Nails

11 Of The Best Hand Creams To Soothe Dry, Over-Scrubbed Skin

8 December 2021

Thanks to coronavirus, we are all ultra-diligent about washing our hands, which can have the unfortunate side-effect of leaving them dry and in dire need of some TLC. The remedy? Liberal use of the best hand creams, which promise to deliver a much-needed hydration hit, help skin to stay robust and healthy, and repair skin where necessary. Washing our hands strips them of their natural oils, so it is essential to keep them soft and supple with a formula that delivers everything the skin needs.

The best hand creams harness the power of clever skincare ingredients to rebuild a damaged skin barrier, soften flaky skin and inject hydration back into the area. Using a good quality hand cream regularly sounds like a faff, but consistent use will actually transform the look and feel of your hands, while improving the health of your cuticles, and even making your manicure last longer. Increasingly, they’re a rather chic addition to a handbag, too, so you’ll be happy to whip out a tube when in company.

Below, the best hand creams as chosen by the British Vogue team, to keep your hands soft and healthy.

1/11
Best For Cracked Hands: Nursem Caring Hand Fix
The people who really do know the effects of relentless hand washing? The nursing community. Nursem was created by a paediatric nurse and her husband specifically for hardworking hands, meaning it really does do the job. Plus, every time a pot is purchased, they give a month’s supply free to a nurse or midwife – beauty that truly gives back.
Nursem Caring Hand Fix, £14.99; available at Boots.
2/11
Best For Repair: La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume Hands
Everyone’s favourite French pharmacy brand doesn’t disappoint on the hand cream front. This hand cream creates a friction-resistant barrier on hands, leaving them totally protected from the environment, while ingredients like niacinamide and glycerin work to restore skin health.
La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume Hands, £7.50; available at Look Fantastic.
3/11
Best For Dry Hands: Augustinus Bader The Hand Treatment
As the winter months set in, and the temperature drops, it’s important to keep your hands hydrated. And what better way to do that than with Augustinus Bader’s ultra-nourishing hand cream? Powered by white peony extract, vitamin E and honey, as well as the brand’s signature TFC8 complex, this miracle cream leaves your skin feeling calm, soothed and protected.
£40, available at Selfridges.
4/11
Best Scented Hand Cream: Byredo Suede Hand Cream
Expect a gentle scent after applying this – it smells like pear, bergamot, plum and musk, and it will leave your nose as happy as your hands.
Byredo Suede Hand Cream, £44; available at Space NK.

5/11
Best Intensive Treatment: Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Intensive Moisturising Hand Treatment
Leave it to Elizabeth Arden to create the ultimate super nourishing treatment for your hands. Packed with soothing emollients, it works to smooth and soften dry, crackered and weathered skin for up to eight hours.
£27, available at LookFantastic.
6/11
Best For Wrinkles: Sisley Paris Sisleÿa L’Intégral Anti-Âge Hand Care Anti-Aging Concentrate
It may come with a hefty price tag, but Sisley’s new hand cream really does offer a 360 degree approach to looking after hands. With buckwheat seed and lindera extracts, plus soy protein and vitamin E, it helps to soften fine lines and dark spots while plumping hands. It also provides SPF30 protection.
Sisley Paris Sisleÿa L’Intégral Anti-Âge Hand Care Anti-Aging Concentrate, £109; available at Space NK.
7/11
Best For Hydration: Ameliorate Intensive Hand Treatment
This is the best hand cream for those whose skin has become extra rough and uneven; not only does it work to get rid of dryness, it gently exfoliates hard skin to leave hands feeling soft, supple and moisturised.
Ameliorate Intensive Hand Treatment, £16; available at Feelunique.com.
8/11
Best For Anti-Ageing: Dr Barbara Sturm Anti-Aging Hand Cream
The best for anti-ageing, Barbara Sturm's super hydrating hand treatment uses a blend of mangosteen, quince and hyaluronic acid to plump skin and improve elasticity, while added daisy extract helps to reduce the appearance of dark spots for a more even skin tone.
£50, available at SpaceNK.