The Best Hand Care Products of 2024
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As far as skin care is concerned, the hands are one of the most neglected parts of the body — despite the fact that hands need skin care the most. They’re washed many times a day and often with generic antibacterial soaps with zero nourishing properties, which can lead to dryness. Instead, you can give your hands the care they deserve with the best hand care products of 2024.
Not only did we curate a helpful buying guide in this post, but we also reviewed several top products that cater to various skin needs. Whether you choose the Gloves In A Bottle shielding lotion, our top pick for its effective hypoallergenic formula, or one of the other top contenders on our list, you’ll be one step closer to softer and more nourished hands.
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Buying Guide: The Best Hand Care
Saying that you should take better care of your hands would be an understatement. Taking care of the skin on your hands is just as essential as taking care of the skin on your face. Some might even argue that hands need better care since they’re more exposed to dirt, grime, water, and generic antibacterial soaps. That's why we created this complete guide to selecting the right hand care products.
Benefits of Hand Care
These are the essential benefits you should look for when looking for the ideal hand care products. They are all equally important, and the cream, lotion, or mask you buy should offer all three of them.
Moisturization
Dryness from regular washing is one of the biggest threats to the skin on your hands, and it only gets worse with time. Using hand care products is the only effective way to counter this issue. In other words, look for products that moisturize your hands with each application.
Some of them require you to apply them after each wash, while others can protect your hands from dryness for an entire day without any issues. Both of these choices are equally viable, and you should choose one based on your own preference.
Just make sure that the moisturization abilities of the hand care product you buy do not cause issues like oiliness or leave behind an intense fragrance.
Healing
Even if the skin on your hands is perfectly fine right now, you should start using proper hand care products for future prevention. Many people discover hand care after their hands have been dry and cracked for some time. This is where the healing abilities of hand care products come into play.
The cream, lotion, or mask you buy should start healing the damage that’s already there. This includes moisturizing the skin and getting rid of cracking without leaving a single scar. Also, make sure that this healing ability is backed by natural ingredients with hypoallergenic properties.
Nourishment
A good hand care product will bring your hand back to how it was before the dryness or moisture level issues. A great product, on the other hand, will provide nourishment and make your hands feel smooth and soft. These nourishing benefits are mostly found in hand care options with ingredients like natural oils.
You might think that this is optional. But if you want to see your hands’ skin in the best shape possible, look for hand care options with nourishing abilities and components.
Types of Hand Care
There are three main types of hand care products on the market. None of them is definitively better than the other, and the choice between them comes down to your needs and preferences.
Hand wash
This is the most basic form of hand care and requires the least amount of effort. All you have to do is replace your general soap or hand wash with one that prevents dryness. These hand moisture-locking washes are partially effective in winter when the air is completely dry.
You can wash your hands as many times as you want with these without worrying about drying out your skin. That said, the effectiveness of these hand washes is fairly limited, and they won’t have many benefits for hands that are already dry.
Creams and lotion
Creams and lotions are a proper hand care option that should be an essential part of your skin care routine. The benefits of these creams vary from one option to the other, so you can choose the one that fits your situation.
Generally, these hand care lotions can improve moisture levels, heal dried and cracked skin, and provide further nourishment for soft and smooth hands. The only downside of using these is that some of them can make your hands a bit oily.
Hand masks
Hand care masks are the most advanced solution on this list, and it is exceptional in every way. For starters, it works without creating any mess or oiliness. Just wear the glove for 10 to 20 minutes and remove it when done. You don’t even have to wash your hands afterward.
As great as hand care masks are, they can be quite an expensive option. If you factor efficiency into the equation as well, these are still worth your consideration.
Check the Ingredients
It doesn’t matter if you’re buying a handwash, cream, or hand mask—always check the ingredients. Look at the individual components to ensure that you’re not allergic to any of them since skin-based allergies can be tough to deal with.
Also, choose a hand care product with natural ingredients over ones made entirely from synthetic chemicals. This increases the chances of that product being safe for sensitive skin and lowers the risk of unintended side effects.
The Best Hand Care Products of 2024
Gloves In A Bottle Hand Care
Pros
- Relieves eczema-related discomfort
- Made with a non-greasy formula
- Hypoallergenic and fragrance-free
Cons
- May require frequent reapplication
The Gloves in a Bottle hand shielding lotion is a breakthrough solution for those who want relief from discomfort caused by eczema. Designed with care and innovation, this lotion can help with itching, redness, and dryness. These are symptoms that often coincide with eczema. It works by creating an invisible but robust barrier on your skin's surface.
That way, the lotion can lock in moisture and shield your skin from irritants that can otherwise trigger eczema flare-ups. What sets this lotion apart is its unique and non-greasy formula. This lotion absorbs quickly, which is not always the case with other lotions for eczema. The result is skin that feels soft and comfortable. This hypoallergenic and fragrance-free lotion is formulated with sensitivity in mind, making it our top choice.
O’Keeffe’s Hand Care
Pros
- Starts showing results in few days
- Safe for all skin types
- Can be applied at any time
Cons
- Feels oily for the first few minutes
O’Keeffe’s Working Hands cream sets a high bar for the effectiveness of hand care products. The first major benefit of this cream is its repairing properties. If your hands already have dried out and cracked skin, applying this cream on a regular basis will start healing that skin until it is as smooth as it can be. You won’t have to wait long, as positive results start becoming noticeable within the first few days of use.
The next major benefit comes in the form of future protection. The cream will create a protective layer around your hands that will prevent them from drying out, even if you wash them a few times every day. It’s this high level of performance and extreme usability that makes this cream such a popular option.
Burt’s Bees Hand Care
Pros
- Makes your hands very smooth
- Provides ample moisturization
- Shows positive results in a few days
Cons
- Takes a while for proper application
Just getting rid of dryness is one thing, but the Burt’s Bees hand cream for dry skin goes a step further. This cream actually works deep in the skin to get at the source of the dryness. The active ingredients in this lotion, especially the natural fruit acid complex, work hard and fast. You will start seeing and feeling the smoothing effects within the first few days of use. That progress will continue until the skin on your hands is nearly flawless.
This lotion is also almost entirely natural, with tea extracts, baobab oil, watermelon seed oil, and pumpkin oil as active components. All of these provide skin care benefits of their own, put them together, and you have one of the most effective hand creams on the market. Even if you ignore this incredible performance, the grease-free and fragrance-free nature of this lotion make it worth your consideration.
Rituals Hand Care
Pros
- Provides a full range of hand care
- Natural and subtle scent of almond oil
- Safe for almost all skin types
Cons
- May be too greasy for some
If you’re serious about taking care of the skin on your hands, the Rituals Ayurveda hand care set is the ideal option for you. It has two major components. First is the hand wash that’s designed to prevent dryness and other negative effects from regular washes. It acts as a protective barrier around your hands and keeps them safe from any skin dangers. It’s also great against germs, so that base is covered as well.
The second component is the portion of the hand lotion that handles the healing side of things. It will fight against the dryness already present in your hands and moisturize them to the max. Using both of these in your daily routine will result in a quick recovery for your hands. It also comes with a hand wash refill, so you can keep using both formulas together for longer.
Aveeno Hand Care
Pros
- Quick and efficient usage
- Needs only 10 minutes per session
- Safe for those with sensitive skin
Cons
- Can make your hands a little sweaty
If you’re not a big fan of lotions and creams as they tend to get messy, the Aveeno repairing hand care mask will be right up your alley. All you have to do is wear these gloves for 10 minutes and then take them off—that’s all there is to it. There's no need to rinse afterward, and you can even use your phone while this mask is on. You will not find this level of efficiency and ease of use in any hand creams, no matter how high the quality may be.
As for performance, these hand care masks don’t disappoint on that front, either. They bring the natural moisture levels of your hands back to where they should be. They also include nourishing ingredients that leave your skin visibly soft, smooth, and healthy looking. These are also perfectly safe for people with sensitive skin, so you can use them without any worries.
Epielle Hand Care
Pros
- Great value for your money
- Provides ample moisturization
- Provides cooling therapy with water
Cons
- Not for people a with coconut oil allergy
These Epielle intensive repairing hand masks make high-end hand care accessible to everyone. For starters, the per glove price is noticeably lower than most of its competitors and is a major component of their amazing value. But, the real reason to buy these gloves is their performance, which is excellent on every front.
These hand care masks are great at the obvious stuff, like moisturization. Just wear them for about 20 minutes during each hand care session, and the dryness in your hands will be gone before you know it. Then there are the advanced benefits like nourishment that makes your hands smooth and soft to the touch. These gloves can also help repair cracks and other similar skin issues. One entirely unique feature is that you can drench your hands while wearing them for a relaxing, cooling effect.
People Also Ask
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Q: What is the right schedule for hand care sessions?
A:Ideally, you should clean your hands with a moisturizing hand wash and apply a hand care cream or lotion every day after work.
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Q: Are hand care products safe?
A:Yes, most hand care products are safe for everyone. That said, you should consult a doctor before using them if you have a skin disease or if you’re pregnant.
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Q: Do hand care products work on the rest of the body?
A:It's not recommended to use hand-specific products on the rest of your body, especially your face.
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We try various products, so we can recommend our favorites, and we also summarize feedback and data from other customers. Data, like product reviews and ratings, helps us recommend the best product choices for individual price points and needs.
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