Key Points
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Hand cream is an excellent addition to an anti-aging skincare routine.
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Skin type and skincare goals are great to consider before buying a good hand cream.
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Learn about specific ingredients that may help meet skincare needs.
When you think of skincare, what springs to mind? Probably facial products and maybe body lotion. Many people overlook the importance of hand creams when considering anti-aging skincare.
It might be challenging to determine which hand cream to consider purchasing. An extensive range of different brands meets different skincare needs regarding hand cream. Certain ingredients may have more smoothing and age-defying effects. Included here is information about key ingredients, benefits for varying skin types, and how to choose an anti-aging cream.
Note: The information in this article is not a substitute for the advice of a licensed dermatologist or esthetician.
What To Examine When Choosing a Hand Cream
When selecting a hand cream brand, skin type is one of the most important things to consider. For dry skin, look for products that protect the moisture barrier. The same goes for people with more sensitive skin or conditions like eczema. These are all critical factors to consider before purchasing hand cream.
by Eucerin
1. Eucerin
For sensitive skin, a great brand to go with would be Eucerin. Eucerin is cost-friendly and has high-quality ingredients. Hand nourishment protection is critical. Eucerin Hyaluron-Filler + Elasticity Age Spot Correcting Hand Cream contains hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid hydration nourishes the skin and reduces the appearance of lines and wrinkles, creating a more youthful appearance. Eucerin for sensitive skin contains no fragrance in the hand cream to create an irritant to the skin.
Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring molecule known for its hydrating and plumping effects on the skin. Dermatologists Jegasothy et al. found that “Hyaluronic acid may keep and retain water molecules, which could help keep the skin hydrated and plump.” Hyaluronic acid can hold 1000 times its weight in water, thus making it a powerful and effective ingredient, especially for a hand cream. Overall, there are many benefits to hyaluronic acid hydration.
by Neutrogena
2. Neutrogena
For individuals with sensitive skin, consider Neutrogena. A cult classic brand, their makeup remover wipes are infamous in beauty. The products may be more minimal than competitors on the market. However, they are highly cost-effective. One benefit to buying skincare products from a large brand, such as Neutrogena, is that, often, more prominent brands have the resources to work closely with dermatologists throughout the formulation process.
Neutrogena has a great hand cream option: the Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream. A benefit to the Neutrogena hand cream, other than it being one of the most affordable options at four dollars, is that there is SPF included in the formula.
SPF is one of the most essential ingredients in a skincare routine, and the hands are an easy-to-forget area. UV rays are highly damaging to the skin, and using SPF may reduce the risk of skin cancer on the hands. SPF formulas may also sometimes be thicker in consistency, and the Neutrogena Norwegian formula anti-aging cream is a lightweight, non-greasy formula. This product uses SPF 25 and active soy for hand nourishment protection and to rejuvenate the hands
3. Supergoop!
Having SPF hand cream is a great idea with summer around the corner. Another great option on the market is the Supergoop! Forever Young Hand Cream. This hand cream contains sea buckthorn and is rich in antioxidants. This hand cream's rated at an SPF 40. Antioxidants are beneficial for the skin, as they work by neutralizing free radicals.
Created as a byproduct of the metabolism or from environmental factors such as cigarette smoke, free radicals (unstable molecules) may cause damage to the skin. Some examples of specific antioxidants used are vitamin C, vitamin E, or green tea extract.
by L’Occitane
4. L'Occitane
L'Occitane also has an SPF hand cream with a slightly lower SPF content, SPF 20. This is another suitable option as well. Their Immortelle Shea Youth Hand Cream combines organic immortelle essential oil and an SPF 20 to combat signs of aging while providing sun protection.
The essential oils presumably smell nice; however, they could irritate the skin — especially for those leaning on the more sensitive side. This is due to essential oils being highly concentrated. This hand cream retails at $38 and is a practical higher-end option as there are benefits to the immortelle essential oil.
Immortelle essential oil has anti-inflammatory properties. It is also known as Helichrysum oil. In the Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology Daniel Antunes Viegas et al. explain: “In vitro studies characterized Helichrysum italicum as an antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory agent.” This finding is significant, as an antimicrobial property of the ingredient is beneficial here — especially as the hands are a popular place for bacteria to collect.
by Murad
5. Murad
Another great ingredient to watch when thinking of hand creams with anti-aging in mind is glycolic acid. Glycolic acid is a type of alpha hydroxy acid (AHA): "Alpha hydroxy acids like glycolic acid work by removing dead layers of dead skin cells. Glycolic acid also helps reverse sun damage to the skin."
Because of these properties, specifically, its ability to reverse sun damage, this may be a fantastic choice for an anti-aging hand cream. Generally, a product that provides glycolic acid exfoliation is beneficial, as glycolic acid also improves collagen production.
A great choice for a glycolic acid hand cream is the Murad Youth Builder Rejuvenating AHA Hand Cream. Glycolic acid is an exfoliant, so this might improve dry hands and increase moisture by ridding dead skin cells and moisturizing living ones. This ultimately reveals younger and smoother-looking hands.
by AHAVA
6. AHAVA
Antioxidants, as mentioned earlier, are a powerful and beneficial ingredient for the skin. Another hand cream that made the favorites list is the AHAVA Mineral Hand Cream. Retailing at $25, this is another solid choice because it utilizes an antioxidant-rich formula with Dead Sea minerals, improving skin texture and reducing aging signs. The comfort of having nourished and hydrated hands is essential as well.
Dead Sea minerals are beneficial to the skin. Dead Sea salt minerals come from the Dead Sea, which borders Israel, Palestine, and Jordan. In the special issue of Fine Chemicals from Natural Sources with Potential Application in the Cosmetic/Pharmaceutical Industry, the findings state that Dead Sea Water, obtained from the Dead Sea and has highly concentrated minerals, does have clinically positive impacts on the skin.
For instance, "Compared to other natural waters, such as ordinary seawater and hot springs, DSW has a very high ratio of divalent to monovalent cation concentrations. The main divalent cations are magnesium, calcium, and strontium, and the main monovalent cations are sodium and potassium."
Specifically, the findings state that there are many benefits regarding age-defying properties as well:
"Especially, the anti-aging effect of DSW and related complexes which may act in three different ways: keratinocyte rejuvenation, photo-protection, and cellular energy elevation.” Higher cellular energy has significant health effects all around; essentially, it signifies healthier cells.
by Strivectin
7. StriVectin
StriVectin is another great brand to find. StriVectin's Volumizing & Rejuvenating Hand Cream, which retails at $29, includes NIA-114 technology, which reduces the appearance of dark spots and wrinkles in the hands. NIA-114 technology contains niacinamide and a blend of other powerful and moisturizing ingredients, providing environmental damage protection.
Hand Cream Considerations
Several ingredients appear consistently throughout these products: for instance, antioxidant-rich formulas, SPF, and hyaluronic acid. Overall, whether browsing through different aspects that products provide, such as glycolic acid exfoliation, or environmental damage protection, there are various things to consider when choosing a hand cream.
Other functional ingredients in a hand cream not mentioned in this article include blackberry complex, niacinamide, and rose hip seed oil. Particularly, blackberry complex is a great ingredient to look out for.
With skin type, price point, and skin care goals in mind, it is easier to refine what products may work better than others. It may also give some ideas of what to look for with different listed ingredients.
Be sure to check out other tips, tricks, and all things anti-aging at AgeDefying.
