The Best Anti-Aging Hand Creams to Combat Wrinkles and Dryness (2024)

Your anti-aging routine probably already includes a go-to face moisturizer, a rich eye cream, and maybe even a supercharged serum. But you might be missing a key player: an effective hand cream.

After all, our hands have thin, elastic skin, so they tend to show signs of aging faster than other areas of the body—including the face. Not to mention, they take a beating on a daily basis from simple activities like washing them diligently and doing the dishes, as well as constant exposure to the elements (think: dry air, cold temperatures, harmful UV rays).

Luckily, there’s an abundance of skin-softening, ultra-hydrating hand creams and treatments that can help make your hands look as healthy and plump as the rest of your face—whether you’re dealing with dark spots (look for a formula with glycolic acid, vitamin C, or niacinamide), wrinkles (one word: retinol), or dryness (check the ingredients label for ceramides, glycerin, or hyaluronic acid). Even better? Almost all of the best anti-aging hand creams are all available over-the-counter.

Ahead, we’ve compiled a list of the best hand creams on the market, including a budget-friendly drugstore treatment, an Amazon bestseller, and a luxury cream worth the splurge—all of which you’re going to want to give...well, a hand.

Free radicals that form due to UV and air pollution break down collagen and elastin, leading to lax, thin skin that wrinkles, tears, and bruises easily. Yes, this cream is pricey compared to other options, but it contains highly potent natural collagen to help rebuild your skin's barrier.

To allow an anti-aging hand cream to really penetrate skin, apply it right before bed, says Sonia Batra, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and cohost of The Doctors. This cream is super smoothing but absorbs quickly. And because it's formulated without scents or dyes, it's great for sensitive skin, too.

"Since 90 percent of visible aging is due to sun exposure, one of the best anti-aging hand creams to use is one that has sun protection," says Keira Barr, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and the founder of Resilient Health Institute. This cream contains SPF 15 and is infused with hydrating organic rose essential oils and antioxidants from green tea and blackberry extracts to both protect and moisturize.

More powerful than other drugstore options, this lightweight ointment contains hyaluronic acid to help restore moisture, says Chang. Still, it isn't overly tacky or sticky, so you can get right back to work—no drying time necessary.

This antioxidant-rich formula from J.R. Watkins is the cream of the crop. Even though it's made with a deeply hydrating mix of ingredients (including natural shea and cocoa butters, aloe and green tea extracts, and jojoba and avocado oils), the cream instantly absorbs into the skin—without leaving any trace of greasy residue.

Ask any dermatologist on the best anti-aging ingredient to add to your routine, and chances are they'll say SPF. Just like your face, your hands need daily protection to ward off fine lines, wrinkles, discoloration, and more. In addition to sun protection, this hand cream is moisturizing due to the blend of argan and meadowfoam seed oils in its formula.

If you need the extra TLC and love face masks, try this nourishing product. It comes with two gloves filled with a moisturizing formula that helps repair extra-dry skin, leaving hands silky smooth, says Chang. Simply wash your hands, slip on the gloves, and relax for 10 minutes.

The blend of hydrating Scandinavian botanical oils are packed with antioxidants to protect hands against environmental aggressors that cause signs of aging. The formula also includes carnitine, which is an ingredient that helps smooth skin texture.

Get rid of cracked, irritated skin with this intensely nourishing formula that doesn't leave behind a sticky residue. It's also small and compact so you can easily take it with you everywhere.

If your skin is exceptionally dry or you tend to wash your hands a lot, you need a cream with intense hydrating properties. This cream provides just that—without parabens, harsh chemicals, or colorants—but won't leave hands greasy. A rare combination, says Mona Gohara, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Connecticut.

This luxuriously rich formula soothes dry hands and conditions cuticles for healthy-looking nails. It contains a nourishing blend of coconut oil, buriti oil, mangosteen butter, oat bran, and sea algae.

Soft, supple hands are within reach—with this nourishing cream from Alaffia. The non-greasy formula is packed with high-quality ingredients, like coconut oil, shea and kpagnan butters, and antioxidant-rich reishi mushroom extract, which work together to soothe and deeply moisturize the skin. Added bonus: Proceeds from the brand's sustainable, fair-trade products help fund the Alaffia Foundation, an organization that provides empowerment projects in West Africa.