Are your hands feeling particularly dry from all that washing and sanitizing during the pandemic? Although it can feel like a chore to constantly moisturise your hands after each wash, it is necessary to keep them from peeling and cracking. In fact, cracked skin is more susceptible to bacterial infections since the protective barrier is now impaired. Additionally, severe dryness can also trigger itchy flareups of existing skin conditions like eczema and dermatitis. Hence, it is important to moisturise your hands with hand creams regularly to prevent them from drying out throughout the day.

Checkout Beauty Insider‘s pick for the best hand creams lotion that you can carry literally everywhere!

when-to-apply-hand-creams

When Is The Best Time To Apply Cream?

According to dermatologists, the best time to apply your hand cream is right after washing your hands or a bath when your skin is still damp. Generally, a rule of thumb is to apply a hand cream within 2 minutes after a wash to prevent transepidermal water loss. If you wait until your hands are dry to apply your hand cream, most of the moisture will be drawn out from your skin via evaporation and you would be left with dry skin. When your skin is dry, it is also more prone to itching and irritation. Scratching itchy and dry skin can also further compromise the skin barrier as well as microbiome. Moreover, most antibacterial soaps that we use contain harsh surfactants like sulfates that strip our skin of its natural moisture. Hence, it is important to moisturise between each wash to keep irritation and infections at bay.

Benefits Of Using Hand Creams Or Lotions

Long overdue dried skin often creates rough patches that can then either turn into calluses or promote hyperpigmentation. It is a natural body reaction to being dehydrated which shouldn’t be prolonged any longer. Hand creams can be useful at plumping the skin quickly to ease skin tightness and itchy calluses.

If you have never applied body lotion after a soothing bath then you’re in for an experience! Applying body lotion onto your skin can be a therapeutic process where your mind, body and soul is calm and focusing on the most important thing at the moment- you.

Read: 10 Best Body Lotions In Singapore To Quench Your Thirsty, Dehydrated Skin

The Best Hydrating Creams To Treat Your Dry Hands

Looking for a great everyday moisturiser for your hands? Here are some of our favourite hand creams at different price points to keep your hands soft and supple all day long! Though, don’t forget to moisturise the rest of your body too! Here are some of our favourite nourishing body lotions for soothing dry skin!

1. Fenty Skin Hydra’Reset Intensive Recovery Hand Mask

fenty skin

Hydra’Reset features a rich formula that is infused with powerful plant extracts and fruit oils. This allows you to wake up to nourished, revitalised, and super soft hands every morning. The texture of Hydra’Reset is smooth and cushiony as it covers your hands in a plush veil of overflowing hydration. This locks in moisture and leaves your hands with a soft and glossy sheen. 

Why we love it: 

  • Features clean and fresh scent inspired by tropical fruits and flowers
  • Contain 40% Glycerin 5% Panthenol
  • Hands feel smoother and glossier

Price: RM95.00

Available at Sephora

2. Rosken Repair Dry Skin Cream

rosken-repair-dry-skin-cream

First up, we have a hand cream that has been our favourite for years! Besides being ridiculously affordable, this iconic Skin Repair Dry Skin Cream by Australian skincare brand Rosken comes in various sizes and containers. Their 75ml tube version is particularly great for carrying around in your handbag and for reapplying on the go. In addition to glycerin, it also contain olive oil and occlusive ingredients to effectively lock moisture in place. Furthermore, it’s also fantastic for soothing inflammatory skin conditions like eczema and seborrheic dermatitis!

Why we love it:

  • Ultra moisturizing and pH balanced
  • Prevents transepidermal water loss
  • Soothes itching and irritation
  • Affordable and effective

Price: RM7.90.

Available at Guardian.

3. Vaseline Intensive Care Advanced Repair Hand Cream

vaseline-advanced-repair-hand-cream

Yet another affordable favourite, the Vaseline Advanced Repair Hand Cream is a newcomer in the Vaseline family. Since it contains antiseptic chloride as one of the key ingredients, it also doubles up as an antibacterial treatment to eliminate up to 99.99% of germs. To prevent your skin from drying out, it contains a potent combination of glycerin, Vitamin E and essential oils to draw moisture back into the skin.

Why we love it:

  • Non-greasy formula
  • 2-in-1 antibacterial and moisturizing properties
  • Fortifies the skin’s moisture barrier
  • Suitable for sensitive skin

Price: RM9.90.

Available at Watsons.

4. Palmers Coconut Oil Hand Cream

palmers-coconut-oil-hand-cream

We do love a product that contains coconut oil as its star ingredient and this one by Palmer’s is no exception. Alongside ethically-sourced coconut oil, this affordable hand cream by Palmer’s also contains soothing Vitamin E and Tahitian Monoï Oil to repair the skin’s moisture barrier and keep dryness in check. As a result, your skin feels soft and hydrated up to 24 hours!

Why we love it:

  • Free of parabens, phthalates, mineral oil, gluten and dyes
  • Locks in moisture up to 24 hours
  • Perfect as an overnight skin treatment
  • Affordable and effective

Price: RM13.10.

Available at Watsons.

5. Caudalie Hand And Nail Cream

Caudalie’s body care treats have this amazing ability to transport our senses to a faraway place. Without fail, their energizing scents and decadent textures remind us of magical spa retreats and luxurious getaways. Hence, it is only natural that we would include their nourishing Hand And Nail Crème into our list of favourites! On top of antioxidant-rich grape polyphenols and grapeseed oil, this hand cream also contains organic fair trade shea butter to repair and restore the skin’s moisture barrier.

Why we love it:

  • Absorbs quickly into the skin
  • Delicate and energizing fragrance
  • Antioxidants provide anti-ageing benefits

Price: RM69.

Available at Zalora.

6. Kiehl’s Ultimate Strength Hand Salve

kiehls-ultimate-strength-hand-salve

If you don’t know by now, we are major fans of Kiehl’s and their effective skincare and body care essentials. Aside from their iconic Ultra Facial Cream, we’re also head over heels in love with their Ultimate Strength Hand Salve. If your hands are feeling particularly dry and flaky, then this is the one to reach for. Thanks to its restorative concoction of botanical oils, hydrogenated olive oil and shea butter, it is ideal for repairing skin that faces constant exposure to the elements.

Why we love it:

  • SOS hand cream for severely dry skin
  • Repairs and restores the skin’s moisture barrier
  • Creates a glove-like film to prevent transepidermal water loss
  • Industrial-strength moisturiser

Price: RM58.

Available at kiehls.com.my.

7. L’Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream

loccitane-shea-butter

Now, this is one hand cream that holds a very dear and special place in our hearts. L’Occitane’s bestselling Shea Butter Hand Cream has been around for years and is still one of our favourite hand creams for treating and repairing extra dry hands. Because it is so incredibly popular, statistics show that one L’Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream is sold every 3 seconds around the globe! In addition to 20% pure shea butter, each tube of this cream also contains a nourishing blend of coconut oil, honey and almond to heal your hands in a jiffy!

Why we love it:

  • Rich and emollient hand cream
  • Perfect as an overnight hand treatment
  • Strengthens the skin’s moisture barrier
  • Delicious nutty fragrance

Price: RM125.

Available at my.loccitane.com.

8. Clinique Deep Comfort Hand And Cuticle Cream

clinique-deep-comfort

Well-known for their skin-soothing solutions, Clinique’s Deep Comfort Hand And Cuticle Cream is another winner for sure! Offering 12 hours of hydration, this cream contains a unique combination of hydrating ingredients such as murmuru seed butter and meadowfoam seed oil to restore the skin’s barrier function. Because it’s so rich and emollient, you can also use it as an intensive treatment for your cuticles.

Why we love it:

  • Doubles up as a cuticle treatment
  • 12-hour moisture lock
  • Repairs and restores skin’s barrier function

Price: RM123.

Available for RM116 at Zalora.

9. The Body Shop Almond Milk & Honey Calming & Protecting Hand Cream

almond-milk-honey-hand-cream

Here is another one of our favourite hand creams of all time! Aside from its delicious scent that smells just like a heavenly blend of almond milk and honey, it also absorbs into the skin like a dream. Besides organic almond milk from Spain, this hand cream is also enriched with Community Trade honey from Ethiopia. Moreover, it is also dermatologically-tested to ensure minimize the risk of irritation.

Why we love it:

  • Hypoallergenic and great for sensitive skin
  • Soothes redness, itching and irritation
  • Delicious and soothing scent
  • Repairs the skin’s moisture barrier

Price: RM25.

Available at Zalora or The Body Shop outlets nationwide.

10. OPI Pro Spa Protective Hand, Nail & Cuticle Cream

opi-pro-spa

Next up, we have a protective hand nail and cuticle cream from OPI’s Pro Spa collection. Since we are all pretty much familiar with OPI’s spectacular variety of nail polishes, it goes without saying that their hand cream is amazing too! Besides, we do love a multitasking product that is able to treat our hands, nails and cuticles all at once! Each tube contains a rich mixture of shea butter, plumping peptides and protein-rich ProSina to keep your hands feeling comfortable all day everyday.

Why we love it:

  • Ultra hydrating formula
  • Multitasking treatment for hands, nails and cuticles
  • Prevents nails from chipping
  • Contains daisy flower extract to brighten the skin

Price: RM116.

Available at Zalora.

11. L’erbolario Hand & Nail Cream With Olive Oil & Vitamin E

lerbolario-hand-nail-cream

Adding to our list of favourite hand creams is this luxurious Vitamin E and olive oil one by Italian body care brand L’erbolario. Thanks to its soothing addition of Vitamin B5, it does an excellent job of calming redness, severe itching and dryness. It also helps to effectively protect the hands from environmental aggressors and harsh stripping ingredients like sulfates. Plus, it’s chic and pretty packaging makes it the perfect self-care gift for your loved ones!

Why we love it:

  • Packed with vitamins and emollients
  • Great as an overnight skin treatment
  • Calms redness and severe dryness
  • Fortifies the skin’s moisture barrier

Price: RM102.

Available at erbolario.com.my or L’erbolario outlets nationwide.

12. LOVE BEAUTY AND PLANET Coconut Water & Mimosa Flower Luscious Hydration Lotion

If you love the fresh smelling of coconut then this lotion will easily be your favourite soon. This highly moisturising body lotion contains no harsh ingredients and its only goal is to hydrate your skin again. Additionally, it is formulated with coconut water and mimosa flower extract that gives off a refreshing, smooth scent.

Why We Love It:

  • Infused with coconut oil, coconut water and mimosa flower
  • Leaves a refreshing, smooth scent
  • Has a cooling effect

Price: RM39.27

Available at iHerb

13. Avene Cold Cream

Rich and creamy, this Avene Cold Cream has been specially formulated for the sensitive and very dry skin of babies, children and adults. Thanks to the nourishing properties of white beeswax, this cream restores the skin’s hydrolipidic film to form a genuine barrier against external aggressions. 

Why we love it: 

  • Suitable for infants, children, and adults
  • Soothes irritation
  • Fragrance-free and preservative-free

Price: RM40.00

Available at Guardian

14. Aesop Resurrection Aromatique Hand Balm

Aesop Resurrection Balm is a rich balm containing Mandarin Rind, Rosemary Leaf, Cedar Atlas. This is a great cream that will keep your hands moisturized and leave them feeling smooth. The stimulating blend of citrus, woody and herbal scents combined with the luxurious texture makes this product a joy to use. Additionally, we love the tube as it feels sturdy and is metal which makes it last longer than normal plastic tubes.

Why we love it: 

  • Delivers rich hydration to your skin
  • Contain citrus and woody aroma
  • Fix the appearance of your cuticles

Buy now: RM99.00

Available at Aesop

15. Lush Helping Hands Hand Cream

Lush’s Helping Hands hand cream is made with nourishing almond oil, shea butter and calming chamomile. The natural ingredients contained in this creates a light, non-sticky formula that melts into the skin for a soothing result that doesn’t leave you feeling sticky. Additionally, you can use it as an overnight treatment and it’ll have your hands feeling softer in no time.

Why we love it: 

  • Contain natural ingredients for better skin
  • Non sticky and lightweight
  • Smells amazing

Buy now: RM80.00

Available at Lush

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