Tried and tested hand creams for every budget!

I’m not sure if I’m alone in this, but my hands probably get the least amount of love from me. What makes it even worse, is that I have an OCD that involves washing my hands 100 times a day. Some times the skin peels off my hands from washing it so much. Thankfully, in the last year I’ve discovered hand cream! Shocking, I know… but by now you know my life motto….Better late than never! I felt like I was allergic to hand creams in my 20’s. It’s honestly something I gave no thought to. Now though, I try to put hand cream on as often as I can, but I’m also very fussy, so I need a specific type of cream at different times during the day. One thing that is non-negotiable, is that I HATE sticky or tacky hand creams. I’ve tested a few out and I thought I’d share my finds with you.

Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Intensive Moisturizing Hand Treatment (RSP R285/75mls)

The perfect companion to our original classic. This fast-absorbing gel cream for the hands moisturises for up to eight hours. Soothing emollients smooth and soften rough, weather-exposed skin. Signs of dryness and cracking are reversed so hands look and feel soft and touchable.

The love for the Elizabeth Arden 8hr range is real, so this was an exciting product to test. This has a very mild scent, very clearly reminiscent of the original Eight Hour cream. It comes in a convenient tube that is easy to open and close. The packaging has the beloved 8 on it, as all the Eight Hour products do.

Initially when I felt the consistency, I thought it felt really thick, even as I applied to my hands. My first thought was: uh oh, this is going to leave my hands VERY greasy! Not a word of a lie, like magic, the ‘thick’ feeling evaporates and your hands feel so soft and supple. Not a second of tackiness or stickiness. I usually put this on as the last thing I do before I go to bed…for that ‘Eight hour’ benefit while I sleep 😉

Nivea HAND CREAM ANTI-AGE CARE (RSP R41,99/75mls)

With Q10 visibly reduces the appearance of wrinkles and helps to prevent UV-induced age spots with regular use while effectively caring for your hands. 

I really like the flat tube, making it really convenient for throwing into my handbag. Again with the scents, but this just has that familiar ‘Nivea’ scent we all know and love. A very clean, light, ‘white’ scent? Makes ‘scents’ right? lol. The consistency is more on the runny side, so be aware when you’re squeezing it out. It is incredibly light weight, but this one does take about 2 minutes to fully sink into the skin. What I love about this one, is that is contains Q10, which claims to help prevent age spots! As you get older, this is a very real concern!

Oh So Heavenly Soothe and Soften Hypo-Allergenic Hand Cream (RSP R30,99/75mls)

Oh So Heavenly Repair ‘n Care Hand Cream is made for dry, sensitive skin. The fragrance free formula contains glycerine to intensely moisturise hands and prevent them from drying out.

A very affordable offering from Oh So Heavenly, a brand exclusively available at Clicks. I have a thing for white packaging….and this one is just so pretty! The bright white and silver is so aesthetically pleasing to me. This formula is not as thick as my Eight Hour one, but not as runny as the Nivea. Somewhere in between. It has a nice, light scent….nothing sweet…which I love. I don’t like sweet smelling hand creams just as an FYI! This cream does take a while to absorb and I do feel it leaves a slight tackiness on my hands for around 4-5 minutes.

Marula & Fynbos Honey Hand and Nail Cream (RSP R69,95/75mls)

A marula and fynbos honey fragranced hand and nail cream, with argan oil, shea butter and anti-oxidant vitamin E to moisturise skin for 24hrs. No harsh ingredients.

This hand cream does not appear in my pictures, because it was on my desk at work. Also, today I think I have officially squeezed every drop out of the tube. This has been my daily hand cream at work for weeks now and it may be the first hand cream I have actually finished. It has a lovely, light scent that I attribute to the Marula. This has a thicker consistency, but again, incredibly lightweight on the hands and after about 2 minutes it’s fully absorbed. There is no tackiness on my skin, which is why this was perfect for work. I wash my hands, apply and after about a minute or 2, I am good to go. I would repurchase this, but I need to finish what I have first.

That’s a round up of the hand creams I’ve been using and enjoying. Let me know in the comments what you’re using and what you look for in a hand cream!