Moisturizing may be top of mind during the colder months, but weather isn’t the only factor that leads to dry, cracked skin. Washing your hands, using hand sanitizer and doing dishes can also strip moisture from your skin and sometimes lead to irritation. Dry hands can range in severity from a few flaky patches to dermatitis, a type of irritation that may cause cracks in the skin and make you more prone to infections, says Dr. Benjamin Ungar, assistant professor at Mount Sinai’s Icahn School of Medicine.
If you’re dealing with chronically dry hands, we talked to dermatologists about the best ways to treat them, as well as steps you can take to avoid irritation in the first place. We also rounded up expert- and NBC Select staff-favorite hand creams.
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How we picked the best hand creams
When shopping for hand cream, experts recommend keeping the following in mind:
- Formulation: Thicker products are better, says board-certified dermatologist Dr. William Huang. Thick creams and ointments create a protective barrier around dry skin, which keeps moisture in and helps hydrate your hands, he says. Balms and ointments tend to moisturize better than creams and lotions, especially if you’re experiencing more severe dryness.
- Ingredients: Consider lotions, creams and ointments with hydrating ingredients, including petrolatum, ceramides and colloidal oatmeal, says Huang.
- Fragrance-free products: Experts say fragrances can cause irritation, especially if you have sensitive or eczema-prone skin. However, if you like fragranced products and you don’t have sensitive skin, experts say you should be fine as far as irritation goes.
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The best hand creams, ointments and balms for dry hands in 2026
Moisturizing your hands is the best way to help heal and prevent dry skin, experts say. With their guidance in mind, we rounded up a handful of expert-recommended products below to help you heal dry, cracked hands, along with a few NBC Select staff favorites.
Best hand creams
Best overall
This NBC Select staff favorite softens your hands without leaving any greasy or sticky residue behind. “I love a few different hand creams, but this is the one that stands out the most,” says former NBC Select associate reporter Bianca Alvarez. “After washing my hands with a drying soap or if it’s the dead winter, my hands always feel dry and tight. This perfectly thick, quick-absorbing hand cream immediately removes that unpleasant feeling.” Alvarez, who can’t go a day without applying this hand cream, leaves a large one at her desk and keeps a travel-sized version in her purse.
Best for very dry hands
“Eucerin’s Advanced Repair Hand Cream is thick and rich, and I use it when my hands are severely dry or cracked,” says NBC Select reporter Zoe Malin. “I slather it on before I go to sleep, and the next morning, I notice significant improvement — my hands are softer and don’t hurt as much.” The cream also quickly absorbs into the skin, says Malin.
Best daily cream
NBC Select updates editor Mili Godio loves this hand cream and uses it daily, especially during the winter season. “It makes my hands feel so soft and smooth, plus the vanilla and citrus scent smells amazing,” she says. It’s formulated with antioxidants for maximum nourishment and comes in scents like vanilla and orange peel, sweet almond and more.
Best butter
Former NBC Select senior editor Lindsay Schneider tested this hand cream for NBC Select’s Wellness Awards and says it makes her hands feel moisturized, soft and smooth. She particularly likes how, despite its rich buttery texture, it’s not oily or greasy and is a more affordable hand cream than other alternatives.
Best thick cream
This Neutrogena hand cream is highly-rated, with reviewers saying that despite trying so many hand creams, they still return to this option from Neutrogena because it prevents their hands from drying out. Though reviewers say it can be a little too thick for daytime, they find it an excellent overnight treatment. This cream has less than 10 ingredients, but 40% of this fragrance-free formula is glycerin, which moisturizes and heals the skin.
Best cream
When looking for a thick yet fast-absorbing hand cream that is effective at healing their hands, Alvarez and Godio choose this moisturizer from Avène. “I put this hand cream on at night before bed, and it immediately leaves my skin feeling soft and moisturized,” says Godio. “It absorbs quickly into my skin, plus it never leaves my hands feeling greasy and slippery like so many other hand creams do.” Although this is a fragrance-free option, it has a slight scent because of the ingredients in the formula, which neither Alvarez nor Godio loves but tolerates since it’s so effective.
Best for cracked hands
Lauren Swanson, NBC Select editorial director, recommends O’Keeffe’s Working Hands Cream because it’s non-greasy and effective at repairing, soothing and moisturizing hands. The cream uses glycerin and paraffin (along with additional ingredients) to create a protective layer on the skin’s surface to lock in moisture and keep hands hydrated, according to the brand.
Best unscented
Kiehl’s Ultimate Strength Hand Salve has botanical oils and natural wax derived from olive to soothe dry, cracked skin and form a protective barrier to prevent moisture loss, according to the brand. “I like that Kiehl’s is easy to spread, relatively unscented and leaves a feeling of lasting comfort and hydration,” says NBC Select reporter Harry Rabinowitz.
Best lightweight
This oil-free hand cream is formulated with ceramides (to repair the skin barrier) and vitamin E (an antioxidant that helps reduce signs of aging), according to the brand. However, its key ingredient is sclareolide, a clary sage derivative, that helps brighten the skin, reduces discoloration on your hands and protects them from environmental aggressors, according to EltaMD. Reviewers also say it doesn’t have a greasy feel and is lightweight.
Best overnight
After trying this medium-dense hand cream for a year (the brand sent a courtesy sample), Schneider keeps this on her bedside table and uses it as a nightly moisturizer. She specifically uses it at night because it has retinol, which can increase the chances of sun sensitivity, experts say.
Best fragrance
This hand cream, one of Malin’s favorites, is formulated with glycerin, provitamin B5, vitamin E and vitamin C to hydrate the skin and reduce flakes, according to the brand. The brand has three scented versions of this cream: Monaco, Provence (lavender and chamomile) and Havana (cardamom and wood). The brand also has a fragrance-free option (Fiji). This version has notes of mandarin, rose and patchouli.
Best for mature skin
While Schneider uses multiple hand creams in her collection, this one from Clarins is the one she says she can’t live without. For Schneider, this cream has the perfect consistency: it’s not overly thick or oily, she says. It helps target uneven skin tone, softens hands and reduces fine lines and age spots, according to the brand.
Best for sensitive skin
Not only does this hand cream combat dry skin, but reviewers say it also helps soothe eczema, heals minor cuts and improves rough patches. The cream has niacinamide, shea butter, glycerin and the brand’s proprietary thermal spring water, all of which help soothe and moisturize the skin, according to La Roche-Posay.
Best hand mask
Swanson also recommends Tenoverten’s hand products including The Heroine, The Cocoon and The Sleep Mask. This overnight treatment uses squalane, plant-based extracts and a mushroom-derived gel to moisturize, smooth the skin and increase its elasticity, according to the brand. Unlike other options on our list this cream comes with an application brush so you can gently apply the cream on your hand.
Best for dermatitis
Made with natural goat milk, which hydrates the skin, this hand cream is a favorite of former NBC Page Hannah Fuetchman. Reviewers say the cream is smooth and fast-absorbing. It also helps soothe dermatitis flare-ups, rough patches and areas that feel “raw,” reviewers say.
Best soothing
This rich cream can soothe and hydrate dry skin for up to 24 hours, according to the brand. Its formula includes glycerin, petrolatum and colloidal oatmeal, which helps create a protective barrier around the skin and it is free of common irritants, including fragrances and dyes, according to Aveeno.
Best budget
If you have dry, rough hands, consider this aloe hand cream from Gold Bond. Reviewers say this creamy moisturizer only requires a small amount to fully soothe and soften rough, dry hands. Some reviewers who frequently wash and sanitize their hands even say they don’t have to reapply this cream as often as other options on the market because it leaves their skin feeling hydrated all day long.
Best SPF hand cream
This SPF moisturizer hydrates, nourishes and protects your hands from potential sun damage, which prevents sunspots, experts say. Reviewers say they can take this sunscreen and hand cream hybrid on the go, whether on a sunny day or right before getting their manicures done.
Best splurge
This hand cream is fast-absorbing and is formulated to restore dryness caused by environmental stressors and frequent hand-washing, according to the brand. The formula’s seaweed and botanical extracts hydrate hands while niacinamide helps to support a strong skin barrier. The cream is paraben and mineral oil free, and is available in five scents.
Best balms for hands
Best balm
Mustela is a favorite brand of NBC Select senior editor Nikki Brown, who loves this versatile balm. “You can technically use this balm all over, but I keep it at my desk for my hands since I’m a frequent hand-washer,” she says. “The consistency is on the thinner side, but it absorbs fast (essential when you’re constantly typing) and leaves a nice sheen on my skin.” The balm has ingredients like aloe vera and glycerin to nourish, protect and repair the skin. It’s made for people of all ages, including newborns, according to the brand.
Best luxury balm
Aesop’s hand balm uses emollients to soften the skin and hydrate your hands, along with botanical fragrances that leave behind a light, pleasant scent, according to the brand. It includes coconut oil, sweet almond oil, and mandarin orange, and has a lightweight texture that won’t leave your hands greasy afterwards.
Best travel balm
Malin says many creams she’s tried transfer on her computer when typing. However, she doesn’t have that issue when using this balm. “I can exclusively apply the balm, which is similar to a sunscreen stick, to the back of my hands to target specific dry areas,” she says. The balm has a buttery feel and minty scent, according to Malin. You can apply it to any area on your body that needs moisture, including your heels, elbows and face, according to the brand.
Best ointments for hands
Best ointment
This ointment is formulated with petroleum to heal skin, as well as moisturizing panthenol and glycerin, according to the brand. “I use this more as a spot treatment for my hands so that it can fix any cracks and roughness I notice, especially during the winter,” says Alvarez. “The best part is that it comes in so many sizes, so you can keep one in your work bag or keep an entire jar at home so that hands are never going untreated.”
Best budget ointment
Cerave’s non-greasy ointment has petroleum, hyaluronic acid and ceramides to hydrate and restore the skin’s barrier, according to the brand. Reviewers say this ointment soothes irritation and reduces dry, itchy, flaking skin on their hands, as well as the rest of their body and their face.
FL: https://www.nbcnews.com/select/shopping/best-body-serums-rcna168677
How to shop for hand creams
Consistency
When shopping for hand creams, the consistency and formulation you choose usually depend on your personal preference. However, how dry your hands are may lead you to choose one over another.
For day-to-day hand care, you’ll want something with a lightweight consistency, like a hand lotion or cream. To repair severe dryness and cracks, you’ll want to choose a thicker formula and lean toward an ointment, our experts say.
Ingredients
Moisturizers will have a blend of ingredients, including humectants (a type of ingredient that attracts moisture), emollients (typically thicker than humectants and soothe the skin while preventing moisture loss) and occlusives (ingredients that prevent water loss and block out irritants.)
Some of the most common ingredients you will find in hand creams include:
- Humectants: Glycerin and hyaluronic acid
- Emollients: Shea butter, ceramides and colloidal oatmeal
- Occlusives: Petrolatum, wax and oils
Frequently asked questions
What causes dry hands?
Not only is dry, irritated skin uncomfortable, but it can also make us more prone to skin infections. “Our skin is our natural barrier,” says Huang. “We use our hands with the world around us, and when that barrier is compromised, this can lead to breaks in the skin, fissures and open cuts and sores.”
People are especially prone to dry hands in the winter because colder air is “less able to hold on to moisture,” says Huang. “Our hands are particularly susceptible because they’re exposed to the cold air more than most other parts of our body.” And as the weather gets colder, we turn up the heat in our homes, which Huang says reduces humidity indoors. Paired with exposing our hands to frigid temperatures outdoors, this causes our skin to dry out.
Dry hands used to be more of a concern for people who work in healthcare and food service industries because they have to wash and sanitize their hands more often compared to the general population, says Huang. Constantly washing your hands with soap and water paired with the high alcohol content in hand sanitizer can all contribute to dry hands and cracked, flakey skin, says Huang.
What are some tips for preventing dry hands?
Below, we list a few expert-recommended tips to treat and prevent dry hands:
- Let creams, lotions and ointments do their job: A common mistake many people make is washing their hands right after they apply cream, ointments and lotions — this doesn’t give lotions and ointments time to absorb into the skin, says Huang. He suggests applying products overnight and covering your hands with cotton gloves, which allow for “uninterrupted contact with the moisturizer on the skin.”
- Don’t wash your hands with dish soap: “Dish soap is a no no — it’s way too harsh on the hands,” says Huang. With that being said, buy hand soap specifically designed for your hands and choose options that are free from fragrance, perfumes, alcohol, parabens and formaldehyde, he says. A mild hand soap is best, and Huang recommends washing your hands with warm (not hot) water. Buy hand soap made specifically for sensitive skin if dryness is a concern, says Ungar.
- Wear gloves while doing dishes and when it’s cold outside: Gloves create a barrier between your skin and external elements that may irritate it over time like water, soaps and frigid air.
What should I avoid when treating dry hands?
Avoid fragranced products because they can further irritate dry hands and sometimes trigger dermatitis, says Ungar. And while he emphasizes the importance of hand hygiene, Ungar says there’s a difference between regular cleaning and overwashing, which should be avoided because it’ll likely dry out your hands more quickly. While experts agree that dry hands can mostly be treated at home using products like those mentioned above, it’s important to see a dermatologist if you’re experiencing excessive pain and irritation, says Ungar.
Meet our experts
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
- Dr. Benjamin Ungar is an assistant professor at Mount Sinai’s Icahn School of Medicine.
- Dr. William Huang is a board-certified dermatologist and adjunct professor at Duke University’s Department of Dermatology.
Why trust NBC Select?
Zoe Malin is a reporter at NBC Select, specializing in topics like home and kitchen, wellness and fitness, pets and household basics from toothpaste to olive oil.
Bianca Alvarez is a former associate reporter who covered skin care and hair care, including stories on the best body serums and the best heat protectants. For this story, she researched highly rated hand creams on the market as well as collected NBC Select-staff favorites.
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