The Best Hand Creams We Tested Left Us with Silky Smooth Skin — and Prices Start at Just $5

The Grown Alchemist Hand Cream, our best overall pick, has a luxe look and delivers high-quality performance. Grown Alchemist is an Australian brand founded on a holistic scientific approach using plant-based ingredients. Gwyneth Paltrow is a fan.

First off, we love the sleek minimalist packaging — staying moisturized never looked so chic. Beyond the pretty packaging, this hand cream’s plush consistency is a beautiful balance between not-too thick and not-too thin. It’s basically the Goldilocks of textures.

It’s perfectly moisturizing yet doesn’t leave behind an oily residue. During testing, the cream absorbed into the skin about 30 seconds after application, leaving us moisturized and our screens grease-free. Once absorbed, our skin felt notably softer and more supple. This hand cream revitalized our skin’s appearance by nourishing visible dryness and cracks on our hands, and we’re positive it’ll give you hydrated summer skin even in the dry winter months. 

On top of its stellar performance, we love this hand cream’s sophisticated, refreshing scent. The orange notes smell like peeling a fresh orange, not an artificial “orange” smell. The bright fragrance is a great pick-me-up during your workday or commute, but while we are fans of the fragrance, those with fragrance sensitivities should proceed with caution. This hand cream is on the pricier end of the products we tested, but it’s a solid investment that’ll entice you to stay moisturized. (It would also make a great gift!)

Size: 2.19 ounces | Star Ingredients: Camellia seed oil, rosehip oil, orange peel | Fragrance: Orange, vanilla

Looking for a wallet-friendly thick, creamy hand cream? Soap & Glory’s Original Pink Hand Food gets top marks for the creamiest (yet non-greasy) hand cream we tested. We loved the rich consistency of this cream; it was easy to spread during application and absorbed almost instantly. With no oily residue, we were able to continue on with our day without leaving a trail of smudges. (Not easily said of some other rich hand creams.) This would be especially great for folks who have to wash their hands frequently at work.

This hand cream left our hands feeling soft throughout testing. It also helped with dryness and flaking. We loved the affordable price point and ample size of this product that is sure to last you awhile. The fun pink packaging is also a plus. The only possible downside is the strong, sweet scent may not be for everyone.

Size: 4.2 ounces | Star Ingredients: Shea butter, macadamia oil, grape seed oil, almond oil | Fragrance: Bergamot, mandarin, floral bouquet, patchouli, oakmoss, musk

Weleda Skin Food is the answer to our dry skin’s prayers. This hand cream has been praised since the 1920s and it lived up to the hype during testing. The consistency of this cream is luxurious and smooth and applied like a dream. It was instantly hydrating and nourishing, leaving our skin visibly smoother and glowing. This formula has calendula, chamomile and other botanical ingredients that soothed our dry skin while leaving our hands smelling great. This cream is made with essential oils and the fragrance might not be for everyone. However, we loved the light, botanical, and subtly citrus scent and found it didn’t aggravate sensitive skin.

The super rich texture meant a little bit really went a long way as we tested. A dime-sized amount was enough to moisturize both hands. The effectiveness of this formula makes it a great value since the small tube will last you a while. We love how effectively it moisturized our cuticles and any dry patches on our elbows or knees. It’s a must-have on-the-go hand cream for our friends with dry skin.

Size: 2.5 ounces | Star Ingredients: Sunflower oil, almond oil, lanolin, glycerin, calendula, pansy | Fragrance: Rosemary, chamomile, citrus

Benton Shea Butter and Olive Hand Cream is our top pick for an intense, yet wallet-friendly hand cream for dry, cracked hands craving relief. This hand cream is super lightweight: We were able to spread just a fingertip’s worth over both hands with ease. After about two minutes, the cream was fully absorbed. It left our skin nourished but not sticky, with no oily residue afterwards. Throughout testing and consistent use, we found our cracked skin more nourished and moisturized than before testing. Our tester commented that this cream helped improve the appearance of his hands which were previously “crusty” from regular weight-lifting and exercise, so that says a lot.

While this hand cream is free of artificial fragrances, the essential oils in it offer a light and pleasant botanical scent. It offers a lot of bang for your buck, so even though it’s on the smaller side, you can stock up to stay moisturized all year long.

Size: 1.76 ounces | Star Ingredients: Shea butter, olive oil, hyaluronic acid | Fragrance: Mandarin, rosemary, and geranium (from essential oils)

Eczema sufferers, we’ve got you covered. The Skinfix Hand Repair Cream is our top pick for those dealing with the itchiness and rashes that come with eczema. Speaking from experience, a key part of treating eczema is preventing flare-ups by staying moisturized, and this hand cream from Skinfix works as an eczema cream to help keep it under control.

A little goes a long way with this product, and the texture of this rich, thick cream spread easily throughout testing. We found it absorbed in seconds and despite its thick and creamy consistency, it didn’t leave our hands feeling greasy. We could feel a noticeable relief after applying — trust us, your hands will thank you.

There is a mild scent reminiscent of oat (due to the soothing colloidal oatmeal ingredient), but it’s not off-putting or irritating. It’s a familiar smell to many living with and managing eczema. During testing and after consistent use of this cream, we didn’t experience eczema flare-ups — which is huge. Our skin feels better, softer, and our hands have never looked better. They’re more supple and hydrated, even after washing.

Size: 3 ounces | Star Ingredients: Colloidal oatmeal, sweet almond oil, shea butter, Aloe | Fragrance: None

If you want a shea butter hand cream that’ll go the distance, L’Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream is for you. This popular hand cream kept us moisturized for hours after application. We loved the consistency: It’s a perfect balance of creamy and rich, but not too heavy or sticky. It was lightweight, but not too watery and only took about five to ten seconds to fully absorb. Even when applying more layers of product, we found it continued to absorb fully with no sticky layer of residue left behind. 

Throughout testing, we noticed using this L’Occitane cream consistently left us with more moisturized and hydrated skin for hours. We noticed improvements in the softness, appearance, and texture of our skin. This cream also worked great on dryness between the fingers and rough, flaky textured skin. We enjoyed the subtle scent of this hand cream and didn’t find it too harsh or overwhelming. The classic L’Occitane packaging evokes a cute, provincial aesthetic, so we’d be happy to display it at our desk for easy, frequent application.

Size: 5.2 ounces | Star Ingredients: Organic shea butter | Fragrance: Powder, floral

This one’s for our friends with fragrance sensitivities. EltaMD’s So Silky Hand Créme is our top pick for a high-performance hand cream free from any fragrance, artificial or otherwise. EltaMD is known for its dermatologically tested sun and skincare for all skin types, especially those with sensitivities. 

This hand cream has a very lightweight consistency but isn’t watery. We found it dispensed and spread easily during application. A dime-sized amount was enough to moisturize both hands and took about one to two minutes to fully absorb. It left our skin moisturized, but never sticky, oily, or greasy after applying. We found consistently using this hand cream (one to three times a day) throughout the testing process helped prevent dry spots and cracks from forming on our hands.

We love that this product is truly unscented. It’s perfect for when you or those around you are sensitive to fragrance or when you don’t want to draw attention to your moisturizing habit — like in the middle of a work meeting or on a crowded work commute. And if you’ve already nailed down your signature scent, this cream won’t clash with your perfume.

Size: 3 ounces | Star Ingredients: Sclareolide, ceramides, vitamin E, jojoba esters | Fragrance: None

The Sol De Janeiro Brazilian Touch Hand Cream absorbed faster than any other hand cream we tested. It’s perfect for moisturizing on-the-go because time is money, and you just can’t be waiting around for your hand cream to dry. Plus, you’ll be happy to keep your devices grease free.

The lightweight formula spread easily on our hands, and we found that a little really goes a long way with this product. A pea-sized amount immediately made our hands feel hydrated and nourished for hours afterwards, no reapplication necessary. Plus, it doesn’t leave behind any film-like residue. 

Our hands appeared (and felt) more supple in using this product, and we really loved how the moisture seemed to stay in our pores for a long time after application. We found the vanilla coconut scent gentle and pleasing, but it may not be for those with fragrance sensitivities. It’s pretty pricey for the small amount that you get but is a high-quality travel-friendly option.

Size: 1.7 ounces | Star Ingredients: Cupuaçu butter, Brazil nut selenium, squalane | Fragrance: Cheirosa ’62 (perfume)

We’ve named the Cold Plasma Plus+ Hand Therapy cream from Perricone MD our best lightweight option. The ultra sheer formula was a dream to apply, gliding onto our skin with ease. If thick, sticky hand creams aren’t your thing, this is the one for you.

We love the matte finish, and our hands were softer and more moisturized with each use. During testing, we noticed we needed to reapply after each hand-washing — something to keep in mind for frequent hand washers. However, this hand cream is fragrance free and good for sensitive skin.

The pump design comes with a secure cap, so you don’t have to worry about lotion leaking all over the inside of your handbag. Plus, the packaging is luxe and looks great. It’s on the pricier end for the small size, but this is a great option if you’re craving a thinner, lighter hand cream.

Size: 2 ounces | Star Ingredients: Shea butter, phospholipids, glycine | Fragrance: None

The Chanel La Créme Main hand cream is for those with the coin and desire to gift someone (or themselves) a luxurious moisturizing experience. Chanel is synonymous with luxury, and this cream delivers on all fronts. The darling egg-shaped packaging is super pocket- and purse-friendly. The delicate, floral scent doesn’t disappoint and delivers the quality fragrance one expects of Chanel.

This hand cream doesn’t just look and smell good — it’s high-performance too. This luxury cream is rich but absorbs in seconds and dries down to a powder-like finish. Throughout testing, we found it left our skin feeling softer and smoother but never sticky or oily. The bottle is small, but a little goes a long way with this product.

Over the course of testing, our skin became more and more supple with each use. Chapped knuckles seemed softer, and dry, cracked palms became more plump. We loved just how soft our hands became while using this hand cream, and if you can swing the price, you should definitely treat yourself to this little bottle of luxury.

Size: 1.7 ounces | Star Ingredients: Iris extract, camellia, may rose wax | Fragrance: Floral

This French hand cream is perfect for anyone with sensitive skin. It’s specially formulated with soothing ingredients like thermal water from the French Alps (ooh la la), glycerin, and manuka honey. The short ingredient list that lacks any artificial fragrance, phthalates, or parabens is a dream come true for anyone coping with dry, reactive skin. 

This cream immediately left our hands noticeably softer and more supple. We were impressed with the improvement in our skin’s texture with consistent use over the testing period. Its light, creamy consistency applies smoothly and easily. For such a hydrating cream, we were impressed with how quickly it absorbed into the skin. It didn’t leave our hands feeling greasy or oily so it’s perfect for using on-the-go. We love the extremely portable 1.7 ounce size that easily fits in any bag. This hand cream worked to keep our sensitive skin moisturized and happy. It also worked well for eczema-prone skin.

Size: 1.7 ounces | Star Ingredients: Thermal water from the French Alps, glycerin, manuka honey, squalane | Fragrance: None

The winter weather can be especially harsh on our hands. While the rest of our skin is protected from the extreme conditions, our hands face a continuous beating as we reach for our phones, keys, and wallets. This protective and moisturizing hand cream is formulated with an impressive 40 percent glycerin. The star ingredient provided immediate and noticeable long-lasting hydration for our skin. With a rich, ointment-like texture this cream took a little longer to apply and absorb than some others we tested. However, it dried down after a few minutes without leaving behind a greasy residue. It’s important to note that with this extra concentrated formula, a little really goes a long way. When we used more than just a dab, it left us feeling greasy and we had to wait longer for it to absorb.

We love how this thick cream created a hydrating and protective barrier on our skin. We enjoyed using it on extra rough areas and our cuticles. It kept our hands moisturized throughout the day and even through washing. It’s unscented and safe for sensitive skin making it an all-around winner.

Size: 2 ounces | Star Ingredients: Glycerin | Fragrance: None