*We’re committed to transparency. Products marked with an asterisk were given to us to try by the brand. As always, all thoughts expressed on Rouge18 are our honest opinions.
This winter has been brutal! A cold winter combined with constant handwashing in this pandemic is a recipe for dry, cracked hands.
Luckily, I’m something of a hand cream connoisseur. I’ve spent the past few months testing a whole range of hand creams and here are my absolute favorites, organized from lightest to richest.
1. Vaseline Intensive Care Cocoa Radiant Body Butter ($6.47)
I am never without this body butter! I have been using it as a hand cream for over 3 years now, and it’s a mainstay in my hand cream collection. It manages to be the lightest cream on this list while still delivering lasting hydration. Hands feel comfortable after use; no sticky residue!
2. La Roche Posay Cicaplast Mains* ($9.99)
Not only does this shea butter hand cream provide 48-hour hydration, but it is resistant to hand washing! What more could one ask for in a pandemic? Further, this cream absorbs into the skin quickly.
3. La Roche-Posay Lipikar Balm AP + Body Cream* ($19.99)
This cream is a technically a body cream, but I love to use it as a hand cream as well. It is formulated with shea butter and glycerin to treat extra dry skin. Plus, it’s great for people with sensitive skin.
4. Seed Phytonutrients Hand Salve* ($18)
With a formula rich in natural seed oils, this salve is of moderate thickness. It delivers great hydration without being greasy or too thick.
5. Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream* ($28)
This cream restores, hydrates, and protects skin. It is perfect for everyday use and is great for skin in need of some extra healing. This cream is on the thicker side, so I prefer layering it on top of a lighter cream.
6. Lano Golden Dry Skin Salve* ($17.95)
Last, but certainly not least: the richest product on the list. When you need intense, heavy duty moisture, this is your best friend. I like to use a little bit of this salve as a final step after applying a lighter cream to really lock in the moisture. A life saver, a little of this salve goes a long way.
Pro tip: Layering Hand Creams
When I want maximum moisturization, the key is to layer hand creams. Here are some of my favorite hand cream layering cocktails:
1. For an extra kick: Vaseline Intensive Care Cocoa Radiant Body Butter then La Roche Posay Cicaplast Mains
2. For moderate moisture: (a) La Roche-Posay Lipikar Balm AP + Body Cream or Seed Phytonutrients Hand Salve then (b) Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream
3. Heavy duty / Nighttime routine: (a) Jojoba oil, then (b) either Vaseline Intensive Care Cocoa Radiant Body Butter or La Roche-Posay Lipikar Balm AP + Body Cream, followed by (c) Lano Golden Dry Skin Salve.
