The Best Hand Creams for Every Season

The Best Hand Creams for Every Season
Photo by Ron Lach | Edit by Yegide Matthews

Our hands can be some of the most neglected parts of our bodies. We think about lotion on our body and sunscreen on our face to protect them from harmful UV rays. However, our hands are susceptible to increased damage from daily activities like washing dishes, shampooing our hair, and general use. Finding the best hand cream for you can be quite a difficult task. It can feel like an uphill battle, with creams that can be too oily, too heavy, or not the right scent.

Additionally, one of the most critical aspects of finding and applying your hand cream is ensuring it matches the current season. Seasons play such an important role because, in the summer, having a hand cream with sun protection will add to its overall value, while ultra rich hand creams with more woody, earthy, and warm scents are best for fall and winter.

Spring Delights

Spring hand creams can be tricky. The conflicting weather and rapid temperature spikes can quickly turn soft hands into itchy and cracked hands. Hand creams for this season need to strike a balance between hydration and protection against unpredictable weather changes.

Look for creams that are light but rich in ingredients like shea butter and collagen, as these can help your skin adapt to the fluctuating temperatures and maintain its softness.

Sephora Collection: Hand Balm with Shea Butter

Sephora Collection: Hand Balm with Shea Butter

Chanel: Chance Perfumed Hand Creams

Chanel: Chance Perfumed Hand Creams

Olehenriksen: Stay In Touch Restorative Hand Crème

Olehenriksen: Stay In Touch Restorative Hand Crème

Necessaire: The Hand Retinol

Necessaire: The Hand Retinol

Summer Essentials

Summer hand creams must include sun protectants. We can moisturize as much as we want, but if we are not protecting our skin from harmful rays, the concept of hand cream is essentially moot.

Opt for hand creams with SPF to shield your skin from UV damage. Lightweight, fast-absorbing formulas are ideal for the heat and humidity of summer. Remember to reapply sunscreen-infused hand cream after washing your hands or swimming to maintain protection.

Supergoop: Handscreen SPF 40

Supergoop: Handscreen SPF 40

Salt & Stone: Bergamot & Hinoki Hand Cream

Salt & Stone: Bergamot & Hinoki Hand Cream

Ouai: Hand Crème

Ouai: Hand Crème

Alo: Restorative Hand Cream

Alo: Restorative Hand Cream

Fall Favorites

For fall, our team recommends a medium-thick hand cream that locks in moisture and has slightly warmer scents for the seasonal smells everyone will love—including yourself.

Hand creams that provide long-lasting hydration are essential for combating the onset of dry skin as the air becomes cooler. For an added boost, try exfoliating your hands once a week to remove dead skin cells, allowing your hand cream to penetrate more effectively.

Youth To The People: Superfood Hand + Body Lotion With Plant Butters

Youth To The People: Superfood Hand + Body Lotion With Plant Butters

Algenist: GENIUS Liquid Collagen® Hand Cream

Algenist: GENIUS Liquid Collagen® Hand Cream

Kora Organics: Nourishing Hand & Body Lotion

Kora Organics: Nourishing Hand & Body Lotion

54 Thrones: African Beauty Butter- Intensive Dry Skin Treatment

54 Thrones: African Beauty Butter- Intensive Dry Skin Treatment

Winter Wonders

During the harsh winter months, opt for hand creams with intensive moisturizing ingredients such as shea butter, cocoa butter, or ceramides. These ingredients create a protective barrier on your skin, locking in moisture and shielding your hands from the cold.

Consider unscented or mildly scented creams if your skin becomes sensitive during winter. Applying hand cream before bed and wearing cotton gloves can enhance absorption and keep your hands soft and smooth overnight.

Rare Beauty, By Selena Gomez: Find Comfort Hydrating Cream

Rare Beauty, By Selena Gomez: Find Comfort Hydrating Cream

L’Occitane en Provence: Shea Butter Hand Cream

L’Occitane en Provence: Shea Butter Hand Cream

Sol de Janeiro: Brazillian Touch Hand Cream

Sol de Janeiro: Brazillian Touch Hand Cream

Fresh: Milk Intensive Hand Cream

Fresh: Milk Intensive Hand Cream

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