While all hand creams are formulated to hydrate and moisturize, not all hands are made the same. That being the case, there are countless options out there for specific needs, which can make it difficult to figure out which moisturizer is the best for you.
If your hands are cracked because you work in the elements every day, you’ll need something different from the man who deals with overly-sweaty hands, or the guy with normal skin who’s mostly looking for an everyday moisturizer.
So to make your life easier, we’ve rounded up the best hand creams for men, and they’re all available on Amazon right now.
Whether you work outdoors all day, you have chronic dry skin, or you sweat a lot and are looking for a solution… we’ve got a hand cream you’ll (probably) love and use all the time.
The Best Hand Creams For Every Skin Type
Here’s our categorized guide with several top-rated options.
Best Overall: Jack Black Industrial Strength Hand Healer
This Jack Black Industrial Strength Hand Healer offers intense moisturizing. Plus, it has reparative qualities, without the oily and greasy feel.
Jack Black Industrial Strength Hand Healer is designed for dry, cracked, and chapped hands. The rich, non-greasy PureScience formula helps diminish tough, calloused skin and heal unsightly cuticles, providing lasting relief.
One of the key ingredients is macadamia nut oil. This oil not only softens and hydrates, but regenerates skin cells and is naturally anti-inflammatory. This cream was created specifically for manual workers, formulated to heal minor calluses.
Also, it can be used on your hands or feet. Although it’s on the pricey side, it’s a thick formula, so a little goes a long way.
Best for Dry, Working Hands: Kiehl’s Ultimate Strength Hand Salve
This Kiehl’s salve is ideal for anyone who spends their days working with their hands, handling heavy machinery, or for if you have calluses. It hydrates your hands, but also creates a protective barrier composed of botanical oils and natural wax.
This salve protects against and repairs the appearance of severe dryness caused by heavy industrial work, manual labor, neglect, or exposure to harsh elements. A fan favorite, this salve contains a blend of botanical oils and natural wax derived from olive oil to soothe, moisturize, and condition skin.
This cream also boasts an olive oil derivative that aids in soothing and healing already cracked hands.
Several reviewers are impressed with how non-greasy Kiehl’s Hand Salve is, despite its penetrating hydration.
Though unrelated to the product itself, some reviewers mention that the top portion can easily crack during shipping, which means you’d have to keep it upright to prevent leakage.
If that happens, I recommend transferring the cream to another container to retain freshness.
Worthy Alternative: O’Keeffe’s Working Hands Hand Cream
O’Keeffe’s Working Hands Hand Cream is a concentrated hand cream that heals, relieves and repairs extremely dry, cracked hands. Apply after hand washing, bathing, and before bed. You'll notice a change within days!
O’Keeffe’s has been around for over 20 years. This product is specially made for extremely dry and cracked hands and definitely worth a try if nothing’s ever worked to heal your cracked skin.
Affordable Pick: Eucerin Advanced Repair Hand Cream
Eucerin offers an impressive bang-for-buck hand cream thanks to an ingredient called Ceramide-3, which locks moisture into your hands, fights irritation, and creates a blockade around your skin that prevents permeability.
Eucerin's Advanced Repair Hand Cream’s formula helps repair dry skin and provides the moisture that hands and fingers crave. Formulated with ceramide-3, natural moisturizing factors and nourishing shea butter, your hands will feel softer after just one use.
This cream is also quick-drying, which means it’ll absorb into your hands and hydrate immediately, without excess slipperiness.
Reviewers praise the formula for not being overly thick and for avoiding parabens, dyes, and fragrances, which are common in budget moisturizers. This makes Eucerin a great choice for sensitive skin too.
Best For Washing Hands Frequently: AHAVA Dead Sea Mineral Hand Cream
This AHAVA Dead Sea Cream is an excellent choice if you wash or sanitize your hands frequently.
Its hypoallergenic vegan formula restores the natural oils that are stripped from constant handwashing, while the Dead Sea minerals aid in removing dead skin and restoring suppleness.
A moisturizing hand cream that absorbs instantly to heal rough, dry cracked skin without the greasy residue. AHAVA Men's Mineral Hand Cream instantly improves skin's moisture level, smooths rough, dry skin and restores suppleness.
Its Dead Sea water base ensures the hydration gets into the nooks and crannies of your nails and cuticles too, with literally one application.
This hand cream gets a lot of love from reviewers because of its no-residue hydration, though some people don’t love that it’s noticeably scented. If you’re sensitive to perfumes, you might want to try the more mild and earthy Body Shop Hemp cream.
Best For The Guy With Sweaty Hands: Carpe Antiperspirant Hand Lotion
There’s a condition called hyperhidrosis which causes someone to sweat excessively. Their sweat glands are overactive and produce moisture even when not feeling hot or exerting effort through exercise.
Carpe was designed to help manage hyperhidrosis. So what does that mean for you, even if you don’t have the same condition? Well if you deal with sweaty hands more often than you’d prefer, Carpe should be very effective in helping you.
"The #1 dermatologist-recommended OTC antiperspirant treatment for sweaty hands. Our clinically proven antiperspirant hand lotion was specifically designed to stop sweaty, clammy hands, and help manage the symptoms of palmar hyperhidrosis, or excessive hand sweat. Achieve zero sweat, restore confidence, and enjoy life with dry hands!" –Carpe
You only need a pea-sized amount of Carpe to say goodbye to clammy hands, all without irritation and greasiness. (They also carry specialized antiperspirant moisturizers for all areas of your body.)
And if this sounds like some witchcraft sorcery, just know it’s been developed with and recommended by dermatologists as a dependable over-the-counter antiperspirant treatment.
Best Long Lasting Hand Cream: The Body Shop Hemp Hand Protector
The Body Shop’s Hemp Hand Protector is dermatologically tested for dry skin, and its community trade hemp seed oil ensures resilient all-day moisture.
This hand cream is dermatologically tested for very dry skin and contains community trade hemp seed oil. Perfect for dry skin, this cream helps restore moisture and suppleness.
This hand cream’s glycerin works wonders for softening and protecting the hands, and its mild but effective formula is suitable for people with delicate skin as well.
Reviewers also love the super-subtle scent, associating its earthiness with meditative stress relief.
Best Luxury Hand Cream: L’Occitane Nourishing & Intensive Hand Balm
This rich hand cream is made with 25% shea butter and allantoin to deeply nourish the hands, palms, and cuticles. Together, these ingredients can help heal dry, cracked hands, leaving the skin feeling soft and replenished.
An ultra-rich version of L’Occitane's iconic Shea Hand Cream, featuring 25% shea butter. This hand cream is specially adapted for very dry skin.
The texture is luxurious and only requires a small amount for effective moisturizing, perfect for really cold weather. While some reviewers report that the formula is greasy, many others claim these reviewers are simply using too much.
What’s more, this cream has a pleasant aroma, and it’s portably packaged.
Worth a Try: Bravo Sierra Hand Repair Cream
One of the first things you’ll notice about this hand cream is the sleek, minimalist design of the bottle, which is a reflection of the clean ingredients inside. These include aloe vera, blue algae, and ginseng to hydrate and protect the skin.
This hand cream uses dimethicone to create an invisible barrier to protect skin and allow for intensive repair. Featuring a blend of aloe vera, blue algae, and ginseng, this hand cream provides long-lasting hydration.
It can fit into the palm of your hand and is easy to slip into your pocket, bag, or your car’s glove box, so you can have it on hand whenever you need it. Those who work with their hands outdoors swear by this cream.
It’s quick to absorb, non-greasy, and cruelty-free, too.
FAQs About Hand Creams
Here are some frequently asked questions about hand creams.
How often should I use hand cream?
Hand cream can be used pretty liberally, unless otherwise instructed (some creams are thicker, and you only need a small amount).
Apply it whenever your hand feels dry, immediately after washing your hands, before going outside into colder weather, and right before going to bed. These are the times when your skin needs rehydration and is most absorbent.
What is the best hand cream for work?
We recommend O’Keeffe’s Working Hands and Jack Black Industrial Strength Hand Healer.
For best results, wash and dry your hands before applying a pea-sized quantity of cream to your hands. Make sure to apply the cream to the tips of the fingers, since this region is particularly susceptible to dryness and cracking.
Is there a hand cream that works inside a pair of gloves?
Yes. O’Keeffe’s hand working cream is effective even when applied before wearing gloves.
In fact, the gloves can assist protecting your skin from the elements, thus increasing the amount of cream that is absorbed into your skin. This will result in your hands feeling softer and smoother over the long term.
The best Hand Cream For Men Is…?
Well, as with all things, that depends 🙂
From a personal perspective, my favorites are the hand cream from AHAVA for everyday use, as well as the moisturizer from L’Occitane. I apply those two the most.
A moisturizing hand cream that absorbs instantly to heal rough, dry cracked skin without the greasy residue. AHAVA Men's Mineral Hand Cream instantly improves skin's moisture level, smooths rough, dry skin and restores suppleness.
An ultra-rich version of L’Occitane's iconic Shea Hand Cream, featuring 25% shea butter. This hand cream is specially adapted for very dry skin.
I don’t have particularly dry or moist skin, so I don’t need specialty moisturizers like O’Keeffe’s. If you do, definitely look into that product. I’ve tried a similar hand salve like O’Keeffe’s. That’s the way to go if your hands are really beat up.
In the winter, I use the Kiehl’s Salve once in a while if I’m particularly dry. It’s also great when I’m visiting family in Las Vegas. The desert heat and dry air really does a number on your skin!
In general, hand cream is essential, especially if you want to avoid having dry, aging hands.
Hopefully, this guide has helped you to discover the best hand cream for you! If you have any questions about skincare or hand creams, feel free to DM me on Instagram anytime!
