10 Best Hand Creams for Dry and Rough Hands in 2022 (L'Occitane, Neutrogena, and More)

It’s also chock-full of vitamins, including skin-restoring K and E, so it's a good Goldilocks cream - in other words, it's just right. It's also quick to absorb into the skin.

The top of the list reads water and aloe vera leaf juice, argan oil, and caprylic/capric triglyceride, which are all super moisturizing. The rest of the list is mostly recognizable plant and fruit names, including shea butter and matcha tea extract. There’s even squalane! 

It’s hydrating, nourishing, and healing–Angela describes it as rich. It is a bit greasy when you first apply it, but you just need to give it a few minutes to dry down. There are also unscented and scented versions available.

The first three ingredients are water, caprylic/capric triglyceride, and propanediol. The latter two may sound like scary chemical ingredients, but they’re actually both known for being gentle. The first one is derived from coconut oil and glycerin and helps restore skin. The second acts as a toner, helping the skin absorb nutrients.  

Most of the other ingredients in here have a similar effect, and the lotion isn’t greasy. There is fragrance listed as an ingredient, and it smells like artificial fruit–doesn’t seem very irritating to the skin, though the aroma is hit-or-miss.

Lanolin’s a skincare ingredient with hundreds of years of history; it’s derived from a grease that sheep excrete to condition their wool. It's an effective occlusive–that is, it forms a barrier over your skin and keeps water from evaporating. 

While it’s generally harmless, it can cause allergic reactions when applied to chapped, irritated skin. Otherwise, this cream is full of soothing plant extracts and, even though it’s quite thick, is gentle enough to use on the face. It absorbs quite quickly as well.

It’s followed by cetearyl alcohol, which is a texture stabilizer, and stearic acid, which helps form a protective barrier over the skin. Both function as skin-softening emollients. And, simply, it works! You really need just a dab of the stuff–apply too much, and it will feel greasy and take longer to absorb into the skin. 

It’s also colorless and odorless. The only thing is, it does contain parabens, which can disrupt hormone function when used excessively. Look over your skincare routine and think about how much you’re willing to accept.

It’s noticeably lighter and can feel a bit runny or thin, especially in warmer weather, but it also absorbs fairly quickly. Other than that, it’s got water and glycerin as its first and second ingredients, which keeps your skin hydrated and protected. There are also a few more good-for-you botanicals in small concentrations, including shea butter.