVectin Volumizing Hand Treatment (2 fl oz.) — Courtesy of Dermstore

It’s likely not your first time hearing that hands are one of the first parts of your body to show signs of aging. So it should come as no surprise that you should treat your hands with good-for-you skincare to help reverse fine lines and wrinkles.

Give your hands a lift by coating your skin in this volumizing cream. It’s formulated with vitamin E and shea butter to hydrate and protect from sun and free radical damage. This age-reversing potion instantly smooths and nourishes the skin.

Best for Cracked Skin: O’Keefe’s Working Hands Hand Cream

It’s not every day that you come across a product that you can see work miracles right in front of your eyes. Most ointments, even the strong prescription stuff, take at least a week to show real results, but that's not the case with O’Keefe’s Working Hands Hand Cream.

This Amazon's Choice formula instantly starts repairing as soon as it touches your skin. If your hands are seriously cracked or chapped, it might sting at first. But don’t worry—it’s that you-know-it-must-be-working kind of sting and that’s because it is. In less than 24 hours, super soft hands will be your new reality. Cracks will mend. Dry patches will heal. And all it takes is a pinch o’ product. When we say a little bit goes a long way, we mean it. Although the texture is thick, it doesn’t leave hands feeling sticky or wet. If anything, it has a slightly tacky feel to it.

Best Soothing: Lano Lemon Hand Cream Intense

Delight your hands with a lemony treat. This powerful hand cream transforms rough flaky skin into smooth perfection. It’s main ingredient, lanolin, is found on sheep wool to keep hair protected and dry. When distilled, lanolin becomes a skin super-healer. The formula is 100% natural and free of chemicals and additives, hypoallergenic, and odorless.

Best Versatile: Nia 24 Sun Damage Repair for Décolletage and Hands

We love how versatile this cream is; in addition to hands, it can also be used on the feet and décolletage to target signs of aging like sun damage, hyperpigmentation, and dark spots. It features unique technology that allows it to continuously release powerful ingredients to the skin, helping to build up its barrier for stronger, better-looking skin that's more resilient against aggressors.

Best Moisturizing: Prai Ageless Hand Cream

This hand cream from Prai feels buttery-soft and doesn't irritate dry, cracked knuckles. Instead, the Shea butter- and macadamia seed oil-infused formula leaves your hands feeling hydrated and soft, with no cracked skin in sight. "I like how it leaves a slight film behind that makes my hands feel super hydrated, but not slippery," says Byrdie's editorial director Faith Xue. "Now that I'm washing my hands constantly, I like to slather this on my hands before bed to help them heal overnight."

Best Serum: Verso Hand Serum

Okay, so this is technically a serum and not a cream, but it's still subtly hydrating. It hails from the buzzy Stockholm-based skincare brand Verso. Apply it at night or in the morning and the active retinol will correct signs of aging like wrinkles and fine lines (in the same way retinol corrects signs of aging in some of our favorite face serums). Just be sure to layer sunscreen over top, since retinol can make your skin more susceptible to UV damage.

Experts Agree: These Anti-Aging Serums Work Wonders on Fine Lines and Wrinkles

Best for Eczema: Gilded Nourishing Body Balm

I know, I know, this balm can be used anywhere on the body, but it's nourishing, non-greasy texture makes it a soothing solution for troubled hands. It's made of ultra hydrating shea butter and meadowfoam seed oil, but the real hero ingredient is cupuacu butter. It's rich in antioxidants and acts as a natural treatment for sunburn, dermatitis, and eczema.

We're Obsessed With These 13 Hand Creams—And You Will Be Too

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