7. L’Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream
BEST HAND CREAM FOR WORKING HANDS
PROS
- Smooths and softens chapped, cracked skin
- Increases skin moisturization
- Generous size
CONS
- Scent was polarizing
| Key ingredients | Shea butter, glycerin, plant oils |
|---|---|
| Size | 5.1 oz. |
| Fragrance | Powdery |
Treat rough, hardworking hands to this heavy-duty, classic L’Occitane cream that contains a high 20% concentration of nourishing shea butter: It’s both a GH Beauty Lab test winner and GH Sustainable Innovation Award winner. The formula upped skin moisture levels by 32% in Lab Corneometer tests. An impressive 100% of users agreed it improved the look of chapped and cracked hands, making them feel soft and appear smooth.
“This will always be my favorite hand cream — I love how rich the texture is and how deeply it moisturizes,” one GH editor says. “I have really dry skin and used to struggle with my knuckles cracking in the winter and when I worked as a server, this is one cream that changed everything for me.” Healthcare workers who frequently sanitize their hands also raved about being “obsessed” with the “fantastic” cream. Two drawbacks: A few users noted a greasy feel and the powdery scent was polarizing (some found it “too strong”).
8. Mary Kay Satin Hands Nourishing Shea Cream
BEST HAND CREAM FOR CRACKED, CHAPPED HANDS
PROS
- Smooths chapped and cracked skin
- Intensive formula
CONS
- May feel sticky
| Key ingredients | Shea butter, glycerin, plant oils, vitamin E |
|---|---|
| Size | 3 oz. |
| Fragrance | None |
Many testers said this rich fragrance-free Mary Kay hand cream helped make chapped hands appear smooth. The thickness is likely due to the high percentage of shea butter in the formula, Wnek explains, and is ideal for sealing moisture into cracked skin. Texture aside, users continue to gush about how much it’s helped the feeling and hydration of their hands.
“I used it before bedtime and in the morning [my hands were] still soft and silky,” one consumer shared. Note that this is a heavy-duty formula — some testers said the consistency left their hands feeling tacky post-application. “A small amount goes a long way,” a tester noted.