Best Hand Creams for Dry, Cracked Hands (Under $15 and Up)
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Last updated November 2, 2026 with prices from our daily check.
Hands are usually the first place dry skin shows up once the weather turns cold and the heat comes on, and frequent hand washing makes it worse. This page lists every hand cream in our daily price check, grouped by price, with the ingredient and habit advice from the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) so you can judge any label yourself. We have not tested these products; we track their prices.
Cream or ointment, not lotion
The AAD says ointments and creams add more moisture and are more effective on dry skin than lotions. It suggests looking for one or more of these ingredients: jojoba oil, dimethicone, glycerin, hyaluronic acid, lactic acid, lanolin, mineral oil, petrolatum or shea butter. For badly cracked hands, a thick ointment such as petroleum jelly at night is a cheap, proven option.
Go fragrance-free while skin is cracked
The AAD recommends products labeled “fragrance-free” for dry, sensitive skin, and notes that “unscented” products can still contain chemicals that mask odors and irritate skin. It also says to stop using products with alcohol (other than hand sanitizer), fragrance or retinoids while your skin is dry. Several hand creams below are scented, so open the retailer page and check the ingredient list before you buy. If a cream burns or stings, stop using it.
Apply after every hand wash
The AAD’s tip for dry hands is to carry a non-greasy hand cream and apply it after each hand washing, while skin is still slightly damp. A small tube for a bag or desk and a richer cream or ointment for bedtime covers both needs.
Hand creams on sale (1)
Priced below the retailer’s listed price right now.
Hand creams under $15 (4)
Pharmacy-brand and budget tubes worth keeping by every sink.
Hand creams $15 to $35 (4)
Mid-range and scented creams. Check the size: some are 1 oz, others 3.4 oz.
Splurge hand creams over $35 (1)
Luxury creams. A higher price does not mean better results for cracked skin; compare the ingredient list with the cheaper picks.
Ointment and cream staples on Amazon
Bestsellers on Amazon. We don't show Amazon prices here; click to see today's price. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Aquaphor Healing Ointment (14 oz)
Multi-purpose skin protectant.
Check price on AmazonCeraVe Moisturizing Cream (19 oz)
Ceramide barrier cream for face and body.
Check price on AmazonBuying tips
- Compare price per ounce: tubes we track range from about 1 oz to 100 ml (3.4 oz), so the cheapest tube is not always the cheapest cream.
- Wear gloves for dishes, cleaning and gardening, and when you go out in cold, dry air.
- Pat hands dry instead of rubbing, then moisturize right away.
- At night, apply a thick layer of cream or ointment and wear cotton gloves to bed.
- Run a humidifier in the bedroom during heating season.
- If cracks bleed, itch badly or do not improve after a few weeks, see a board-certified dermatologist; it may be hand eczema or another condition.
Sources: American Academy of Dermatology: Dermatologists’ top tips for relieving dry skin
Click any product for its full price history and a link to the retailer.
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