by Erin Marissa Russell
Gardening can really do a number on your hands, but the right hand cream can literally work miracles to reverse the damage. But with so many hand balms, lotions, and creams out there, how are you supposed to know which are the best for gardeners? That’s where we come in. We’ve sifted through the reviews and recommendations from all around the internet to learn which are recommended the highest and most frequently. Just keep reading to find out more.
Aesop Resurrection Aromatique Hand Balm
The woodsy, earthy scent of this hand balm is appropriate for both men and women. It’s also a good alternative for those who don’t like the citrus or floral scents of most other hand creams. Aesop Resurrection Aromatique Hand Balm is made from botanical ingredients and natural oils that replace the moisture hands can lose from hard work or just being exposed to the weather. Even better, this balm soaks right into the skin, so you won’t be left with slippery or greasy hands.
Find on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3ihvLmC
What Reviewers Are Saying About Aesop Resurrection Aromatique Hand Balm
Amanda H. on Amazon.com: Lives in Wisconsin and is especially grateful for the moisturization during dry winters. Worth the price because of how well it works compared to other hand lotions and creams.
Hendle on Amazon.com: Does a good job of healing damaged hands and cuticles. Appreciates the multilayered fragrance.
NP on Amazon.com: Clean, fresh scent. Very moisturizing but soaks into skin quickly.
Burt’s Bees Hand Salve
All of the Burt’s Bees products are all natural, and this hand salve is no different. This is the most intensive treatment from Burt’s Bees and can be applied after gardening or before going to sleep. Some reviewers had good results putting on cotton gloves after applying the salve and before going to bed.
See it on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3tkf4NV
What Reviewers Are Saying About Burt’s Bees Hand Salve
Jersey Mike on Amazon.com: “Last night I ripped open the box from Amazon and applied this not-very-greasy mixture to my sorry skin three times. This morning my hands are very very close to fully healed.
Elizabeth on Amazon.com: Found the scent strong but not unpleasant. Product stays on hands even if you wash them frequently.
DM on Amazon.com: The salve offers quick relief to dry hands. Not only does it address dryness and damage, it will prevent them from happening in the future.
Crabtree & Evelyn Gardeners Hand Therapy Cream
This is the most frequently recommended and highest reviewed hand cream we found. It’s made without parabens, propylene glycol, or mineral oil. Instead it contains nourishing myrrh oil, moisturizing ceramides, and antioxidant-packed vitamin E. It also includes conditioning, soothing herbs like calendula, clover, and yarrow.
What Reviewers Have to Say About Crabtree & Evelyn Gardeners Hand Therapy Cream
LINDA on Walmart.com: Ultra effective at moisturizing but soaks quickly into skin and does not leave you feeling greasy. Cream has a mild fragrance that dissipates somewhat quickly.
Adrianne Hurtig on Amazon.com: Enjoyed the scent and did not find it overpowering. “It’s simply instantaneous relief to dry, cracked, chapped hands.”
Stephen Beckvonpeccoz on Amazon.com: Praised the green scent and found it appropriate for men or women. Long-lasting without being greasy, keeping hands soft and moisturized.
Find on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3tmtJbh
Gloves in a Bottle Shielding Lotion
As the name suggests, Gloves in a Bottle creates a barrier on your skin to protect from the dirt and grime gardening comes along with. It’s also deep moisturization for skin that’s dry and irritated by wind and weather. It’s a good lotion to use after washing your hands and also works well for those with conditions like dermatitis, eczema, and psoriasis as it helps to prevent rashes or allergic reactions of the skin.
What Reviewers Are Saying About Gloves in a Bottle Shielding Lotion
A Reviewer on Walmart.com: This reviewer used Gloves in a Bottle to treat split skin on fingertips. “I had been doctoring with triple antibiotics with Band-Aids for two weeks. Within several days of using this product, they are healing rapidly. Highly recommend.”
Jenny K. on Amazon.com: As a hairdresser, this reviewer was also dealing with split skin on the fingertips. After a week of using Gloves in a Bottle, she has noticed less cracking of the skin on her hands and fingers. “I have had better luck with this in just a week than I have with the creams my dermatologist prescribed!”
Lynn Sledge on Amazon.com: Says Gloves in a Bottle makes skin soft and supple, not dry or tight due to irritation. She urges shoppers to try Gloves in a Bottle for themselves to see the difference it makes.
Find on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3wljCFO
Kiehl’s Ultimate Strength Hand Salve
This product is described as thicker than most on the market, and you should be prepared for the treatment to take a while for your skin to absorb. For that reason, you only need a little of this salve to treat your hands. You can choose between scented and unscented versions.
What Reviewers Are Saying About Kiehl’s Ultimate Strength Hand Salve
LSo416 on Sephora.com: The salve is thick and soothing, and is protective in winter weather but non-greasy. Doesn’t feel like there is a silicone coating on your hands.
Jessica Delgado on Ulta.com: An excellent hand lotion for those who deal with dry winter hands. This reviewer says she’s tried almost every brand on the market, and found Kiehl’s Ultimate Strength Hand Salve to be the best. “I have a long history of chronic dry skin/hands in winter and this product has saved my hands this winter.”
Len Newsom on Amazon.com: Found that Kiehl’s Ultimate Strength Hand Salve works better than other hand treatments on the market. Although the Kiehl’s option is a little more expensive than other options, this reviewer found that you need to use so little that the investment is worthwhile.
Find on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3KWZlds
L’Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream
If you don’t like the shea butter scent, this hand cream is also sold in lavender or cherry blossom at $25 for 2.6 oz or as a mini one-ounce version for $12.50 in almond, cherry blossom, lavender, or shea butter. The almond scent is the most frequently recommended online. All formulations contain 20 percent shea butter for a punch of hydration.
What Reviewers Are Saying About L’Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream
KBre on Sephora.com: Enjoys the almond scent more than she expected. In fact, she says the fragrance improves with time the longer the product sits on your skin. She bought the small size to carry with her, but likes it so much she now wants to purchase it in a larger size.
Rumplestiltskin on Loccitane.com: Praises L’Occitane’s Shea Butter Hand Cream after having used it since 2009. Hasn’t found any hand cream that can match it for keeping hands moisturized. Keeps two around at all times: one full size tube on the nightstand and a travel size tube carried in a pocket to work.
Abuyer4u on Amazon.com: Has sensitive skin that even has reactions with some products made to be soothing for sensitive skin. Likes L’Occitane’s Shea Butter Hand Cream the best, especially in the wintertime. “It feeds the skin, not coats it, so dry skin becomes healthy, not covered in a waxy, lingering grease. It absorbs pretty fast, too, so don’t expect to accidentally grease up paperwork or touch-screen tech.”
Find on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3CTMJBa
Neal’s Yard Remedies Citrus Hand Softener
This nourishing hand softener has a refreshing grapefruit, lemon, and orange aroma. It’s also full of ingredients to help hydrate your skin, like blackcurrant seed, avocado, coconut, and shea butter. The thick cream isn’t only good for your hands—you can use it on feet and knees, too.
What Reviewers Have to Say About Neal’s Yard Remedies Citrus Hand Softener
Anonymous Reviewer on Gardensillustrated.com: Enjoys the citrus smell and praises Neal’s Yard Remedies for using natural, holistic ingredients. “Your hands feel instantly soft, although slightly greasy. This would be a good gardening hand cream to apply before bed or after a bath when you have the time to let the cream sink in.”
Rose Wilmoth on Allbeauty.com: Likes that the cream feels hydrating and soaks into the skin so well. Also praises the natural ingredients and recyclable glass bottle,
Karys on Amazon.com: Cream is long-lasting, and a little goes a long way. “You don’t have to put on half a jar before it works. I occasionally put on a pair of cotton gloves to keep moisture in overnight, too.”
Find on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3ipNV5H
O’Keefe’s Working Hand Cream
O’Keefe’s Working Hands Cream is touted as America’s leading hand cream. It forms a protective barrier layer on your skin to help hands stay clean and soft. It’s made to treat dry, cracked hands with reparative moisturizers. The oil-free hand cream moisturizes without leaving skin greasy.
What Reviewers Have to Say About O’Keefe’s Working Hands Cream
Casey K. on Amazon.com: This reviewer had struggled with chronic painful, cracked and bleeding hands for 25 years before they tried O’Keefe’s Working Hands Cream. Then they tried O’Keefe’s, and saw a major difference after just three days. “It has improved my quality of life tremendously. I can wash my hands without pain and they look 50 years younger. I have never had something solve any problem so completely, quickly, and easily.”
Tenzin Jamyang on Amazon.com: A registered nurse, this reviewer suffered from very dry, cracked skin on her hands because of frequent handwashing as a registered nurse. They had tried other products to no avail. Just a few days with O’Keefe’s Working Hands Cream, and they saw a major difference. The reviewer acknowledged that this product can be costly compared to some others, but said that the small package of O’Keefe’s would do more than the other big bottles of lotion ever could. As with many of our recommended products, a little is described as going a long way.
Ms. Allie M. on Amazon.com: Did not expect anything to make a difference in her dry, cracked hands like O’Keefe’s Working Hands Cream did. After a few days of use, the cracked areas have healed and dryness reduced substantially. This reviewer also praises O’Keefe’s for developing a cruelty-free product.
Find on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3KXxE4s
The Body Shop Hemp Hand Protector
Hemp seed oil is used in this lotion because of its awesome moisturizing properties. But don’t worry that the seriously high levels of hydration will come along with a greasy feeling. The Body Shop’s Hemp Hand Protector doesn’t leave behind any oily residue. This product is formulated to keep hands moisturized for 24 hours after application.
What Reviewers Have to Say About The Body Shop Hemp Hand Protector
DrowsyKitten on Amazon.com: Unlike some other products that leave behind a layer that won’t absorb, The Body Shop’s Hemp Hand Protector sinks in to moisturize skin. It also continues to do its job all day long. “The scent is super mild but not at all unpleasant, sort of earthy.”
R. Pennell on Amazon.com: This reviewer suffers from chronic contact dermatitis that comes along with dry, cracked skin on the hands. They’ve tried just about everything on the market, they say, to treat their dry, split skin. The first day they used The Body Shop Hemp Hand Protector, their hands were 50 percent better. The second day they were 75 percent better, and the third day they saw even more improvement. Now they are “in remission” from their skin problems and continue to use this product once a day as a preventative measure.
Gary Gehiere on Amazon.com: Describes the scent as masculine and likes the subtle aroma. Loves how long-lasting the product is and that it’s able to offer hydration for hands without leaving them greasy or slick. This reviewer has battled dry hands for three years, but one application of this cream per day has cleared the problem up completely.
Now you’re ready to choose which hand cream is the best for you. You can’t go wrong with anything on this list. Each one we recommended is one of the most frequently recommended and highest rated products on the market.
Find on Amazon: https://amzn.to/36aUtTs
Learn More About Hand Creams for Gardeners
https://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/1697
https://www.gardenersworld.com/product-guides/accessories/best-hand-creams-for-gardeners/
https://www.gardensillustrated.com/garden-equipment/what-to-wear/natural-hand-creams-for-gardeners/
https://www.marthastewart.com/1539185/best-hydrating-hand-creams-gardeners
https://peakyard.com/best-gardeners-hand-creams/
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