Finding the best hand creams for your needs has never been more important than right now.
In light of the recent coronavirus outbreak, we’re washing and sanitising our hands far more often than normal, and upping the number of powerful cleaning products we’re using in our homes as well. The result? Chapped, dry, sore and painful skin that’s still got weeks of the same treatment to come.
If you’re suffering, don’t despair – there are products out there that can really help to relieve these symptoms, and you don’t have to break the bank to reap their benefits either
We asked around for some recommendations from YOU staffers, and these are their tried-and-tested favourites, with ideas starting from just £3.50.
9 of the best hand creams to shop now
Eucerin
Eucerin Urea Repair Plus 5% Hand Cream, £6.75, Boots
‘Eucerin 5% Urea is brilliant,’ says YOU’s very own beauty director Edwina Ings-Chambers. ‘That’s one I always reach for when my hands are very dry or chapped or a bit sensitive. It’s very calming and moisturising and really transforms.’
Neutrogena
Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream, £3.50, Amazon
‘Neutrogena is also good,’ Edwina adds. ‘I find it takes a bit more rubbing in than some others but it is really moisturising.’ Each tube of this glycerin-rich formula is 200 applications, making it an absolute bargain when it comes to cost per use.
L’Occitane
Shea Butter Hand Cream, £21.50, L’Occitane
‘When I have a tube of this on the go I use it til the very last drop – I even roll up the edges to try and squeeze out the dregs,’ digital editor Eleanor Jones admits. ‘It’s super rich and buttery (the clue is in the name). It does need a minute or so to absorb but when it does, it heals fast and the effects really last.’
Neal’s Yard Remedies
Frankincense Intense Hand Treatment Serum, £30, Neal’s Yard Remedies
If you prefer a lighter texture, beauty assistant Alice Robertson’s suggestion of Neal’s Yard Remedies’ hand serum could be the solution you’ve been searching for: ‘It sinks in quickly and is quite light but immediately alleviates that itchy sore feeling you can get when your hands are super dry,’ she notes. ‘Plus, the scent is so soothing, it immediately calms me down.’
The Body Shop
Hemp Hand Protector, £5, The Body Shop
For the price, this basically can’t be beaten: just as the thousands of five-star reviewers on The Body Shop website. ‘Before I tried this my hands were so dry they would crack and bleed. This is the best hand cream you will ever buy,’ says one happy customer. In fact, it’s so popular, one leaves a store every nine seconds – a stat which speaks volumes for its effectiveness..
M&S
Fleurs de Mimosa Hand Cream, £5, Marks & Spencer
M&S’s affordable balm may look pretty, but don’t let the packaging deceive you – it’s also a very hard worker. Digital content editor Georgia Green swears by the stuff: ‘I find it super nourishing; the smell is nice but light and it sinks in properly, and it doesn’t leave your hands sticky or greasy.’
Nursem
Nursem Caring Hand Cream 75ml, £9.99, Boots
This manuka-honey infused cream was specifically designed for medical staff to help counteract the effects of excessive hand washing, and has been getting rave reviews for its abilities to rebalance and soothe. What’s more, for every tube you buy, the company will give a month’s worth of free Nursem to a nurse or midwife.
Curél
Curél Intensive Moisture Facial Cream for Dry, Sensitive Skin, £19.50, Boots
Japanese brand Curél might not have hand cream that’s widely available in the UK, but Edwina has an alternative: ‘As my hands are a bit more irritated I’ve also been using Curel Intensive Moisture Facial Cream on my hands,’ she says. ‘It’s about £20 so a more spenny approach to handcare, but it really does moisturise and calm and heal – and you still have a face cream.’
Sol de Janeiro
Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Touch Hand Cream, £15, Feel Unique
For a ray of sunshine that you’ll actually look forward to applying endlessly, social media editor Georgia Shepheard’s pick is Sol de Janeiro. ‘I love the smell, obviously, but it’s also one of the few non-greasy formulas that forms like a powdery shield on my calloused hands from Crossfit,’ she explains.
