Actually non-greasy hand creams?

November 14, 2022 6:34 PM

What is your go-to non-greasy hand cream that is actually non-greasy while still being moisturizing? Bonus points if it’s nicely scented and a little bit more upscale so as to be worthy of being given as a gift.
posted by keep it under cover to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (20 answers total)

This Kiehl's salve is the business.
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 6:40 PM on November 14, 2022 [4 favorites]

I absolutely love JR Watkins Lemon Hand Cream. It's gently scented kind of like a lemon cookie, it's not terribly expensive, the retro packaging is pretty and I have absolutely given it as a gift before. Especially nice for dry Colorado winters.
posted by mochapickle at 7:03 PM on November 14, 2022 [3 favorites]

I’ve been using this for years. A little goes a long way and it has that perfect Fancy Lotion Smell.
posted by fairfax at 7:30 PM on November 14, 2022 [1 favorite]

Herbalind is a glycerie based hand cream in unscented and chamomile.
posted by mutt.cyberspace at 7:39 PM on November 14, 2022

Seconding WPOFiBH on the Kiehl’s.
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 7:42 PM on November 14, 2022

Aveda's Hand Relief is really nice, it has a mild citrusy spa smell, and is giftable.
posted by Sparky Buttons at 7:47 PM on November 14, 2022 [4 favorites]

I love L'Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream. I can use my keyboard and mouse immediately after application. Fancy packaging and fancy name. In fact, I got my first one as a gift years ago.
posted by gakiko at 1:39 AM on November 15, 2022 [5 favorites]

Blue Lagoon hand cream.
posted by Nothing at 2:16 AM on November 15, 2022

I, too, was going to recommend the Kiehl's. It's not completely oil free but it soaks in pretty quickly, smells nice, and does a good job of moisturizing.
posted by Nerd of the North at 2:19 AM on November 15, 2022

I work in labs with lots of glassware, so greasy/slippy is a no go. La Roche-Posay's Cicaplast Mains is the best I've found. It's a hoity toity brand and more expensive than I'd like, but it's the real deal. It's in the barrier cream category, which might be a helpful search term for you, but it is indeed quite nicely moisturizing (and unscented). The feeling of it on my hands is... silky, or velvety? The label uses the term "anti-friction," which is interesting and makes sense once you apply it. I love it (there is a bottle in my work bag, a bottle on my desk, and a bottle that never leaves my suitcase so I never have to worry about accidentally forgetting to pack it on work trips).

Anecdotal but I find the Kiehl's hand salve pretty greasy. Nice, but greasy (leaving visible residue on glassware)
posted by late afternoon dreaming hotel at 4:35 AM on November 15, 2022 [4 favorites]

2nding L'Occitane, smells nice and fancy too.
posted by Dashy at 5:26 AM on November 15, 2022

Aesop's Rind Concentrate Balm is not greasy, but very citrussy.
posted by Morpeth at 7:28 AM on November 15, 2022

The aforementioned Kiehl's is good, but the Typology 10 ingredient Hand Balm is really next level. It's not greasy AT ALL, has a very neutral odor, and absorbs very quickly.
posted by TheCoug at 7:34 AM on November 15, 2022

I have used Kiehls, and L'Occitaine, but my go-to is no-crack cream from Duluth. I like the lemon scent (and I hate almost all scents), but they also have unscented.
posted by dpx.mfx at 7:44 AM on November 15, 2022 [1 favorite]

Vanicream comes in a small 4 oz tube up to a 160z tub with a pump. It's free of dyes, fragrance, lanolin, parabens, formaldehyde. I use it all the time at work where I wash or alcohol-sanitize my hands frequently.
posted by honey badger at 8:35 AM on November 15, 2022 [1 favorite]

Tisserand handcream is really nice - rich but not greasy and soaks in nicely. Smells great, but it is very strongly scented, so ymmv there. Also not stupid expensive but fancy enough to make a nice gift.
posted by BlueNorther at 8:47 AM on November 15, 2022

My current favorite hand cream is Lano Hand Cream Intense. It absorbs quickly and has a pleasant, not overwhelming scent. It has lanolin in it, so it's nourishing and isn't greasy.
posted by Lycaste at 9:27 AM on November 15, 2022

Feret Parfumerie Hyalomiel (parfum violette). Hyaline jelly, absorbs great, nice scent. I think it comes in another fragrance if you don’t like violet. Fancy metal tube, nice package.
posted by Hypatia at 10:20 AM on November 15, 2022

Another vote for the Kiehl's hand salve. Truly some of the best stuff on Earth, especially when your hands get that nasty skin cracking mid-winter feeling like you've dragged them across an old box grater. I don't even bother with any other hand creams.
posted by mostly vowels at 8:17 PM on November 16, 2022

No smell, but Avene Cicalfate Restorative Hand Cream is my go-to. I'm obsessed with it. Non greasy and works fast.
posted by VioletU at 1:50 PM on December 3, 2022