Bath & Personal Care

Hand cream

Moisturizing hand creams and concentrated balms, with fragrance-free options for frequent use.

Hands that are washed often benefit from ingredients that retain moisture and soften dry skin.  We favor glycerin, oils and butters in formulas without unnecessary perfume.  A lightweight cream suits daytime use; a wax-rich balm provides a different feel for dry patches.  Added essential oils are clearly identified.

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Motherlove Organic Nipple Cream — Lip & Hand Balm Motherlove Organic Nipple Cream — Lip & Hand Balm USDA ORGANICUSA PRODUCTION Why we recommend it: A concentrated balm for dry hands and cuticles, built around organic olive oil, shea butter and beeswax.  The small glass jar is useful for spot application rather than an all-over lotion.  Motherlove also tests finished products for heavy metals and microbes, according to its quality policy.  Use sparingly and let it absorb before handling fabric. Materials: organic olive oil · organic beeswax · organic shea butter · organic marshmallow root · organic calendula $12.99★ 4.8 · 16,000+ ratings View on Amazon
Dr. Bronner’s Unscented Organic Magic Balm Dr. Bronner’s Unscented Organic Magic Balm USDA ORGANICUSA PRODUCTION Why we recommend it: For dry hands and cuticles, this concentrated balm combines avocado and jojoba oils with beeswax to help hold moisture in. The USDA Organic formula has no added fragrance or essential oils.  It is richer than a lotion, making a small dab useful before bed.  This offer includes two 2-ounce tins. Materials: organic avocado oil · organic jojoba oil · organic beeswax $26.99★ 4.7 · 6,000+ ratings View on Amazon
Balm of Gilead Eucalyptus & Tea Tree Hand and Foot Cream — 4 fl oz Balm of Gilead Eucalyptus & Tea Tree Hand and Foot Cream — 4 fl oz USA PRODUCTION Why we recommend it: Tallow and avocado oil give this hand-and-foot cream a rich, balm-like texture, with beeswax to help hold moisture in. A little goes a long way on dry knuckles or heels, but it can feel oily.  Tea tree, eucalyptus and mint oils give it a strong scent; choose an unscented option if fragrance bothers your skin. Materials: tallow · avocado oil · beeswax · tea tree oil · eucalyptus oil · mint oil $24.99★ 4.5 · 500+ ratings View on Amazon
Urtekram Find Balance Fragrance-Free Hand Cream Urtekram Find Balance Fragrance-Free Hand Cream COSMOS ORGANICECOCERTALLERGYCERTIFIED Why we recommend it: Shea butter, sweet almond oil and olive oil soften dry hands, while glycerin helps them hold moisture.  This fragrance-free cream leaves out added perfume and essential oils, making it an option for shoppers who prefer an unscented moisturizer.  It has a rich texture, so start with a small amount. Materials: shea butter · sweet almond oil · olive oil · glycerin · aloe vera $16.99★ 4.5 · 100+ ratings View on Amazon
Walrus Oil Logger's Hand Salve — 2 oz Walrus Oil Logger's Hand Salve — 2 oz USA PRODUCTION Why we recommend it: Coconut oil, cocoa butter and kokum butter soften dry hands, while plant waxes help hold moisture in. This is a firm balm, so warm a small amount between your fingers before spreading; it can feel oily at first.  Peppermint and clove oils give it a noticeable scent. Materials: coconut oil · cocoa butter · kokum butter · olive wax · candelilla wax · peppermint oil · clove leaf oil $12.00★ 4.5 · 300+ ratings View on Amazon
Honey House Naturals Unscented Bee Bar Solid Lotion, 2 oz Honey House Naturals Unscented Bee Bar Solid Lotion, 2 oz USA PRODUCTION Why we recommend it: Warm this solid lotion between your hands, then smooth it over dry knuckles and cuticles.  Beeswax, shea butter and lanolin help soften rough skin and retain moisture without added scent.  The compact metal tin is easy to keep in a bag or desk drawer.  Made in the USA.  Contains almond oil and animal-derived lanolin and beeswax. Materials: beeswax · shea butter · lanolin $15.49★ 4.3 · 100+ ratings View on Amazon
Moon Valley Organics Lavender Herbal Lotion Bar — 1.9 oz Moon Valley Organics Lavender Herbal Lotion Bar — 1.9 oz USA PRODUCTION Why we recommend it: Safflower oil softens dry hands while beeswax helps keep moisture at the skin’s surface.  This Washington-made solid lotion warms as you rub it between your palms and comes in a reusable tin.  Lavender and lavandin oils provide the scent.  Use only on intact skin, not cuts or cracked areas; choose an unscented moisturizer if essential oils irritate you. Materials: safflower oil · beeswax · calendula · comfrey · lavender and lavandin oils $17.99★ 4.3 · 900+ ratings View on Amazon
Balmonds Intensive Hand Cream — 50ml Balmonds Intensive Hand Cream — 50ml HEMP Why we recommend it: Shea butter and olive, sunflower and hemp seed oils replenish dry hands, while glycerin helps retain moisture after washing.  This pump cream offers a lighter alternative to a beeswax balm without an undisclosed perfume blend.  It does contain Roman chamomile essential oil and limonene, so patch-test first and avoid it if those ingredients irritate your skin. Materials: shea butter · glycerin · olive, sunflower and hemp seed oils · sea buckthorn oil · Roman chamomile oil $17.95 View product
Balmonds Skin Salvation Balm — 50ml Balmonds Skin Salvation Balm — 50ml Why we recommend it: Beeswax seals in moisture while olive, safflower and hemp seed oils soften dry hands and cuticles.  This rich balm leaves out added perfume and essential oils, making it an alternative to scented hand salves.  It has a waxy feel and a natural beeswax scent.  Patch-test the botanical ingredients and avoid broken or actively inflamed skin. Materials: beeswax · olive oil · safflower oil · hemp seed oil · calendula and chamomile extracts $19.95 View product
Chagrin Valley Helping Hands Moisturizing Balm, 2 fl oz Chagrin Valley Helping Hands Moisturizing Balm, 2 fl oz USA PRODUCTION Why we recommend it: A little of this concentrated balm goes a long way on hands left dry by repeated washing.  Shea and cocoa butters soften rough skin while beeswax helps retain moisture, without added perfume.  Made in Ohio, the balm keeps the natural aroma of its unrefined ingredients; it is an oil-and-wax moisturizer, not a lightweight water-based lotion. Materials: shea and cocoa butters · coconut oil · calendula $15.50 View product
Erleia Unscented Solid Hand and Body Lotion Bar, 2 oz Erleia Unscented Solid Hand and Body Lotion Bar, 2 oz USA PRODUCTION Why we recommend it: Candelilla wax gives this five-ingredient lotion bar its solid form without beeswax, making it a vegan option for dry hands.  Coconut and sweet almond oils soften skin alongside shea and cocoa butters.  The unscented formula avoids added essential oils, and its push-up paper tube replaces a pump bottle; it still contains almond oil and may not suit someone avoiding that ingredient. Materials: coconut and sweet almond oils · shea and cocoa butters · candelilla wax $20.00 View product
LüSa Unscented Calendula Lotion Bar in Tin, 1.55 oz LüSa Unscented Calendula Lotion Bar in Tin, 1.55 oz USA PRODUCTION Why we recommend it: Beeswax and rich plant butters make this a waterless moisturizer that can be rubbed directly over dry hands and cuticles.  The unscented calendula version has no added essential oils, and a refill lets you reuse its metal tin.  It is a compact alternative to a pump lotion, although the beeswax means it is not vegan; apply sparingly after washing. Materials: shea and cocoa butters · beeswax · calendula $12.75 View product
Odylique Lemon Butter Hand Smoothie — 2 oz Odylique Lemon Butter Hand Smoothie — 2 oz Why we recommend it: Coconut oil, cocoa butter and avocado oil soften dry hands in a light lotion, with glycerin to help retain moisture.  The complete formula names its lemon, lemongrass and geranium oils instead of an undisclosed perfume blend.  Those oils give it a citrus scent but can sting irritated skin; avoid this formula if you are sensitive to them. Materials: coconut oil · cocoa butter · avocado oil · glycerin · lemon, lemongrass and geranium oils $25.00 View product
Sustain Yourself Unscented Lotion Bar — Refill Sustain Yourself Unscented Lotion Bar — Refill USA PRODUCTION Why we recommend it: Just three ingredients make up this unscented bar: Minnesota beeswax, shea butter and extra-virgin olive oil.  Warm it between your hands, then spread a small amount over dry areas for a rich, wax-based layer after washing.  This refill comes in a glassine pouch, so you can reuse a container you already own.  It omits the essential oils used in the scented versions. Materials: shea butter · olive oil · beeswax $16.00 View product

What we avoid

These are category-level exclusions when materials or treatments are disclosed.  Each product card explains why we recommend it and lists the disclosed materials.

Parabens Phthalates Synthetic fragrance Sulfates (SLS/SLES) Formaldehyde releasers