Our hands endure a lot, especially in colder months when weather can leave skin dry and uncomfortable. The best hand creams can help restore moisture using soothing, hydrating and nourishing ingredients to keep skin and nails soft and protected.
For this review, a wide range of options were tested, from lightweight fast-absorbing creams like Nuxe's rêve de miel hand and nail cream (£9.50, Amazon.co.uk) to Neutrogena's intense repair cica hand cream (£7.19, Boots.com), which proved helpful for particularly dry, cracked skin. Some formulas are fragrance-free for sensitive skin, while others offer scented options from brands including Glossier, Tropic and Chanel.
Consultant dermatologist Dr Catherine Borysiewicz recommends hydrating ingredients like ceramides and hyaluronic acid. 'These are great at plumping the skin and supporting the skin barrier,' she says. She explains that a disrupted skin barrier is like a 'damaged brick wall', where a moisturiser acts as 'a supportive temporary cement to hold the skin cells in place'. For very dry skin, she recommends cream and ointment consistencies, and barrier creams which 'offer additional benefits such as soothing and healing chapped or broken skin'.
My top pick is E45's hand cream. Its simple yet effective formula provides intensive nourishment while repairing the skin's moisture barrier. During testing, I kept returning to it thanks to its speedy absorption and reliable skin-quenching feel. It felt lightweight, not sticky, and left my skin feeling smoother and less dry for hours after application. It has been tested for dry sensitive skin, is fragrance-free, and costs around £5, offering excellent value. The only drawback is that it does not contain SPF.
If you dislike greasy creams, Nuxe's hand cream is highly recommended, with a velvety, non-oily texture. It contains avocado oil, argan oil and shea butter, and left my skin feeling soft and supple without needing frequent reapplication. For extremely dry skin, Neutrogena's intense repair cica hand cream contains 45 per cent naturally-derived glycerin and centella asiatica, offering relief and repair. It has a buttery, rich consistency and is unscented, though it can leave hands oily. Another rich option is a balm containing 25 per cent organic and fairtrade shea butter, which creates a protective film and leaves skin noticeably hydrated, though it may feel greasy after application.
