It's winter and you know what that means: Time to break out the big guns, hand cream-wise. If you're anything like us, you've been dealing with chapped hands all season long (hands that have, by no fault of your own, started to bear an ever-increasing resemblance to crocodile hide).
The time for pretty-yet-ineffective hand creams is past; now is the time for the thickest, creamiest, most protective formulas in all the land. We're talking rich balms consisting largely of lanolin and shea butter-packed creams — basically anything that's really going to seal in moisture and leave your hands feeling silky smooth.
Ready to rescue your hands? Keep reading for our top hand creams, essential for surviving the winter.
Lanolin is not necessarily for everyone, but if you don't happen to have a sensitivity to it, it's a gamechanger. Lanolin is basically an wax coating that helps keep sheeps' wool water-resistant and safe from the elements — and it works much the same way for your hands. It creates an all-natural barrier for your hands to keep them as cozy and comfy as, well, a wooly sheep. It also helps that Lano's line up of creams smell absolutely amazing (especially this yummy coconut version).
This derm-approved hand cream is quite the workhorse: Thanks to proven emollients like petrolatum and coconut oil, as well as soothing botanicals like aloe and calendula, it really is perfect for "fixing" your dry hands.
Though it has a lighter texture than some of the others on this list, this hand cream is still majorly hydrating. It boasts a decadently silky feel that rehabs even the driest of hands in a snap of your fingers.
This may be formulated specially for diabetics — but don't let that stop you from using it. It's extra gentle and extra hydrating and it's even fragrance-free, which makes it a great pick for sensitive skin. Plus, the balmy texture locks in moisture like no other; even lasting through multiple hand-washings.
