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Beauty

The Best Hand Creams Under $25, According To Our Editors

8 hard-working—and affordable!—formulas to soothe chapped hands.
The Best Hand Creams Under $25, According To Our Editors

The dreariest, coldest months of winter are upon us, and our hands will likely be getting the worst of it. Between constant handwashing, blasts of central heating and ongoing exposure to frigid air and wind, it's no wonder they could use a little TLC. Here, Chatelaine staffers share the best hand creams that won't break the bank.

Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Fragrance-Free Hand Cream, $8 for 50 mL

The Best Hand Creams Under $25, According To Our Editors

“I can put this lightweight, water-based hand cream on and immediately go back to my keyboard without greasy fingers. I have atopic dermatitis, and this cream doesn't irritate any of the cuts and scratches on my hands. Plus, if you get lucky, you can get it on sale for just $5!” –Aimee Nishitoba, deputy art director

Kiehl's Ultimate Strength Hand Salve, $25 for 75 mL

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The Best Hand Creams Under $25, According To Our Editors

“At the start of the pandemic, a friend gifted my wife and me a care package filled with Kiehl's products, including their Ultimate Strength Hand Salve. Since then, it's been a fixture on my nightstand—the only hand cream that keeps my skin from cracking in the winter amid all of the dry air and frequent handwashing (it's flu season!). It's rich but not greasy like other creams I've tried, and a dime-sized dab is enough to keep my hands feeling hydrated.” –Erica Lenti, deputy editor, features

La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Mains, $15 for 100 mL

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The Best Hand Creams Under $25, According To Our Editors

“La Roche-Posay's Cicaplast Baume B5 is one of my all-time favourite skincare products, so I was delighted to come across this hand cream from the same line on a recent trip to the drugstore. It's fragrance-free, gentle on my sensitive skin and incredibly effective. While the texture is thicker and more gel-like than the original balm, there's zero stickiness once it's massaged into the skin.” –Andréanne Dion, senior style and beauty editor

Glysomed Hand Cream, $9 for 150 mL

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The Best Hand Creams Under $25, According To Our Editors

“I should moisturize my hands more often—especially in the winter—but even though I don’t apply it as often as I should, the Glysomed hand cream works really well for me. It’s thick enough that it immediately softens my hands, but it doesn’t feel heavy once it’s rubbed in. Bonus tip: To avoid greasy hands, I like to put a dab on the back of one hand and rub it in using the back of the other, wait a little and then massage the excess into my palms.” –Kevin John Siazon, associate editor, Canadian Business

Flexitol Anti-Age Hand Balm, $15 for 40 mL

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The Best Hand Creams Under $25, According To Our Editors

“I’m currently using this hand balm. I love that it doesn’t leave any greasy residue—and it works! It's made with shea butter, lanolin, aloe vera and urea, so it’s super moisturizing. Plus, you only need a small amount.” –Sun Ngo, creative director

Lovely Body Satin Body Butter, $24 for 236 mL

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The Best Hand Creams Under $25, According To Our Editors

“This isn’t a hand cream per se, but when I want to seriously moisturize my hands (and my feet, and all my other parched spots) I turn to this luxurious body butter that’s made in my hometown of Thunder Bay, Ont. It’s thick but not greasy, absorbs quickly and comes in a variety of delectable seasonal fragrances. Right now, I'm into the cedar-y Sauna–currently sold out—but there are loads of other scents to choose from, including the rich and warm Sandalwood & Amber.” –Maureen Halushak, editor-in-chief

Shea Butter, $8 for 270g

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The Best Hand Creams Under $25, According To Our Editors(Photo: iStock)

“I've been trying to reduce the amount of packaging I put in both our garbage and recycling bins, but only make the switch to low-waste products if the packaging-free version is good. (So far, shampoo bars are a yes and conditioner bars a resounding no.) When my old hand cream ran out, I filled a small jar with shea butter from my local zero-waste grocery. While the repurposed Fleischmann's Bread Machine Yeast jar on my bedside table lacks a certain glamour and the butter takes a bit of massaging to rub in, it does the trick for my dry winter hands. When I have more time I may try to make a DIY hand cream, with the addition of some coconut oil and essential oils, but for now it's green, cheap and effective—which is really all I'm looking for.” –Gillian Grace, deputy editor, digital

Aruba Aloe Ultra Intensive Aloe Creme, $26 for 59 mL

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The Best Hand Creams Under $25, According To Our Editors

“Aruba claims that its aloe—a massive cash crop for the country that once covered nearly two thirds of the island—is of the highest quality in the world. While that's hard to prove, I can say from having used this hand cream for a couple of years that their aloe makes some of the best lotions I've ever used. Aruba Aloe's Ultra Intensive Cream is meant for sunburns and eczema breakouts, but it works great on dry hands, too.” –Chantal Braganza, deputy food editor

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