We’re calling it – hand cream is an essential part of a bloke’s grooming routine. And before you roll your eyes, cracked, calloused and flaky hands are not only an aesthetic issue, they could also be upping your risk of injury and infection due to a weakened skin barrier.
So whether it’s work or weather that’s doing the damage – here are the best hand creams for men that you can buy in Australia.
1. DU’IT Tough Hands Intensive Repair
This industrial-strength hand cream is a saviour for even the roughest, most calloused and cracked limbs. Its formula includes Alpha Hydroxy Acids for gentle exfoliation of dead skin and vitamin E for hydration, while creating a long-lasting barrier to protect against damage caused by repeated washing, chemical exposure and other irritants.
Price: $11.99 for 150 grams
Review: “I work in construction and had terrible cracking at the end of my fingernails. The pain was at the point that it would wake me up at night. My local pharmacist recommended this product. One day after using the product the pain had lessened and I could see the skin beginning to heal. On the second day the cracks were no longer raw and had shrunk by a third of there size. Thank you! Couldn’t recommend highly enough!!!”
2. QV Hand Cream
If you’re after a bargain you can’t beat QV’s hand cream. With no funky fragrances or colours, it’ll leave your hands soft and hydrated without much fuss (or the greasy residue some moisturisers leave behind).
Price: $6.49 for 50ml
Review: “I use hand cream every day out of habit and this is probably one of the best ones I have used. Funnily enough it is the cheapest. The best thing about this is that it absorbs and does not leave any oily residue on your hands afterwards – so you don’t need to worry about getting residue on paper, keyboard, face, etc. I will continue buying this product.”
3. MALIN+GOETZ Vitamin B5 Hand Treatment
Super soothing and fast-absorbing, the MALIN+GOETZ hand cream feels rich but promises zero wait-time for use of hands after application. It has a natural almond fragrance but it’s not overpowering in any way and the packaging is slick enough to find a home on your bathroom counter.
Price: $35 for 48mls
Review: “This hand cream feels very mild but is highly effective. It’s not oily and has a relatively unnoticeable smell. I’m a bartender and chef so my hands often get into a pretty poor state, but since I started using this after work my hands have been soft and don’t feel dry all the time.”
This hand cream is perfect! So nourishing, smells amazing (I am a female and love it) and isn’t too thick. My now go-to hand cream and I have hooked others onto it too.”
5. Aussie Man Hands
“Forget lavender scents, rose petals and pink lotion. This ain’t your girlfriends hand cream.” It’s a tag line that elicits an eye roll from me (men can like lavender too, you know) but if, God forbid, a herbaceous scent turns your stomach then Aussie Man Hands will do the job. It was created after found Jake, a plumber from Canberra, got a nasty infection through a cut in his hand and nearly lost his arm. If you didn’t think moisturising was essential before you bloody should now. It’s toolbox friendly for the tradies (the packaging is tough, literally and figuratively) and packed with all the good stuff like shea butter and jojoba oil.
Price: $19.95 for 100 grams
Review: “If you want hands softer the Queens knickers, this is the best gear in the business, highly recommend these guys.”
6. Jack Black Industrial Strength Hand Healer
Jack Black is beloved for its long lasting hand moisturiser that soothes calluses, cracking and completely cooked cuticles. It dries smooth and stickiness-free, and leaves your skin stronger than before. The brand doesn’t ship internationally but it’s so raved about we thought we’d better include it and you can pick some up on Amazon.
Price: $31 for 88ml
Review: “AM STARTING MY 4TH BOTTLE. DO I NEED TO SAY MORE?”
[Ed’s note: No you do not, sir]
7. Hunter Lab Healing Hand Cream
Not only does the Hunter Lab Healing Hand Cream keep your mitts soft and smooth, but it helps fight signs of ageing like dark spots and fine lines. Packed with argan, grapeseed and hemp seed oils, which research has found to help reduce itchiness and dryness, especially for those with atopic dermatitis. And to top it off, a lady will definitely appreciate seeing this on your nightstand if used for the stated purposes.
Price: $32 for 80ml
Review: “Love the smell and consistency. It absorbs straight into my dry skin, without leaving my hands feeling greasy.”
8. ClarinsMen Active Hand Care
Whether your paws are parched from winter weather or the worksite – this hand cream from ClarinsMen ticks all of the hydrating, grease-free boxes so you can maintain a soft but solid grip.
Price: $26 for 75mls
Review: “I first discovered this product in Paris at a department store after desperately needing something on my trip to Europe. It is non-greasy and has a nice fragrance and the best thing about it; is that is works overnight, my hands were fine in the morning, the day before the skin was peeling off, but the next day they were perfect. When I got back to Australia I bought 6 tubes of it at the airport. It has been 3 months and I have been applying it every evening (being a chef, working with cleaning chemicals and constantly washing my hands), they have not been dried out ever since.”
9. Kiehl’s Ultimate Strength Hand Salve
Formulated with avocado, eucalyptus and sesame seed oils, this ever popular hand salve offers a ‘glove-like’ protective barrier to help hands severely dried out by manual labour, exposure to the elements and run of the mill neglect. Plus it’s low on scent so most blokes can get on board.
Price: $27 for 75ml
Review: “This hand salve is the only product that stops my hands from feeling dried out. It’s rich and creamy without any residual wetness or stickiness. You only need a tiny amount and it’s the perfect antidote to all that hand washing and sanitiser.”
10. The Body Shop’s Hemp Hand Protector
The Body’s Shops Hemp Hand Protector is a best seller for good reason. Its fast absorbing, non-greasy formula uses hemp seed oil, which has some pretty stellar properties for skin health.
Price: $20 for 100ml
Review: I bought this when my partner was a tradie. It worked very well for his poor hands.
Now we both use it, my partner for after work and myself after showers on my feet to keep them from getting cracked. It makes a huge difference in how your skin feels, even after just one use. We started with the smaller size and it’s lasted us a very long time.”
