We focus so much attention on our faces when it comes to ageing that we often forget where the most obvious signs of ageing show. If you thought it was your neck, you’re wrong – it’s actually your hands. They’re exposed to so much more environmental aggressors, like drying soaps and the elements, than other areas of our skin, that it’s no surprise that it shows. Since weathered, wrinkly hands are not the one, take this as your cue to add a hand cream to your daily beauty regime. And as it's winter, there's no better time to start using one.
Soft, hydrated hands are the HG, and whatever your concern, there’s hand cream formulations to counteract that. If your hands are extremely neglected, look for a hand cream for cracked hands. Otherwise, a hand cream for dry hands or a general moisturising hand cream will be perfect for you.
I personally keep a small hand cream in my handbag for on-the-go application (I love the strongly scented ones when out and about), and there’s plenty of brands who produce their best selling hand creams in handbag friendly mini sizes. At home, we keep a tube by various sinks to remind me to moisturise my hands after washing them too - plus, they look pretty in the bathroom.
The best hand creams contain moisturising ingredients, an SPF and are non-greasy. More complex hand creams include retinol (yep even for your hands), brightening ingredients like vitamin C and lactic acids to remove dead skin cells.
How I chose the best hand creams
Formula: I looked for hand creams that have a non-greasy, moisturising formula with a range of ingredients, including emollients, vitamin E, retinol and hyaluronic acid.
Price: Hand creams are brilliantly affordable, with many under £5. If you have more to spend, you'll find luxurious hand creams in this edit too from the likes of Jo Malone, L'Occitane and Molton Brown.
Recommendations: Many of the hand creams have been recommended by either HELLO! staffers, friends or I personally recommend.
The Body Shop's bestselling hand cream is one of those products that really lives up the hype. I've used it on and off over the years and always have it on hand for when my hands are really dry - it soothes, repairs and smells pleasant too.
This is the hand cream for when your hands are incredibly dry; it not only moisturisers, but it strengthens the skin's barrier to stop it cracking or drying.
L'Occitane's Shea Butter Hand Cream is beloved for its super nourishing formula, including shea butter, jasmine and ylang ylang. Along with plumping and moisturising the skin, users said they saw increased hydration in their hands, and one of its bonuses? The non-greasy formula.
This overnight, moisturising hand cream is an all-in-one sensation. It helps to brighten sun-spots, re-elasticise skin and formulated with encapsulated Retinol, biotech Pseudo-Collagen and Shea Butter.
For the sweetest smelling hands, Grown Alchemist's Restorative Hand Cream is up there with one of the most uplifting. Packed with a moisture-boosting blend of plant-based ingredients including Aloe and Camellia and Grapeseed Oil, this also helps to support the skin barrier and leaves hands velvety soft.
Fiery pink pepper, patchouli and ginger make this one of the best scented hand creams. Along with white truffle oil to moisturise, this is a silky hand cream that leaves hands soft and supple.
Whether your skin is dry, eczema-prone or you suffer from psoriasis, this dermatologist-approved hand cream has all the skin-loving ingredients to repair, protect and soothe.
Cowshed's Restore Hand Cream is designed for hardworking hands which need a little TLC.
The rich cream includes Sweet Orange and Peppermint essential oils to soften and soothe, along with their natural antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. Its blend of Shea and Cocoa Butters create a protective barrier for the skin and the bottle is pretty fabulous too.
Luxurious hand creams are one of life's little comforts and Jo Malone's is always one people adore. Enriched with the brand's bestselling scent, the formula itself is incredibly kind to hands, with shea butter to soothe, hyaluronic acid to moisturise and Vitamin E to nourish.
Exfoliates to reduce fine lines, uneven tone & texture
Non-greasy
Deep conditioning for nails
Specially designed to protect hands from dryness while reducing any signs of ageing, No7's Retinol Hand Cream is for those who want picture perfect hands. Working on the hand's pigmentation, it includes active ingredients to strengthen, tone and prevent skin from cracking.
The formula also strengthens nails and softens cuticles.
If its an overall decent hand cream you're needing, try Neutrogena's unscented hand cream. Providing 24hr moisture, it's a great one for chapped skin as it repairs while hydrating.
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