The Best Hand Creams, According To Our Editors
The coldest, dreariest days of winter may be behind us, but transitional weather isn't much gentler on skin. And as usual, our hands will likely be getting the worst of it. Between constant handwashing, blasts of central heating and air conditioning and ongoing exposure to the elements, it's no wonder they could use a little TLC. Here, Chatelaine staffers share the hand creams they swear by.
Nivea 3-in-1 Repair & Care Hand Cream, $8 for 100 mL
“Since having a baby last spring, I've been washing my hands a lot more than ever before, so I've been using a lot of hand cream. For a cheap-but-luxe-feeling moisturizer, I've really enjoyed using Nivea's 3-in-1 Repair & Care Hand Cream. It dries quickly and isn't greasy, and I don't need to reapply super frequently. Because it's so affordable, I keep a tube at my desk at the office, on my nightstand at home and in my backpack on the go.” —Erica Lenti, deputy editor, features
L’Occitane en Provence Shea Butter Hand Cream, $43 for 150 mL
“No matter how many hand creams I try—and I’ve tried a lot of them—I always go back to my one true love: the L’Occitane en Provence Shea Butter Hand Cream. It’s thick, rich and packed with 20 percent shea butter, and it heals dry spots almost instantly without any greasy or slippery residue. With so many beautifully scented hand creams available on the market, the soft powdery fragrance isn’t exactly revolutionary, but I find it incredibly comforting. I keep a tiny one in my travel beauty bag, and a full-size tube on my nightstand.” —Andréanne Dion, senior style, beauty and travel editor
Paume Probiotic Hand Balm, $24 for 60 mL
“I’ve been loving this hand balm from Canadian brand Paume. It absorbs really fast, but it’s also very moisturizing—it’s perfect to apply during the day because I can go back to typing without greasing up my laptop keyboard. It has a soft citrusy fragrance, but the scent doesn’t linger on the skin for too long.” —Aimee Nishitoba, art director
Athena Club Dewy Body Lotion in Coconut Sparkle, $15 for 355 mL
“I keep this delicious smelling lotion on my desk and people constantly comment on the scent when they walk into my office. The pump is perfect for deskside application, and the lotion itself is both incredibly moisturizing and completely non-greasy. This is one of those unicorn products that feels and smells way more expensive than it is.” —Maureen Halushak, editor-in-chief
Gehwol Fusskraft Blue, $15 for 75 mL
“When it comes to hand cream, I head straight for the heavy-duty stuff: creams actually meant for your feet. This German footcare company's heel creams were formulated for hikers' heels, but I love the alpine scent (rosemary and lavender), compact packaging and slightly cooling effect from the camphor and menthol.” —Chantal Braganza, deputy editor, food
Bee By The Sea Sea Buckthorn and Honey Body Cream, $35 for 220 mL
“I have extremely dry skin and cold weather makes it worse—clearly, my tropical DNA wasn’t built for this! I first tried this body cream by Canadian brand Bee By The Sea several years ago and recently went back to it—it’s just as good as I remembered. It’s formulated with sea buckthorn, honey, ginseng and royal jelly, ingredients that make it lightweight and quick-absorbing, leaving my skin soft without any greasy residue. It absorbs so quickly that I keep a jar in my car and use it on my hands at stop lights.” —Sun Ngo, creative director
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