12 Best Drugstore Hand Creams For Dry, Cracked Skin

Hand cream may be something that you typically reach for during the winter, but it really should be a year-round staple. Yes, cold, dry weather can leave your hands chapped, but it’s frequent handwashing that tends to be the biggest culprit of dry hands. “The constant wet-dry cycle of frequent handwashing can strip the skin of its natural moisture and disrupt the protective barrier,” says dermatologist Peterson Pierre, MD. For that reason, it’s important to slather on good hand cream after every handwashing session, he says.

And here’s the good news: You don’t have to spend big bucks for a good one. “Drugstore hand creams work just as well as their pricier counterparts,” says Shereene Idriss, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City. “Instead of looking at the cost, look at the ingredients.” More specifically, you want to look for humectants—ingredients that draw water to the skin, such as hyaluronic acid and glycerin—coupled with occlusives, such as petrolatum, to help seal that moisture in.

Here are the 12 best drugstore hand creams to help leave your hands feeling incredibly soft and smooth.

Best Overall: CeraVe Therapeutic Hand Cream

What We Like

• Approved by the National Eczema Organization
• Absorbs quickly
• Travel-friendly

What We Don’t Like

This is a top choice for Pierre, who lauds it for the use of ceramides and hyaluronic acid—two of his favorite ingredients. The formula is incredibly moisturizing (though still absorbs quickly) yet gentle and fragrance-free, making it a good choice for all skin types. So much so that it even touts the National Eczema Organization Seal of Acceptance.

Active Ingredients: Ceramides, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid | Size: 3 ounces | Scent: Fragrance-free | Cruelty-Free: No

Best Overall, Runner-Up: Dove Body Love Hand Cream Sensitive Care

What We Like

• Absorbs quickly
• Affordable
• Results last for 48 hours

What We Don’t Like

• Some may prefer something thicker

This pick checks all of our hand cream boxes—and then some. It strikes that ideal balance of imparting plenty of moisture but still absorbing in the blink of an eye without leaving behind any unwanted greasy residue. Even though it’s fragrance-free, it still has a pleasantly fresh and clean scent. We also like that it’s cruelty-free and comes in a portable tube.

Active Ingredients: Glycerin, dimethicone | Size: 3 ounces | Scent: Fragrance-free | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best for Eczema: Cetaphil Restoraderm Eczema Soothing Moisturizer

What We Like

• Multitasking formula
• Approved by the National Eczema Organization
• Pump bottle

What We Don’t Like

• Bottle isn’t travel-friendly

Pierre also likes this pick, a dual-purpose formula that works well for both body and hands if you’re prone to eczema flares. Credit the addition of colloidal oatmeal, known to help soothe the skin, as well as ceramides to help keep the skin barrier strong and healthy. It’s fragrance- and paraben-free and has the National Eczema Association’s Seal of Approval.

Active Ingredients: Ceramides, colloidal oatmeal | Size: 10 ounces | Scent: Fragrance-free | Cruelty-Free: No

Best for Eczema, Runner-Up: Eucerin Eczema Relief Hand Cream

What We Like

• Absorbs quickly
• Travel-friendly
• Affordable

What We Don’t Like

• May not be enough for intense eczema

Another option that relies on colloidal oatmeal and ceramides, this hand cream is ideal for those with eczema or atopic dermatitis. It absorbs quickly without feeling greasy, and the small tube is the ideal size to keep on hand (pun intended) so that you can slather it on after washing your hands anytime, anywhere.

Active Ingredients: Ceramides, colloidal oatmeal | Size: 2.7 ounces | Scent: Fragrance-free | Cruelty-Free: No

Best for Extra Dry Hands: O’Keeffe’s Working Hands Hand Cream

What We Like

• Absorbs quickly
• Affordable
• Great for cracked skin

What We Don’t Like

• Can be difficult to scoop out

Idriss says she loves this cream: “It really sinks into your hands and leaves them feeling super soft.” Credit a combo of humectant glycerin plus dimethicone, an occlusive ingredient that essentially creates a seal in the skin to prevent moisture from escaping.

Active Ingredients: Glycerin, dimethicone | Size: 2.7 ounces | Scent: Fragrance-free | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best for Extra Dry Hands, Runner-Up: Nubian Heritage African Black Soap Hand Cream

What We Like

• Absorbs quickly
• Travel-friendly

What We Don’t Like

• Can be difficult to scoop out

Another mega-thick, mega-moisturizing option, this cream relies on shea butter, coconut oil, cocoa butter, olive oil, and jojoba oil (among other plant-based oils and butters). Still, reviewers say that it’s not greasy, despite how rich it is, and it goes on smoothly. FYI, while the fragrance in this is derived from essential oils, it is a bit polarizing among reviewers.

Active Ingredients: Plant-based oils and butters | Size: 4 ounces | Scent: Coconut, fruity | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best for Frequent Handwashers: Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream

What We Like

• Extremely rich and thick
• A little goes a long way

What We Don’t Like

Idriss is also a fan of this oldie-but-a-goodie pick, especially if you’re washing your hands a ton. “It’s a very thick, ointment-like hand cream that is great to minimize transepidermal water loss,” she explains. “If you wash your hands a lot, I recommend using this hand cream at night and then putting on a pair of gloves to lock it all in.” Also nice: A little goes a long way, so one tube can last up to 200 uses, according to the brand.

Active Ingredients: Glycerin | Size: 2 ounces | Scent: Fragrance-free | Cruelty-Free: No

Best Scent: Love Beauty and Planet Murumuru Butter & Rose Hand Cream

What We Like

• Absorbs quickly
• Made with recyclable packaging
• Amazing scent

What We Don’t Like

If your skin is easily irritated or sensitive, opting for a fragrance-free hand cream is a good idea. But if it’s not and you want a hand cream that smells amazing, this is the way to go. The slightly floral scent is delightful and lingers pleasantly without being cloying. And the formula is top-notch, too, with hydrating glycerin and plant-based butters and oils.

Active Ingredients: Glycerin, murumuru butter | Size: 1 ounce | Scent: Floral/rose | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best Multitasking: Weleda Skin Food Original Ultra-Rich Cream

What We Like

• Multitasking formula
• Amazing scent
• Travel-friendly

What We Don’t Like

• Not for sensitive skin
• Pricier than some other drugstore options

Read Full Review: We Tried This Rich Plant-Based Moisturizer and Can Confirm It Lives Up to the Hype

This formula has been around since 1926 yet continues to be a best-selling product with a large following. It’s meant to be a do-it-all moisturizer for the face and body, though Idriss says it’s also a good option for dry hands. She lauds the spa-like scent but notes that it may be best to skip this one if you have or are prone to eczema. Even though it’s free of synthetic fragrance, it does contain some natural ingredients and essential oils that can be irritating.

Active Ingredients: Sweet almond oil, beeswax | Size: 1 ounces | Scent: Floral | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best Multitasking, Runner-Up: La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Balm B5

What We Like

• A little goes a long way
• Dermatologist-tested

What We Don’t Like

• Pricier than some other drugstore options

Looking for one product that really can do it all? This is the option for you. The reparative balm is formulated to not only address dry skin but also help with minor skin irritations—think cuts, burns, and even diaper rash (it can be used in babies older than one week). The point is, there’s nothing it can’t do, and it works as an effective hand cream is at the top of that list. Shea butter, panthenol, and glycerin all work together to help draw moisture and seal the skin.

Active Ingredients: Dimethicone, shea butter, panthenol | Size: 1.3 ounces | Scent: Fragrance-free | Cruelty-Free: No

Best Anti-Aging: Beauty Pie Super Retinol Anti-Aging Hand Cream

What We Like

• Anti-aging
• Travel-friendly

What We Don’t Like

• Not for sensitive skin or pregnant individuals

Hands can give away your age faster than your face, notes Idriss, which is why she likes this youth-boosting hand cream. It does moisturize, but its main goal is to help reduce signs of aging, such as wrinkles and uneven skin tone, thanks to the use of encapsulated retinol. Just save this for nighttime use (since the sun can inactivate retinol), and steer clear of it if you have more sensitive skin.

Active Ingredients: Retinol | Size: 2.5 ounces | Scent: Fragrance-free | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best Ointment: Aquaphor Healing Ointment

What We Like

• Multitasking formula
• Travel-friendly
• Affordable

What We Don’t Like

• Doesn’t moisturize on its own
• Can feel greasy

If hand creams alone aren’t cutting it, consider layering an ointment, like this one, on top and popping on a pair of cotton gloves overnight. While the formula doesn’t contain any hydrating ingredients, it is incredibly occlusive, meaning it will help seal in your skin’s natural moisture and that from any hand cream you layer underneath it. You can also use it to dab onto dry cuticles, chapped lips, and other minor skin issues.

Active Ingredients: Petrolatum | Size: 1.75 ounces | Scent: Fragrance-free |  Cruelty-Free: Yes

Final Verdict

There’s no shortage of awesome hand creams to be found at the drugstore. Our two top choices are the CeraVe Therapeutic Hand Cream and Dove Body Love Fragrance-Free Hand Cream. The first one is so gentle that it has the National Eczema Association’s Seal of Acceptance, while the second absorbs super fast and has a clean, fresh scent to it (despite being fragrance-free). If you’re not sensitive to fragrance, the Love Beauty and Planet Murumuru Butter & Rose Hand Cream has a sophisticated floral scent that’s almost as good as your favorite perfume—and is still very hydrating and nourishing. And if you’re looking for a formula that can do more than act as just a hand cream, consider the all-purpose La Roche-Posay Cicaplast, a rich balm that soothes dryness and other minor skin irritations.

What to Look For in Hand Cream

Shea Butter

Not only does shea butter moisturize your hands, but it also acts as an occlusive that can help protect them. Assisting with other moisturizing ingredients’ abilities to stay on your hands makes it even more valuable in hand cream. Chang explains, “Shea butter is a plant lipid that comes from African shea tree nuts and is rich in fatty acids, antioxidants, and vitamins.”

Lanolin

Not only does lanolin help protect your skin from dryness and capping (especially in cold, harsh weather conditions), but it has also been proven to restore skin moisture. However, it’s important to note that some people may have a lanolin allergy, so test products containing this ingredient on a small area of your skin before going wild with it.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E has been used for ages in skincare products, and that’s because of its benefits. It smooths skin while sealing in moisture. It can soothe skin from irritation and pollution, provide conditioning, and effectively moisturize it. Rouleau says that it “helps to keep your skin’s protective barrier intact. [Keeping it intact] can help seal up little cracks created in the skin’s barrier that can cause moisture to escape and leave the skin feeling tight and dry.”

Humectants

This category includes ingredients that add moisture to your skin. They often work best in tandem with occlusives like shea butter to help keep them sealed there. Humectants include hyaluronic acid and glycerin.