12 Best Hand Creams We Tested for Soft, Smooth Hands in 2026
Written by admin on January 22, 2026
Part of its best-selling Cicaplast range, La Roche-Posay’s Hands Barrier Repairing Cream instantly relieves excessively dry, cracked hands. It wraps around like a glove to lock in hydration, making it particularly useful during winter. With niacinamide, glycerin, and thermal spring water, it helps restore the skin barrier and protect against daily stressors. It’s also proven to reduce discoloration over the long term.
Testing notes from Glamour’s Calle
This lightweight hand cream is great for people who want hydration without stickiness. My boyfriend’s hands crack every fall and winter because he spends a lot of time outdoors—even to the point that they bleed. This year, I made sure he carries this hand cream with him. It’s great for guys that prefer an unscented and nongreasy option,” says Glamour’s Calle.
- Best for: Excessively dry, cracked skin
- Key ingredients: Niacinamide, glycerin, La Roche-Posay thermal spring water
- Fragrance-free? Yes
- Size: 1.6 oz.
Best for Aging Skin: True Botanicals Chebula The Hand Cream
True Botanicals Chebula The Hand Cream
Original video from Taryn Brooke testing True Botanicals Chebula The Hand Cream
- Pros: Deeply nourishing; antioxidant-rich
- Cons: Pricey; not fragrance-free
As you age, you’re more prone to dry skin, and your hands are no exception. True Botanicals Chebula hand cream is packed with antioxidants, most notably chebula, an ayurvedic fruit thathelps deeply hydrate and support collagen levels. That’s especially important, since your skin gets thin and loses laxity as you age. Added embilca, which contains high levels of vitamin C, helps protect against environmental stressors and skin damage.
“It’s difficult for me to find a hand cream that deeply hydrates my hands. I use a ton of antibacterial spray (shout-out to my all-time fave, Touchland), wash my hands often, and do a lot of typing, so my poor, aging hands get dry easily. This cream is so luscious and buttery; it absorbs quickly and leaves me feeling silky and subtly greasy (but not in a bad way). The smell is pleasant, and my hands stay smooth and hydrated until my next antibacterial application or hand wash,” says Glamour contributor Taryn Brooke.
- Best for: Those wanting to treat early signs of aging
- Key ingredients: Chebula, emblica, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid
- Fragrance-free? No
- Size: 1.7 oz.
Best Nongreasy: Rare Beauty Find Comfort Hydrating Hand Cream
Rare Beauty Find Comfort Hydrating Hand Cream
Original video from Denise Primbet testing Rare Beauty Find Comfort Hydrating Hand Cream
- Pros: Fast-absorbing;uplifting scent; buttery consistency
- Cons: May not be rich enough for extremely dry skin
If you’re someone who hates greasy, sticky formulas [raises hand], you’ll love this gentle option from Rare Beauty that our editors love. Having launched as part of Selena’s body care range, the Find Comfort hand cream is a clear standout thanks to its fast-absorbing formulation and compact packaging. It’s filled to the brim with skin-loving ingredients, including niacinamide, ashwagandha extract, and sodium hyaluronate, to keep your hands hydrated for up to 16 hours. Notes of sparkling lemon zest, jasmine, and cashmere wood instill instant spa-like calm.
Testing notes from Glamour contributor Primbet
“When it comes to hand creams, I always welcome compact and spill-proof packaging as well as a nongreasy feel, which is precisely what Rare Beauty delivers. Normally, I would need to wait at least 10 minutes for a hand cream to absorb so I can return to typing on my laptop and using my phone without leaving any oily marks. I’m glad to report that this definitely isn’t the case with the Find Comfort hand cream. As a bonus, it also has the most relaxing fragrance,” says Primbet.
- Best for: Quick absorption; lasting hydration
- Key ingredients: Niacinamide, ashwagandha extract, sodium hyaluronate
- Fragrance-free? No
- Size: 1.6 oz.
Best Fast-Absorbing: Phlur Hand Cream
Phlur Hand Cream
Original video from Alanna Martine Kilkeary testing Phlur Missing Person Hand Cream
- Pros: Nongreasy; fast-absorbing
- Cons: Not fragrance-free
