This $4 Hand Cream Was the Most Moisturizing in Our Lab Tests (2025)

I suffer from such chronic hand dryness that I stash hand creams literally everywhere — at each sink at home, on my desk, in my purse, in the car, the list goes on — so that I am never caught (dry) handed and always have relief at my fingertips, literally. Many times per day, I squeeze or pump a dollop to combat any dryness, eczema patches or...ahem...signs of aging like wrinkles that pop up.

Hand creams are created to "hydrate skin, leaving hands feeling soft and looking smooth and plump," says Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab Senior Chemist Danusia Wnek. "You should see and feel the results almost immediately." Dermatologists add that repetition is key: "It's so important to keep hands moisturized, as they are subject to even more environmental damage than the face," adds Gregory Brown, M.D., founder of RéVive Skincare.

But after slathering on seemingly every hand cream on the market from luxury splurges to drugstore bargains over two decades as a beauty editor, I have found they don't all do the job. Luckily, the GH Beauty Lab knows which ones really do work: Our scientists test hand creams in the Lab using instruments to calculate skin hydration and with consumers in their daily routines. In the most recent test, 2,663 Lab hydration measurements and consumer feedback responses were collected to find the best hand creams proven to moisturize dry skin.

“Cure” even the most dehydrated skin with Curél’s plant oil-infused lotion, the hands-down winner in GH Beauty Lab hand cream testing and a great drugstore value at less than $4. Created to last through handwashing, it had one of the highest increases in skin moisturization ever measured in Lab tests. In calculations with the Corneometer device, which gauges skin moisture levels, the formula increased hydration by a record 64%.

Although a few users said they would prefer a thicker texture, a full 100% of testers agreed that it left skin feeling soft to the touch. The lotion also scored high for soaking in fast and not being greasy.

Testers said: "It cleared up dry, scaly spots, and it stays on even when I rinse my hands," a user noted. Another tester who frequently washes her hands agreed: "I wash my hands at least a dozen times a day, and my hands felt and looked noticeably smooth."

True to its name, rich and buttery Vaseline earned top marks in Lab evaluations for deeply moisturizing extremely dry hand skin. The formula, blended with shea butter and coconut oil, was a tester favorite, receiving rave reviews for its “warm, vanilla-like” fragrance.

It elevated skin moisturization by an impressive 56% in Beauty Lab Corneometer calculations, second only to the winner. The cream also rated best with testers for its “pleasant” scent.

Testers said: Two users called the formulation “thick and creamy” and “very moisturizing” (a few users said it felt oily, though). Another tester reported: “My friends asked to use it because it smells so good.”

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A GH Beauty Lab test winner for even extremely dehydrated, wrinkled skin, Eucerin's formula with glycerin, urea and sunflower seed oil boosted skin moisture levels by a high 51%, according to measurements with the Corneometer device.

In addition, testers gave it high marks for spreading easily and loved that it's purse-sized. Another standout feature of the bargain drugstore formula is that it contains alpha hydroxy acids, anti-aging ingredients that increase cell turnover to smooth skin texture.

Testers said: "It left my hands feeling actually moisturized," one consumer tester reported. The compliments didn't stop there, with others saying it "felt silky," "made my hands smooth" and even helped moisturize cuticles. Note that some testers found it left their hands feeling sticky or oily after application.

Treat aging hands to Reserveage Beauty's formulation, recommended by former GH Beauty Lab Executive Director Birnur Aral, Ph.D. “This rich-textured cream soaks right into skin and makes hands immediately feel silky-smooth," she says. "Thanks to the encapsulated copper peptides in its formula, it is designed to also work over time and help build collagen in skin."

The icing on the cake? The cream does double duty and can be applied on feet as well. Note that while Aral described the fruity scent as "lovely," some reviewers found it overpowering.

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This thick, glycerin-rich Neutrogena cream is dermatologist-recommended for a reason: In past GH Beauty Lab tests, it was a top-scoring formulation, increasing skin's hydration levels by 40.3%. It also rated well with testers for making skin feel soft and smooth and its pleasant scent, though some thought the formula was greasy.

Testers said: "The best hand cream I've ever used," one consumer tester raved. More positive user feedback: "You don't have to use a lot to make your hands feel conditioned," and "even after washing my hands, they were still moisturized," two commented.

Made with naturally-derived ingredients, this Karité hand cream was created by dermatologist Naana Boakye, M.D., and her two sisters, who source sustainably-harvested raw shea butter from their native Ghana. In GH Beauty Lab testing, the formula scored high for leaving hands soft and testers found that it delivered long-lasting hydration.

Lab Corneometer calculations confirmed that the cream raised skin moisturization levels by 39% over six hours after application. While the cream has no added fragrance, most testers didn't like the natural aroma, which some said was reminiscent of coconut. It is also on the more expensive side for a hand cream.

Testers said: Several users noted that it went on "smooth" and "spread easily." "My fingers were very dry to the point of peeling and this lotion helped them tremendously," a user marveled. Another said: "It provides lasting moisture and softness throughout the day."

Pamper parched hands with this indulgent, classic L’Occitane cream with a high 20% concentration of nourishing shea butter. It ranked above the rest at giving even rough skin lasting silkiness. 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 smooth. Two drawbacks: A few users noted a greasy feel and the powdery scent was polarizing (some found it "too strong").

Testers said: "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 sanitized their hands also raved about being “obsessed” with the “fantastic” cream.

Aveeno's hand cream, which contains soothing eczema relief active ingredient oat kernel flour and moisturizing glycerin, was a tester favorite in GH Beauty Lab testing. Consumers rated it highly for making hands appear smooth and absorbing quickly.

The fragrance-free formulation improved skin hydration by 31% in Lab Corneometer measurements. It also performed well at applying effortlessly onto skin, not being oily and leaving hands feeling soft.

Testers said: "I loved how it spread easily and didn't feel greasy after," one remarked. "My hands felt smooth and moisturized." Another commented: "It made my hands look less chapped."

If an amazing scent entices you to apply (and reapply) hand cream, look no further than Fresh's decadent formula based on plant milks like rice and linseed. Testers found the "natural" scent to be light and pleasant, plus 100% agreed it left hands feeling soft and provided lasting moisture.

Lab Corneometer calculations showed that the cream improved skin hydration by 35% over six hours. Some users felt the it didn't absorb fast enough, though.

Testers said: Two concurred that there "was a noticeable improvement in the moisture level of my hands," and "it did a really good job moisturizing my extremely dry skin, with effects that seemed to last several hours."

This tiny but mighty Bath & Body Works hand cream is the perfect travel companion thanks to its compact one ounce tube. It ranked high in GH Beauty Lab testing for leaving hands feeling soft yet not sticky.

While 90% of users agreed that they liked the "floral and citrus" scent, some thought the aroma was "very strong" like "perfume." It modestly increased skin hydration, by 19%, in Lab Corneometer testing.

Testers said: “I liked the moisture it added to my hands and that it was silky without being greasy and tacky," a user enthused. Another commented that it "feels very luxurious and expensive and even works on my rough elbows."

Get the most from your hand cream with this concentrated Soap & Glory formula, packed with botanical oils (grape-seed, sweet almond, macadamia): A little goes a long way toward seriously softening skin long-term.

Lab Corneometer measurements showed that the cream boosted skin moisturization by a strong 50% and it rated highly for providing lasting hydration. In addition, testers gave it a top score for leaving hands feeling silky. One drawback was the "strong" floral scent, which most users didn't find pleasant.

Testers said: “My hands are noticeably softer for several hours afterward,” a user revealed, and several noted that they only needed to apply “a very small amount.”

A top hydrator in GH Beauty Lab testing, this great value Neutrogena hand healer features a light gel-like formula that gives a refreshing, soothing sensation. In Lab Corneometer measurements, it raised skin hydration by 40%.

Hyaluronic acid helps add and lock in moisture, contributing to its impressive hydration scores. It ranked well among testers for spreading easily on skin, though some thought it had a greasy feel and the fresh scent was polarizing.

Testers said: "It kept my hands feeling very soft, even hours later," one tester commented. Another said: "My hands were very smooth and felt refreshed."

In the GH Beauty Lab's most recent hand cream test, scientists assessed each formula's ability to hydrate skin using the Corneometer (below), a device that measures skin moisture levels. They calculated a hydration reading of clean skin, then dispensed a controlled amount of each product onto testers' forearms. Six hours later, testers returned to the Lab for another measurement to determine which hand creams improved skin moisturization over time and by how much.

GH Beauty Lab scientists then recruited consumer testers to evaluate the label-masked hand creams (below) and report back on their ease of use, texture, scent and how hand skin looked and felt after application. Finally, Lab results and consumer surveys were combined to find out which products performed the best. Here's a snapshot of the numbers behind the testing process:

• Consumer testers: 98
• Skin hydration measurements: 1,320
• Consumer survey responses: 1,343

"Simple moisturization and sun protection are the best treatments for hands," Dr. Brown says. Here are other points to keep in mind when searching for the right hand cream for your needs:

✔️ For dryness and cracked skin: Seek out "humectants like glycerin and hyaluronic acid to draw moisture into skin, plus occlusive ingredients like shea butter and petrolatum that will seal moisture in preventing hydration loss," Wnek advises. GH Beauty Lab Reviews Analyst Chiara Butler adds: "Skin protectants like petrolatum and dimethicone are FDA-approved for protecting cracked skin."
✔️ For wrinkles and anti-aging: "Alpha hydroxy acids like lactic acid in hand cream formulas will exfoliate dry, flaky skin and increase skin cell turnover to reveal more radiant skin," Wnek says.
✔️ For dark spots and discoloration: "Just like the skin on your face, the best way to prevent discoloration and sun spots is to protect skin when exposed to the sun," Wnek says. After your hand cream, "slather on a sunscreen or hand cream with SPF 30 or higher and reapply after washing hands," she suggests.
✔️ For eczema: "Opt for a cream with ingredients that are FDA-approved to treat the symptoms of eczema, such as colloidal oatmeal, which is approved to 'protect and help relieve minor skin irritation and itching due to eczema,'" Butler says.

GH Beauty Lab Reviews Analyst Chiara Butler conducted the most recent hand cream test and provided testing data for this article as well as an expert review. She has years of experience as a cosmetic chemist, including formulating skincare products for a variety of brands.

GH Beauty Lab Senior Chemist Danusia Wnek conducted past hand cream testing. She has spent a decade overseeing the Lab's body and face skincare product testing, utilizing both lab instrumentation and consumer feedback.

GH Senior Beauty & Style Director April Franzino worked with Butler and Wnek on this guide, reporting on GH Beauty Lab hand cream test results and expert insights. She has nearly 20 years of experience researching, writing and editing skincare content.