No-One Likes Dry Hands, So Get Yourself A Cream That Works (2025)

We might have eased up on the alcohol-laced sanitiser these days, but over-zealous hand-washing is a hangover from the dark days that lingers on. (Just imagine: the was once a time you'd jump off the bus and wrap your fingers straight around a Pret croissant. Imagine it.)

Our new-found affinity for cleanliness probably means your hands don't feel too great right now. Those cracked cuticles are screaming at you, aren’t they? And sure, you can grab any old hand cream but – plot twist – a lot of them don’t actually work when it comes to repairing your skin, doing little more than leaving a slimy film on your keyboard.

The solution? Eschew the scented salves and flowery formulas lining the shelves, and pick up one of these expertly formulated iterations instead. The best hand creams out there might not all have heaps of shelf appeal, but they’ll sort out dryness and brittle nails in an instant.

The Best Hand Creams To Buy Now

Plenty of brands hide behind dubious 'doctor' branding, but there's actually a real-life – and industry-leading – expert behind this one. Dr. Sam Bunting is one of London's most-trusted dermatologists, and her no-nonsense product line is one to try. This reparative hand cream was designed to sink in faster than most, meaning you're more inclined to actually use it.

More of a balm than a cream, this Parisian favourite sinks into skin in mere seconds, delivering a nourishing dose of vitamins alongside moisture-magnet glycerin. Made with natural essential oils, it smells pretty great too. Try the brand's equally impressive moisturiser while you're there.

A French pharmacy staple, this one is formulated for chronically dry hands – but that doesn’t mean it’ll leave greasy fingerprints all over that computer keyboard you’ve just marinated in anti-bac. Incredibly gentle, it’s the best choice for eczema sufferers.

Aesop is always a strong gifting move, but you'll want to bag one of these deeply soothing hand creams for yourself, too. It's rich in calming, protective sweet almond oil, and has a balm-like texture that never feels greasy – no matter how often you slather it on. And of course this being Aesop, it smells incredible.

The anti-bacterial claims on this one are likely not backed up by the NHS, but you're using it to moisturise, not sanitise. More importantly, its hand-softening powers are excellent, and the cedarwood scent is rather nice, too.

For three travel-sized tubes – one for your bedside, car and desk –this is an absolute steal. Not to mention the fact that it’s easily one of the best hand creams we’ve tried: instantly rich and soothing (thanks to the shea and glycerin) with no lingering smell or claggy residue.

Margate's favourite grooming brand has had a major rebrand of late, and it now boasts even heftier eco credentials than before. Haeckels' balmy hand salve comes packaged in completely biodegradable packaging, and is loaded with aloe vera to soothe those cracked, sore cuticles. In a world loaded with greenwashing and false promises, this planet-friendly option is a trustworthy choice.

This is the posh one that does more than look good. Unlike many heavily scented yet ultimately useless luxury buys, Malin + Goetz's hand cream is thoughtfully formulated with vitamin B5 – the ultimate skin-saver – alongside good old shea butter for intensive hydration that lasts for hours. A rapid absorber, it’s perfect for anyone who can’t bear lingering residue.

It's the hefty dose of shea butter that makes this one such a rich skin-repairer. With an invigorating mint and floral scent, it's a pleasure to use too.

You might (and should) recoil at the thought of a two-in-one shampoo and conditioner, but this use-it-everywhere balm is an exception to the multi-use rule. It's a bit of a rogue choice, as there's an actual hand cream in the collection, but we reckon this extra-thick oil-based salve does a better job at saving critically knackered cuticles.

File this one under: boring but brilliant. It's unscented and lacking any kind of luxury appeal, but works astonishingly well at repairing extreme dryness. There's a reason dermatologists love it.

A considered gift, Claus Porto's posh hand cream smells bracing and citrussy, and works well on skin that has reached crisis point.