These formulas can keep your hands hydrated, your cuticles healthy, and your nails in better condition every day.
Raise your hand if you consider yourself a skincare devotee who spends an embarrassing amount on facial serums, then washes your hands and skips moisturizer altogether. Many of us overlook our hands and nails, even though they show signs of aging faster than almost any other part of the body. Every day, hot water, hand sanitizer, harsh soaps, and changing weather take their toll. That’s why we’ve prepared a guide to caring for the part of you that signs contracts, holds a glass of wine, and works harder than you probably give it credit for, featuring six hand and nail care formulas that deserve a spot in your routine.
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L’Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream
Built around organic shea butter, coconut oil, almond oil, and a touch of honey, this long-loved hand cream has held its position as L’Occitane’s bestseller since 1993 for good reason. The product promises 24-hour moisture, with a texture that sinks in fast enough for you to shake someone’s hand five minutes later without leaving a trace of it behind.
Coola Anti-Aging Hand Cream With SPF 30
This cream pairs sun protection with genuine anti-aging benefits, using arnica to soften the look of fine lines and a rich mango butter to keep skin plush. It also happens to be a smart companion for manicure days, since it guards against the UV lamps used to cure gel polish. Anyone diligent about face sunscreen but careless about their hands should consider this the fix.
Aesop Solais Replenishing Hand Serum
Aesop’s new hand serum treats your hands like they belong in the same routine as your face. It brightens and evens out tone over time, fading dark spots that accumulate from years of sun exposure, while a mix of nourishing plant oils keeps the skin soft rather than tight. Meant to go on before a hand balm and sunscreen, it’s a genuine treatment step rather than a stand-in for moisturizer.
Clarins Hand & Nail Treatment Cream
Clarins’ take on hand and nail care splits its attention between skin and nails without shortchanging either. The formula builds an invisible shield against the elements that would otherwise sap moisture as the day wears on. It disappears into skin quickly enough for a desk job, and the nail-strengthening angle makes it a natural pick for anyone who’d rather not add a separate cuticle product to the mix.
CND Solar Oil Nail & Cuticle Care
For those addicted to gel and acrylics, CND Solar Oil should be your go-to aftercare for keeping cuticles supple between nail appointments, especially once acetone has had its way with them during polish removal. Keep one by the sink and treat it the way you’d treat a nightly lip balm.
Burt’s Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream
Burt’s Bees cuticle cream solves a narrower problem compared to the rest of this list, but it solves it well. Vitamin E and sunflower oil work to strengthen brittle nails, while almond oil and cocoa butter coax stubborn, cracked cuticles back into shape, all wrapped in a bright lemon scent. The balm sits on the firmer side, which is exactly why it works best as a targeted step before a heavier hand cream seals everything in.
Frequently Asked Questions
Hands are exposed to hot water, hand sanitizer, harsh soaps, weather, and UV rays every day. Products like L’Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream, Coola Anti-Aging Hand Cream SPF 30, and Aesop Solais Replenishing Hand Serum help moisturize, protect, and treat the skin.
A simple routine can include a treatment serum such as Aesop Solais Replenishing Hand Serum, a moisturizing cream like L’Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream or Clarins Hand & Nail Treatment Cream, and an SPF hand cream like Coola Anti-Aging Hand Cream SPF 30.
Moisturizing hand creams such as L’Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream and Clarins Hand & Nail Treatment Cream help replenish dry skin, while Aesop Solais Replenishing Hand Serum adds an extra treatment step before moisturizer.
Clarins Hand & Nail Treatment Cream hydrates skin while supporting stronger nails, while Burt’s Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream and CND Solar Oil Nail & Cuticle Care nourish cuticles and help keep nails in good condition.
Hands receive frequent sun exposure, which can contribute to visible signs of aging. Coola Anti-Aging Hand Cream SPF 30 provides sun protection, while Aesop Solais Replenishing Hand Serum helps improve the appearance of uneven skin tone over time.
