These hydrating natural hand creams are just the thing for rough, dry, and cracked hands.
Dealing with dry, cracked, and rough skin — especially on the hands — is never fun. Thin lotions don’t do the trick for dried-out hands.
Sure, you could turn to petroleum jelly-based products. But they are not doing the planet any favors. And as an occlusive, petroleum jelly doesn’t really help heal the skin. Rather, it just creates a barrier. Natural hand creams, on the, er, other hand, offer a gentle yet effective solution for nourishing and protecting your skin. Crafted from plant-based ingredients, they are rich in vitamins and antioxidants, providing deep hydration without the use of harsh chemicals.
These creams also often feature organic elements like shea butter, almond oil, and aloe vera, known for their soothing properties. Natural hand creams can be ideal for those with sensitive skin or who prefer eco-friendly options.
What causes dry skin?
According to the Mayo Clinic, a number of factors can contribute to dry skin including cold or dry weather, sun damage, harsh soaps, and overbathing. Diet can play a role, too. Not getting enough healthy fats such as from avocados, walnuts, or flax seeds can lead to dry and rough skin as well.
In the colder months, you may also find yourself drinking less water, which can also dry out the skin. So be sure to hydrate as well as moisturize.
Hydrating hand creams
We’ve rounded up our favorite sustainable and vegan hand creams and lotions that bring moisture and hydration as well as healing botanicals and CBD for extra repair.
1. Prima Skin Therapy Ultra-Rich Body Butter
This ultra-rich body butter is made for dry, dehydrated skin. It features five oils and butter along with broad-spectrum hemp extract featuring naturally occurring CBD and aromatic notes of citrus, clove, geranium, and ylang-ylang.
Prima makes its hand cream with sustainability in mind. It is a B Corp-certified brand, meeting the highest standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability.
2. Nécessaire The Hand Cream
This fast-absorbing, daily moisturizer with peptides and multi-vitamins will bring quick and lasting relief to the driest hands and anywhere else that needs soothing. The Hand Cream‘s peptides work as a “glove for the hands” to protect against environmental stressors. The fragrance-free formula is rich in marula oil, vitamins C and E, and omega-6, and omega-9 to nourish skin, while niacinamide supports the skin‘s moisture barrier.
3. Grown Alchemist Intensive Hand Cream, Persian Rose + Argan Oil
Rich, non-greasy, moisturizing, and it smells like you’re in a rose garden. It brings soothing relief to rough hands with just a small pea-sized amount. The cream is also great for ragged cuticles. The brand’s formulas are based on organic botanical ingredients from around the world, with no artificial or synthetic ingredients. The brand touts all of its products as gender-free, and all packaging is sustainable, too.
4. Ellis Brooklyn Marvelous CBD Extra Rich Body Lotion Cream
This CBD-rich lotion from Ellis Brooklyn goes the extra mile to keep skin soft, hydrated, and protected from painful cracking. The full-spectrum CBD gets a boost from French maritime pine bark extract, essential oils, and the rich shea butter base is the absolute best. Ellis Brooklyn has a strong sustainability ethos that includes abiding by the international CITES list for precious materials, shipping carbon-neutral, and clean ingredients.
5. Fenty Skin Butta Drop Whipped Oil Hydrating Body Cream
Say “Fenty Skin Butta Drop Whipped Oil Hydrating Body Cream” five times fast while you gently massage its rich, creamy, and emollient seven luxurious oil blend into your hands. Kalahari Melon, Sorrel, Baobab, Sunflower, Rice Bran, Coconut, and Jojoba oils hydrate, moisturize, and make you smell like you’ve been at the spa.
Founded by singer Rihanna, who just made a $15 million contribution to fighting climate change, Fenty is a sustainable and responsible beauty brand. “I wanted the packaging to be beautiful, but also functional with an earth-conscious approach,” Rihanna says on the website. “We eliminated boxes where we could, we have refill systems, and we use recycled materials where possible. Nobody is perfect, but I really believe we can try our best to do right and we’ll keep evolving as we go.”
6. Desert Essence Bulgarian Lavender Hand and Body Lotion
This hand and body lotion from Desert Essence will never be in short supply in your house once you try it. The organic Bulgarian Lavender, sunflower oil, and jojoba oil work together to soften the skin and soothe the senses. The brand is B-Corp Certified and uses the best organic ingredients.
7. First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream
Overly dried out this winter? Add this Ultra Repair Cream from First Aid Beauty to your cart, pronto. Colloidal Oatmeal is an FDA-designated skin protectant that works to relieve itching and minor irritation, especially from eczema, rashes, or other skin conditions. The shea butter provides extra moisture and protects the skin barrier with vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids. The allantoin works to calm and soothe the skin. Also, if you love this you’ll love the face cream as well.
8. Pacifica Coconut Cream Lotion
Not only is the entire collection vegan and cruelty-free, but it is also extremely affordable. This coconut cream lotion smells amazing and works wonders on dry, winter skin. It is crafted with coconut water, sunflower oil, chamomile extract, sea kelp, and vanilla. All of Pacifica’s products are made in the U.S. with high-quality, sustainably sourced ingredients.
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