I Refuse To Go Anywhere Without This $4 Hand Cream That’s Transformed My Dry Skin

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From the age of seven, my skin has been plagued with dry, itchy and often painful patches of red in what is best known as eczema — the worst of which occurs on my hands. This common skin condition requires a lot of attention and a lot of product testing, and one of the best things I’ve found is the Gold Bond healing hand cream, which has a massive fanbase outside of just myself.
Ever since I discovered this $4 formula several years ago, I’ve never gone a day without having a tube in my immediate vicinity. That’s how integral it has been to making my severely cracked and irritated hands feel actually comfortable for the first time since I can remember. This is invaluable to me considering how often I use my hands and how visible my eczema would appear whenever interacting with strangers or being in public.
Gold Bond’s hypoallergenic cream is enriched with seven different moisturizers and three vitamins B and C to help nourish the skin, strengthen its barrier, improve its appearance and protect the epidermis from damage caused by environmental stressors. There’s also the inclusion of aloe, a well-tested ingredient known for its soothing capabilities. And like the claim on the tube, it genuinely does last through hand-washing and acts as a kind of undetectable moisture seal.
It’s also one of the only hand creams I’ve tried that doesn’t feel like a complete sensory nightmare on my skin. You know the kind: Those overly occlusive textures that feel greasy and just lay atop your skin, making it impossible to do anything without leaving a slick of oily cream in the wake of everything you touch.
Instead, despite Gold Bond’s shockingly thick and luscious texture, the cream soaks fully into the skin and feels simultaneously imperceptible and yet hydrating and comforting.
One note worth mentioning is that this isn’t a fragrance-free cream and, as someone who has incredibly sensitive skin, normally I’d be vehemently opposed to using it. However, the scent of this formula is not at all irritating nor is it overpowering. Instead, it smells light, fresh and something I enjoy putting on mid-day or post-handwashing. (However, if you have fragrance allergies as opposed to a mere preference against them, then you may want to skip.)
Back to words of endorsement other than my own, Gold Bond’s hand cream has 4.7 out of 5 stars on Amazon and has nearly 25,170 5-star reviews, many of which contain claims lauding its ability to help chapped peeling skin when nothing else could, including prescription creams. Read ahead to see more similar undeniably promising reviews up ahead or risk just $4 to try the formula out for yourself.
Promising Amazon reviews:
“For hands that are dry, rough, calluses, or otherwise abused by daily use, give them a treat with this cream. It absorbs quickly, doesn’t feel greasy, and best of all, really works. We use a lot of different Gold Bond products around our house for this very reason. Do your skin a favor and spread some of this on. Your dry cracked skin will thank you.” — SoCal Thom
“Ok so I finally tried gold bond after everything else failed. Well blow my mind —- the hokey commercials are true! I suffer from a painful peeling skin condition and chapped hands that crack and really hurt. Nothing helps not even prescription creams. Out of desperation I gave this a try. I can’t believe it but after only 12 hours my hands are less painful, smooth and on their way to healing. It smells really nice, too. It’s thick and smooth which I like but easily applied. It spreads easily and feels great. It’s tacky for the first 2-3 minutes then disappears completely. Not oily or greasy or slimy. Hands instantly feel smooth and they stay that way. I gardened and washed up and it was still there. After 40 years of laughing at these commercials I’m a true believer. Wish I’d gotten on board sooner!!!” — B
“I wash my hands a lot. I’m also a knitter/crocheter, so having dry hands feels terrible when I’m working with yarn. I’d previously purchased an expensive lotion for crafters that didn’t make my hands feel slimy, but it didn’t feel like it actually moisturized my hands much and it ran out quickly. I heard about this stuff from some fellow knitters and decided to try it. I was blown away at how awesome it is! It’s very thick, so a little goes a long way, but it absorbs very quickly and I can knit almost immediately without my hands feeling slippery. It moisturizes so well (even after washing!) and I feel like it actually improves my skin. The smell is great… very light (I’m super sensitive to scents) and is reminiscent of grapefruit. I love this stuff so much and have repurchased several tubes so I can keep some wherever I am. This stuff is perfect!” — K. Hanson
“I’ve purchased and then repurchased this product several times because it works! Unfortunately, cold and flu season with a household of children leads to lots of hand washing for me. That on top of washing dishes daily, household chores, etc…my hands get really dry, irritated and recently started to darken from the excessive washing. I decided to start back using this hand cream. By the next day, I could already see and feel a difference. By day 3 of using it multiple times throughout the day, my hands feel softer, less irritated and have lightened. The listed vitamins that are in the cream must be very effective and I’m thankful that Gold Bond cracked the code. Also. The scent is very mild and tolerable. I’m going to continue using this after each hand wash and it should revive my hands back to normal as it did in the past. I just ordered more so that I never run out. I do highly recommend it.” — Frequent Shopper…Honest Reviewer
“I bought this because other things were not working when my hands were very very very scaly and dry. Most of the others didn’t work at the best they sort of work and then didn’t work anymore after a few hours.This on the other hand just was amazing. It completely cleared things up within a day and now I’m keeping them clear and keeping them soft by using it regularly.Each person will be different. Some people might need to put it on two or three times a day, and other people might just need it once in the morning once in the evening or once in the middle of the day.But I have to say that I’m quite pleased by it. I tried all these other things and this is a winner I bought more and I plan to continue to purchaseI suggest you buy it at least one time try it and even compare your right hand to your left hand, putting it on your right hand and the other lotion on the left and I think it’s gonna be superior to pretty much all of them !!!!I highly recommended it’s absolutely amazing.” — Candace Mike N Elmo
Lock in that anti-aging and hydrating goodness with this ultra-moisturizing overnight cream from Gold Bond. The retinol-peptide complex can help to lift, tighten and moisturize skin without leaving you feeling greasy or with the irritation that can commonly accompany retinol usage. Pop it on your hands (and beyond) and start to see and feel the difference. While not explicitly a hand cream, reviewers noted that it is just the right texture for hands and leaves their hands looking and feeling as good as new. Promising review: “It’s light and smooth, very comfortable and nonirritating. I use it mostly on my hands and neck. It feels light and very comfortable and it has no scent which is great for those who are sensitive to that. For the price and the amount you get for a body lotion that have great ingredients including retinol and vitamins i say its worth the try and see how much improvement it gives to the look of your hands and/or neck. I havent used it on my other parts of my body since im using a diff product with retinol on my face. They also ship it with tape on the opening so it wouldnt spill out which is great.” — Emie
NatureWell uses advanced micro-encapsulated retinol to help improve skin tone, smoothing texture and boosting firmness and elasticity. The pump dispenser delivers the right amount so you don’t worry about wasting product, and helps to lengthen the cream’s product life. It’s incredibly popular on Amazon, boasting 4.5 out of 5 stars and over 12,100 ratings. It’s also the most affordable option on this list and the most versatile, as it can be used on hands, face and body. It’s just rich enough to use all over without feeling too greasy, though reviewers find it’s great for hands and arms.Promising review: “Nice smell works well on lighting the spot on my hands and a couple of spots on my face.” — Kathleen K. Goodman “Reduces crepey skin. For 1 week I only put it on my left arm and after a week you can see the difference. The left arm looks so much better and is so much softer than the right.” — Debi V.
This is the one everyone’s talking about. Not only is this night cream for hands formulated with top-notch anti-aging ingredients, but it comes in the cutest reusable vessel I’ve ever seen. It’s a great option for anyone who is serious about repairing and renewing their hands. The cream has a medium-weight density that is soft and slightly waxy, so those who are prone to touching their face or don’t like the feeling of freshly lotioned skin might not love it. But if you don’t mind it, then your hands will thank you in the long run. It’s infused with retinol, colloidal oatmeal and panthenol so you can wake up with youthful, beautiful hands daily. Promising review: “In love with this product! I’ve only been using this product for a few weeks and see a difference already. I’m 60 years old and produce food videos so I’m very conscious of the appearance of my ‘mature’ hands. Theraplush has absolutely enhanced the overall smoothness and texture; so impressed with this lovely cream! I would recommend this product to: Anyone who is aware of the importance of taking extra care of their hands!” — Sheri
The glowing reviews speak for themselves when it comes to this anti-aging hand cream. It deeply conditions not just hands, but nails and cuticles as well, drenching the entire area with vitamins and retinol. It boasts a rich and creamy formula that feels luxurious but won’t break the bank, so you can show off youthful-looking skin with minimal effort. Just be aware that it has a nostalgic scent that might not be for everyone!Promising review: “I like the moisture and lively texture of my hands. Before they looked dry and older because of all the hand sanitizer I have used over the last 3 years. Now they look healthy and feels so soft, and I don’t mind shaking hands if needed.” — Nene Love it”I really like this hand lotion. I am 36 and a hairdresser so my hands get a beating daily. I’ve noticed them aging so I wanted something to help slow that. This lotion feels very soft when you put it on. My kids did comment that it smells like a Grandma. And I think it kind of does smell like it too. Not a bad smell just does have a distinctive smell. I do like it!” — Karen
Get all the benefits of a deeply moisturizing, rich hand cream with the added power of encapsulated retinol with this Beauty Pie cream. It can help with common signs of hand aging, targeting dark spots, smoothing and elasticity. Throw it on before bed and wake up to baby-soft hands.Promising review: “A must for older hands. Wonderful night time hand treatment for aged hands. Helps with age spots and crepey skin. Also very moisturising without being sticky.” — Mary
For a fairly high concentration of retinol, consider this hand serum from Nécessaire. it has 0.25% of retinol alongside peptides, AHAs, amino acids, vitamins and glycerin to hydrate deeply. It’s a great option for anyone looking to treat or prevent crepey skin, dark spots, scars and even ragged cuticles. You’ll feel like you just stepped out of a nail salon every morning. Promising review: “Absolute wonder! I bought this based on a dermatologist’s recommendation, and it really delivers! After a very short time my hands look and feel so much better! I was starting to notice my hands were looking older, and this has really helped.” — ROinCo
I came upon this Robanda retinol hand cream during my research and was intrigued by the fact that it contains SPF alongside retinol. Along with antioxidants, it helps to infuse the skin with anti-aging ingredients and can improve the look of wrinkles and sun damage while leaving skin healthy, smooth and safe from the sun’s harmful UV rays.Promising reviews: “Love the creme. Daughter asked to try it and as she was going back home to CT, called for the exact name and a picture. She loved it also. Works good on old hands. Of course mine are a lot older than hers.” — Aging”I have a stress eczema on my hands. This cream healed my hands in 3(!) days! Now I recommend it to everyone! And use the crème on daily basis.” — Oyuka
If you want something a little less intense than an overnight treatment, try this luxurious hand cream that can be used regularly throughout the day. It’s made with retinol and Chilean tree bark extract alongside antioxidants and other hydrating ingredients, so you get all the benefits of a retinol, but it’s gentle enough to use regularly. Promising review: “Best hand cream ever! I’ve tried every hand cream under the sun and this one is the best by far. My hands were looking very old and wrinkly one winter so I bought this and literally overnight I had hands that looked 20 years younger. The difference was incredible! The thing that impresses me the most is it’s effectiveness, but it’s also feels very nice to use. It goes on light — not greasy at all. it’s very quickly absorbed but you still feel like your hands are soft so there is no need to keep reapplying all day like with other hand creams. I use it once in the morning and once at night and that’s enough. It’s pricey but lasts a long time because you don’t need to use a lot of it — 1 tube lasts me all winter.” — Productjunkie1
Made with retinol, antioxidants and shea butter, this skin-smoothing treatment lotion gives you all the benefits of a retinol cream like encouraging cell renewal, reducing the look of uneven skin and boosting hydration. Just note that it’s on the richer side, so make sure that’s the texture and finish you prefer.
Heads up: It’s available at Dermstore but you’ll get the best deal on it by nabbing it from the official Paula’s Choice website while it’s 20% off.Promising review: “I have only been using it for a week so haven’t seen a change in my skin tone but it has already made the texture better. Also, it goes on so smooth, absorbs well and doesn’t leave a greasy residue. And it hasn’t made my skin get the red and dry early retinol use look. If it does as well with my skin tone, I will definitely purchase it again.” — Leah
If you don’t like a greasy feel, check out this lightweight moisturizer that’s infused with 0.05% retinol. It works alongside ceramides, shea butter and squalane to drench your hands in nourishing, hydrating ingredients that can help to give hands a more youthful, supple, firm and even appearance. That’s a whole lot of skin care benefits for a product under $25!
Note: It’s on sale at Target for about 18% off for Target Circle members (it’s free to join, btw)! Grab it there if you can.Promising review: “Great lotion! As I am getting older I am looking for more products that can help me in the long run. This [cocokind] retinol cream is really making a difference. I use this every other evening after my shower. I have really noticed a difference in the way my skin feels. It is so soft and supple. I am a fan for life!” — Anghess