Top 5 Non-Greasy Hand Creams in the UK for Dry and Chapped Skin

The best (non-greasy) hand creams in the UK to soften dry and chapped skin, tested

The skin on your hands is exposed to all sorts of stressors, from cold weather to cleaning products. Even hand soap can strip skin of its natural oils, causing dryness and irritation. Whether you’re struggling with skin dryness or want something with anti-ageing benefits, there’s probably a hand cream that can help.

The best hand cream for you will depend on the specific problems you’re facing, so I asked dermatologists to identify the best ingredients for each goal. The recommendations here are a result of weeks of thorough testing, based on the expert advice I received.

At a glance

Best hand cream overall:
L’Occitane shea butter hand cream
£25 for 150ml at M&S (https://go.skimresources.com/?id=114047X1572903&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.marksandspencer.com%2Fshea-butter-hand-cream-150ml%2Fp%2Fhbp60543426&sref=https://www.theguardian.com/thefilter/2026/jan/15/best-hand-cream-tested-uk)

Best budget hand cream:
E45 Repairing hand cream
£5.99 for 50ml at Boots (https://go.skimresources.com/?id=114047X1572903&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.boots.com%2Fe45-repairing-hand-cream-for-dry-and-damaged-hands-50ml-10363508&sref=https://www.theguardian.com/thefilter/2026/jan/15/best-hand-cream-tested-uk)

I occasionally suffer from eczema on my hands, especially if I’ve neglected to wear gloves while cleaning, so I’m also painfully aware which creams can help calm down flare-ups.

How I tested

I tested 15 hand creams from popular manufacturers, taking notes on skin-hydration levels, star ingredients and how good each cream felt on application.

Nobody wants to be left with slippery, oily hands, so I noted how quickly each cream sank into my skin. If a cream was scented, I checked how well the fragrance stuck around after application.

I also used a moisture reader to test the hydration levels of my hands before and after using each hand cream. I washed my hands as usual during this period, testing my hydration levels after each wash. This showed how well hydration levels lasted without needing reapplication.

I took a close look at each hand cream’s ingredients list, checking for the dermatologist-recommended active ingredients in decent quantities, as well as any common irritants, such as alcohols or heavy fragrance.

The best hand creams in 2026

Best hand cream overall:
L’Occitane shea butter hand cream
L’Occitane
Shea butter hand cream
from £25
What we love
Soothing, softening and protective without feeling greasy
What we don’t love
Aluminium tubes are prone to splitting
£25 for 150ml at M&S (https://go.skimresources.com/?id=114047X1572903&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.marksandspencer.com%2Fshea-butter-hand-cream-150ml%2Fp%2Fhbp60543426&sref=https://www.theguardian.com/thefilter/2026/jan/15/best-hand-cream-tested-uk)
£25 for 150ml at Amazon (https://go.skimresources.com/?id=114047X1572903&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.co.uk%2FLOCCITANE-Butter-Luxury-Nourishing-Formula%2Fdp%2FB09JZQSM6C%2F&sref=https://www.theguardian.com/thefilter/2026/jan/15/best-hand-cream-tested-uk)
The L’Occitane shea butter hand cream launched more than 30 years ago and has rightly become a handbag essential. It’s formulated with 20% shea butter, making it beautifully soothing, softening and protective without feeling greasy. I’ve used this hand cream for years and it’s never let me down, especially in the colder months when my hands need extra TLC.
Why we love it
Alongside a high concentration of moisturising shea butter, this hand cream includes humectant glycerine to help draw moisture into the skin for hydration. Argan and coconut oils also help soften and condition. Despite its rich, buttery consistency, the cream is fast-absorbing, leaving skin feeling instantly hydrated, and it doesn’t leave a greasy residue.
That hydrated feeling lasted between multiple washes, as confirmed by my moisture-meter tests. And, since the cream has a jasmine and ylang-ylang scent, it was a pleasure to reapply when the time came for a top-up.
This 150ml recyclable tube is the best-value way to buy this cream, but it’s also available in a 30ml handbag size (https://go.skimresources.com/?id=114047X1572903&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.johnlewis.com%2Floccitane-shea-karite-hand-cream%2Fp114443738%3Fsize%3D30ml&sref=https://www.theguardian.com/thefilter/2026/jan/15/best-hand-cream-tested-uk).
It’s a shame that … it’s expensive, and the aluminium tube tends to split when it’s getting towards empty. If this happens, I recommend decanting the leftover product into a reusable tub so nothing goes to waste.
Price per ml: about 17p
Key ingredients: shea butter, argan and coconut oil
Vegan: yes
Certified cruelty-free: no

Best budget hand cream:
E45 repairing hand cream
E45
Repairing hand cream
from £4.79
What we love
Great value, as a little cream goes a long way
What we don’t love
It’s neither vegan, nor certified cruelty free
£5.99 for 50ml at Boots (https://go.skimresources.com/?id=114047X1572903&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.boots.com%2Fe45-repairing-hand-cream-for-dry-and-damaged-hands-50ml-10363508&sref=https://www.theguardian.com/thefilter/2026/jan/15/best-hand-cream-tested-uk)
£4.79 for 50ml at Amazon (https://go.skimresources.com/?id=114047X1572903&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.co.uk%2FE45-Repairing-Hand-Cream-50ml%2Fdp%2FB0DCZYVZ11&sref=https://www.theguardian.com/thefilter/2026/jan/15/best-hand-cream-tested-uk)
This budget-friendly cream is also my favourite option for sensitive skin and eczema. It has a simple fragrance-free formula, including some of the best ingredients for hydrating and healing cracked skin. Its rich texture means a little cream goes a long way, so this 50ml tube will last you through a whole winter.
Why we love it
The cream includes 10% urea, a natural moisturising factor (NMF) that helps to hydrate and gently soften thickened areas of the skin. This, paired with the hydrating glycerine, has a smoothing effect on the hands, helping to keep them soft with continued use.
I found this cream particularly lovely to use. On application, it was immediately cooling and hydrating, like a refreshing drink of water for the hands. Its thicker texture felt nourishing, without feeling sticky or heavy. It’s an easy recommendation for most people, but especially those with sensitive skin.
It’s a shame that … it’s not vegan or cruelty-free, and those who prefer to use a scented hand cream won’t find any fragrance here.
Price per ml: from about 10p
Key ingredients: urea, glycerine
Vegan: no
Certified cruelty-free: no

Best for dry, chapped hands:
Margaret Dabbs Pure Hands repairing hand cream
Margaret Dabbs
Pure Hands repairing hand cream
£18
What we love
Rebuilds the skin barrier with every application
What we don’t love
The scent isn’t for everyone, and it lingers for hours
£18 for 75ml at Victoria Health (https://go.skimresources.com/?id=114047X1572903&url=https%3A%2F%2Fvictoriahealth.com%2Fpure-repairing-hand-cream&sref=https://www.theguardian.com/thefilter/2026/jan/15/best-hand-cream-tested-uk)
Dry, chapped hands need rehydrating and a layer of protection to help lock in moisture, allowing the skin barrier to heal. Margaret Dabbs’s Pure Hands goes one step further with an ingredient that helps strengthen the skin barrier every time you apply it.
Why we love it
The natural ingredient in question is Pentavitin (scientifically known as saccharide isomerate). This is a plant-derived carbohydrate that acts as a hydrating humectant and a skin-barrier strengthener by binding to the keratin in your skin.
In the formula you’ll also find softening, anti-inflammatory sweet almond oil and vitamin F Forte, which is a protective complex commonly used to treat dry and sensitive skin.
I found this cream hydrated my skin well, with hydration levels lasting through three hand washes before starting to dip. It also softened the thicker areas of my hands, while soothing my fragile, often irritated cuticles. Its rose and lemon scent lingered for a few hours, too.
It’s a shame that … its scent won’t be for everyone, and the packaging is plastic. I’d prefer aluminium tubes, which are easier to recycle (even if they are more prone to splitting).
Price per ml: 24p
Key ingredients: Pentavitin, glycerine, sweet almond oil, vitamin F Forte
Vegan: yes
Certified cruelty-free: yes

Best hand cream for ageing skin:
Lancôme Absolue the hand cream
Lancôme
Absolue The Hand Cream
from £56
What we love
Packed with quality ingredients to slow skin ageing
What we don’t love
At more than £1 per ml, anti-ageing comes at a price
£56 for 50ml at John Lewis (https://go.skimresources.com/?id=114047X1572903&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.johnlewis.com%2Flancome-absolue-the-hand-cream-50ml%2Fp113108657&sref=https://www.theguardian.com/thefilter/2026/jan/15/best-hand-cream-tested-uk)
£56 for 50ml at Lookfantastic (https://go.skimresources.com/?id=114047X1572903&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lookfantastic.com%2Fp%2Flancome-absolue-the-hand-cream-50ml%2F16167521%2F&sref=https://www.theguardian.com/thefilter/2026/jan/15/best-hand-cream-tested-uk)
Hands are exposed to more environmental stressors than any other part of the body, so are often the first place to show signs of ageing. This luxurious cream from Lancôme promises to plump the skin on the hands and defend it from further damage.
Why we love it
This cream has lots of natural moisturising factors, ceramides and antioxidants to help protect and restore firmness. Specifically, it includes Pro-Xylane (hydroxypropyl tetrahydropyrantriol), a naturally derived anti-ageing ingredient (https://www.theguardian.com/thefilter/2025/apr/05/best-anti-ageing-products-treatments) that thickens and plumps the skin. It works by strengthening the connection between the top and bottom layers of skin – connections that get weaker as we age, as collagen production slows. The cream also has soothing niacinamide, antioxidant vitamin E, shea butter and ceramide NP to protect the skin from daily life.
In my tests, I enjoyed this cream’s thick, satin-like feel and light rose scent. It had an immediate softening effect on my skin, with a notable increase in hydration levels. As I would expect for a cream at this price, it also didn’t feel greasy – making it simple to apply during busy days.
It’s a shame that … it’s so expensive.
Price per ml: £1.12
Key ingredients: NMFs, ceramides, niacinamide, vitamin E, shea butter, glycerine
Vegan: no
Certified cruelty-free: no

Best hand cream for cuticle and nail care:
Weleda Skin Food
Weleda
Skin Food
from £9.96
What we love
All the hard-working ingredients
What we don’t love
The smell really isn’t appealing
£11.96 for 75ml at Lookfantastic (https://go.skimresources.com/?id=114047X1572903&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lookfantastic.com%2Fp%2Fweleda-skin-food-75ml%2F10540680%2F&sref=https://www.theguardian.com/thefilter/2026/jan/15/best-hand-cream-tested-uk)
£9.96 for 75ml at Amazon (https://go.skimresources.com/?id=114047X1572903&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.co.uk%2FMoisturiser-Moisturising-Multiple-Certified-Natural%2

Top 5 Non-Greasy Hand Creams in the UK for Dry and Chapped Skin | Tested and Reviewed (2026)

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