These skin care products rejuvenate the skin, create a protective barrier, and moisturize the hands. Here are the 15 best hand creams and lotions specifically designed for nurses. Check them out.

15 Best Hand Creams And Hand Lotions For Nurses

1. Best Over All: O’Keeffe’s Working Hands Hand Cream

The O’Keeffe’s Working Hands Hand Cream is one of the popular creams that help heal dry, dehydrated skin and cracked hands. The concentrated cream relieves damaged and dried hands by instantly sealing hydration. The glycerin and mineral oils in the cream offer intense hydration. They act as humectants that draw in skin moisture and keep the hands smooth and soft. The mineral oils also act as a protective barrier and prevent moisture loss. For best results, apply the intense relief hand cream after every hand wash. This video offers a more detailed explanation of the product. Pros

Heals dry and cracked skin Grease-free Seals hydration May offer relief from eczema and psoriasis

Cons

May cause allergic reactions May contain silicones

2. Best Long-lasting: Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Moisturizing Hand Cream

A drop of the Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Moisturizing Hand Cream turns extremely dry, cracked skin smooth and soft. It is rich in glycerin that provides moisturization. Glycerin is a humectant that pulls water to the outer layer of the skin and seals hydration. This moisturizing hand cream contains stearic acid that acts as an emollient and emulsifier. It creates a waxy protective barrier on the skin and prevents moisture loss. Pros

Nourishing Long-lasting Dermatologist-recommended Suitable for eczema and cradle cap Clinically proven Has no added fragrances Hypoallergenic Non-comedogenic A small amount would suffice

Cons

Contains parabens Little greasy

3. Best For Extremely Dry Skin: Eucerin Intensive Repair Lotion

The Eucerin Intensive Repair Lotion is a 3-in-1 solution to moisturize, exfoliate, and condition dry, dehydrated, flaky hands. It contains alpha-hydroxy acid that gently exfoliates the skin and natural moisturizing factors (NMF) that deeply nourish your hands. The natural moisturizing factors also help create a protective coat for locking adequate hydration, leaving soft and smoothened skin. It also protects the underlying cells from infection, dehydration, and chemical damage. AHA is a mild exfoliant that buffs away dead skin to restore the skin’s radiant glow. It also acts as a humectant that adds life to dry, chapped skin. Pros

Paraben-free Dermatologically-tested Fragrance-free Safe for sensitive skin Useful for eczema and keratosis pilaris

Cons

Greasy May dry the skin out

4. Best Non-Greasy: Camille Beckman Glycerine Hand Therapy Cream

Camille Beckman Cream is a restorative moisturizing therapy. It is infused with glycerin, vitamin E, aloe vera, almond oil, and other invigorating botanical extracts. This high-performance formula restores skin hydration and moisturization and leaves your hands softer and silky smooth. Aloe vera is a cooling ingredient and an anti-inflammatory that heals dry skin. Almond oil is rich in fatty acids and acts as a protective shield. It helps treat dry, cracked, and painful skin. Pros

Vegan formula Non-greasy Gluten-free Made with 100% plant-derived ingredients Blurs the signs of aging Paraben-free Phthalate-free Free from artificial fragrances

Cons

Consistency could be too thick May dry hands out

5. Best Vegan: Ahava Dead Sea Mineral Hand Cream

The Ahava Dead Sea Mineral Hand Cream is infused with nutrient-rich dead sea minerals and smoothening witch hazel. It also contains 21 essential minerals like magnesium, calcium, and potassium that replenish the skin’s texture. Witch hazel acts as a toner to condition dry skin and reduce inflammation. This intense moisturizing hand-cream can be used daily to elevate skin moisture. You may check this video for a better understanding of this product. Pros

100% vegan formula Paraben-free Hypoallergenic Refreshing aroma Can be used daily

Cons

Strong smell Consistency could be too thick

6. Best Hypoallergenic: Burt’s Bees Ultimate Care Hand Cream

The Burt’s Bees Ultimate Care Hand Cream acts as a moisturizer and a gentle exfoliant to revitalize dry, cracked hands. It nourishes and hydrates dry, chapped hands by gently removing the dead cuticles. The cream is a natural blend of baobab oil, watermelon seed oil, pumpkin oil, she a butter, and green tea extracts that seal moisture all day. The natural fruit acid complex removes dead and dry cuticles and revitalizes rough skin. The hemp seed oil in the cream is rich in vitamin E. It also has a balanced blend of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids that moisturize the skin. Pros

Paraben-free Phthalate-free Provides a day-long moisturization Lightweight Absorbs quickly Long-lasting Dermatologically-tested Hypoallergenic Non-comedogenic Non-grease No added fragrances

Cons None

7. Best Heavy-Duty Moisturizer: Corn Huskers Heavy Duty Oil Free Hand Lotion

The Corn Huskers Heavy Duty Oil-Free Hand Lotion soothes and comforts dry, bumpy skin. This fast-absorbing handlotion is made with glycerin that deeply nourishes and moisturizes the skin. Glycerine is a trihydroxy sugar alcohol and a natural humectant. It pulls water from the second layer of the skin to the topmost layer. It hydrates the skin, sloughs out dead skin, and leaves skin nourished and rejuvenated. Pros

Oil-free formula Fast-absorbing

Cons

Leaves a sticky residue Hands may feel dry

8. Best For Sensitive Skin: Gloves In A Bottle Shielding Lotion

The Gloves In A Bottle Shielding Lotion helps reverse the damage done to over-sanitizing hands. It keeps hands feeling soft and looking healthy. If your hands are exposed to home and work irritants, alcohol sanitizer, or surgical scrubs, this long-lasting, intense hydrating hand cream is the right choice. It is made of glycerine, stearic acid, and dimethic one. These help condition the skin and improve its texture. The unique formula also offers a protective shield against eczema and psoriasis. It also revitalizes dry, cracked, and chapped skin. It gently sloughs off dead skin cells without clogging the pores. This video review will help you learn more about the product. Pros

Non-comedogenic Provides sun protection Perfect for sensitive skin Lasts for 4-12 hours

Cons

May make hands too dry

9. Best Natural Hand Cream: Yes To Coconut Ultra Hydrating Moisturizing Hand & Cuticle Cream

The Yes To Coconut Ultra Hydrating Hand Cream is made of 97% natural formula. It deeply hydrates and nourishes hands. The active ingredient of the cream is 0.5% allantoin. It is extracted from the root of the comfrey plant. The cream’s non-irritating formula soothes the skin and accelerates new skin cell turn over. The cream also contains a natural blend of shea butter, coconut oil, avocado oil, jojoba seed oil, sesame seed oil, calendula flower extract, grapefruit seed oil, hibiscus flower extract, vitamin E, and vitamin C complex. These ingredients moisturize and protect the skin from free radical damage. The natural fruit acid complex acts as an exfoliator that removes dead cuticles. It restores and revitalizes your skin’s natural glow. Pros

Made with 97% natural ingredients Non-greasy SLS-free Paraben-free Cruelty-free Quick-absorbing Petroleum-free

Cons

Not suitable for sensitive skin

10. Best Aromatic: L’Occitane Moisturizing Hand Lotion

The L’Occitane Moisturzing Hand Lotion has a delicate, soothing aroma to refresh your hands after each wash. It is enriched with lavender essential oil and she a butter that deeply nourish and moisturize dehydrated skin. Shea butter is rich in essential fatty acids that act as a protective barrier. It seals hydration and makes your hands smooth and soft. It has anti-inflammatory and healing properties that protect your hands after each wash. Pros

Moisturizes hands Seals hydration Anti-inflammatory Soothing aroma Long-lasting Absorbs quickly

Cons None

11. Excipial Rapid Repair Hand Cream

Excipial is a concentrated, non-greasy, rapid repair hand cream that offers all-day moisturization to dry, dehydrated hands. The dermatologically-tested formula contains emollients and skin conditioning ingredients that repair dry, itchy skin. The intense repairing, fast-absorbing formula is made with meadow foam seed oil, glycerin, panthenol, squalene, dimethicone, and vitamin E. Meadow foam seed oil and glycerin act as a protective shield that seals moisture and prevents extreme dryness. Squalene is a highly-effective emollient that is rich in antioxidants. It protects your hands from dryness due to over-sanitizing. This intense-relief hand cream penetrates skin deeper and seals moisture. It helps relieve dry, cracked, and chapped skin. Pros

Non-greasy Long-lasting Deeply penetrates the skin layers Fragrance-free No artificial colorants Dermatologist-recommended Soothes itchy hands No added preservatives

Cons None

12. Thymes Olive Leaf Hand Lotion

Protect and condition your skin with the intensely hydrating Olive Leaf Lotion by Thymes. It is infused with shea butter and vitamin E that smoothes your skin and makes it soft and supple. It nourishes your overworked hands and also protects them. This lotion has a unique fragrance with fresh laurel leaf, sunny lavender, crisp balsam, and rich patchouli notes. Pros

Non-greasy Absorbed quickly Pleasant fragrance Refreshing Paraben-free Cruelty-free Petrolatum-free

Cons

None

13. Best Hand Gel: Avon Care Silicone Glove Hand Cream

The Avon Care Silicone Glove Hand Cream is a protective gel that seals hydration and moisture and keeps hands soft and supple for longer. It is infused with dimethicone and mineral oils that protect against skin irritants. Dimethicone has a skin-conditioning effect. It minimizes water loss from the skin by sealing hydration. It improves skin smoothness. The mineral oils alleviate skin redness and protect the skin from the aggressors. Pros

Long-lasting hydration Protects the skin from irritants Reduces skin redness Smoothens the skin

Cons

Unpleasant smell

14. Glysomed Hand Cream

The Glysomed Hand Cream contains glycerine, silicone, and chamomile that help restore the skin’s moisture balance. They also soothe and calm dry, itchy, and irritated skin. The antioxidant properties of chamomile protect the skin from free radical damage and promote beautiful skin texture. Pros

Soothing smell Seals moisture Ultra-hydrating

Cons

Greasy

15. MD’S PICK Barista Hand Cream

Give the care to your dry and cracked hands that they deserve with the MD’s PICK Barista Hand cream. This fragrance-free hand cream has EWG green-rated ingredients to protect your skin. It has a soft and creamy texture. It is infused with key ingredients such as coconut oil, natural almond oil, olive oil, and aquarisia that deeply moisturize your hands and soothes the cracked skin. The hand cream is specially formulated for doctors, nurses, chefs, patisseries, and sommeliers. Moreover it is free from 20 different types of harmful substances. Pros

Non-sticky Absorbed quickly Hypoallergenic Sulfate-free Ammonia-free Paraben-free Cruelty-free

Cons

None

These are the fifteen top-quality hand creams and hand lotions for nurses. The following section discusses the need nurses have for such products.

Why Do Nurses Need A Good Hand Cream?

Nurses and other healthcare professionals regularly deal with several patients. Hence, they have a higher risk of contracting infectious diseases. They need a wider range of protection, and hence, they often wash their hands with soaps or heavy-duty sanitizers. However, excess hand washing, although mandatory, may lead to dry, cracked, and chapped hands. It may lead to skin irritation and cause the skin to go dry. Hence, a high-quality hand cream is essential for nurses and other healthcare professionals. Dr. Ahmad Fayyaz Chaudhry, MBBS, RMP, Dermatology, says “Nurses are on the front lines of patient care, and they need to take care of themselves in order to provide the best possible care for their patients. One important way to do this is to avoid getting dry, chapped hands. Dry hands can make it difficult to perform delicate tasks, and they can also lead to infection. To help prevent dry hands, nurses should use hand cream regularly. Hand cream helps to lock in moisture and protect the skin from the harsh chemicals that are often found in hospitals.” The next section enables you to choose the right product to protect your hands. Go through the checklist.

The Buying Guide

Check for the texture of the hand cream. It should be lightweight and non-greasy to protect your hands for a longer duration. Check for the natural humectant ingredients that seal hydration. Glycerin is a natural humectant that hydrates all the layers of the skin and seals hydration in the topmost layer of the skin. Check for natural botanical extracts like she a butter and cocoa butter. These are emollients and essential ingredients that can make hands soft, smooth, and supple. Check for fatty oils. They offer a protective shield that can seal moisture on the skin. They also provide intense hydration and nourish dry skin. You may also check for avocado oil, almond oil, and coconut oil for additional benefits. The hand cream should be free of chemical ingredients. Your favorite pick should contain vitamin E, a natural antioxidant that protects your hands from aggressors.

Nurses are among the high-risk group that may contract an infection. For them, the use of hand washes and sanitizers is a must. But along with those products, they also need hand creams/lotions that can keep their hands from going dry or cracking. Pick your favorite from this list. These are just as effective and hydrating as other high-end creams. We are sure they will add value to you.

Why Trust StyleCraze?

Oyendrila Kanjilal is a certified skin care coach. She believes that though everyone is conscious about caring for the skin on the hands, nurses need special care as their hands are often exposed to adverse reactions from medications and infections. In this article, Oyendrila has conducted thorough research and carefully reviewed some of the best hand creams and hand lotions for nurses. The products are selected based on excellent user reviews and feedback. Why do nurses have dry hands? Nurses have dry hair due to the constant use of sanitizers, soaps, and handwashes. The formulas strip their hands of natural oils making them dry and rough. What is the difference between hand lotion and hand cream? The major difference is that hand creams have a thicker consistency and high oil content whereas hand lotions have a thinner consistency and high water content. How many times a day can you use hand lotion? Apply a hand lotion every time you wash your hands or every two hours to make your hands remain soft and supple. Do hand lotions make hand hygiene less effective? No, in fact, hand lotions help in keeping your hands soft and supple while catering to their overall hygiene. It is important to use a hand cream or a lotion after washing your hands to make sure that your hands are not turning rough. Why does it burn when you put hand lotion on dry skin? Dry skin may burn when you put lotion on it due to the pH difference between your hand and the lotion. This may also mean that the hand lotion formula is not compatible with your skin.

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