Best Vegan Hand Cream for Soft and Supple Skin

Find answers to the most frequently asked questions about the best vegan hand creams below. We cover everything from when to apply hand cream, natural exfoliators, and natural UV protection so that your hands stay soft and smooth. 

Should you use hand cream every day?

Yes, everyday use of hand cream has been shown through clinical research to alleviate and prevent skin dryness. Excessive handwashing with soap can strip your skin of its natural oils. Using hand cream after washing your hands returns healthy oils to the skin to reduce or prevent dryness. 

Can you use too much hand cream?

Yes, you can use too much hand cream. While it is essential to hydrate your skin after washing your hands and body, if you over-moisturize, your body will slow the production of the lubricating oils it needs. 

That said, over-moisturizing your hands and body is less likely to have harmful effects than over-moisturizing your face. Hand cream and body lotions are fast-absorbing, while face creams are typically slower to absorb for prolonged hydration and protection throughout the day. 

Can hand cream make your hands drier?

Yes, if a hand cream is water-based, it will make your hands feel drier. The water inside of water-based hand creams evaporates when you apply them to your skin, leaving the skin feeling tight. Instead, choose an oil-based hand cream. The oil evaporates slower than water and leaves nutrients that soothe skin dryness. 

You may also experience drier hands after using some lotions because of artificial fragrances or synthetic chemicals. 

Chemicals and artificial fragrances can irritate the skin more than soothe it. Instead, choose a hand cream that uses natural ingredients and plant-based fragrances. Natural ingredients in hand creams return essential vitamins to your skin and leave them feeling softer than before. 

Can I use moisturizer as hand cream?

Yes, you can use moisturizer as hand cream, but we would not recommend it outside of vacation when you need to travel really light. 

Your skin is the biggest organ in your body, and each part gets different exposure to the sun and elements, so each part of your body needs slightly different levels of UV protection. 

Face moisturizer works to protect the pores of your face, which see the elements 24/7. 

Most face creams include SPF. Since your hands also get a lot of sun exposure, face cream on your hands makes sense. However, many face moisturizers utilize ingredients that close pores and tighten the skin. These ingredients from face moisturizers could result in tightness and dryness of the hands. 

What makes hand cream vegan?

Like all vegan products, hand cream is vegan when it does not use animal products in manufacturing. Vegan means no animal fats, milk, or even honey gets added to these hand creams. A vegan product must also not test its products on animals. 

Vegan hand creams indicate they are cruelty-free and plant-based on the packaging, usually with a symbol. You can also read the ingredients to determine if the manufacturer uses any animal products in their manufacturing. 

The best vegan hand creams use specific natural ingredients to return healthy oils to your skin and protect it from the elements like the wind and the sun. They also forgo the use of chemicals and additives that could have harmful effects when applied to your skin. 

When is the best time to apply hand cream?

You should apply your hand cream at night. Throughout the day, you wash your hands and touch things that remove the lotion from your hands.  

A nighttime moisturizing routine will let the natural oils soak into your skin when you are not as likely to wipe it off. You can sleep and allow the hand cream to work its magic, improving the look and feel of your skin.

Should I exfoliate my hands before I apply hand cream?

Yes, you should exfoliate your skin before applying hand cream. Exfoliation before using hand cream is a good practice for maintaining soft, hydrated, and nourished skin. 

Exfoliating is an easy way to remove dead skin cells that cause roughness. Dry skin occurs when the skin does not get adequate hydration due to the elements or excessive hand washing. By removing the old layer of skin, exfoliating exposes the healthier skin underneath. Apply hand cream after exfoliating to protect and nourish the new layer of skin. 

Some common vegan exfoliators are: 

• Sugar 
• Coffee grounds 
• Baking soda
• Oatmeal 
• Sea salt
• Cinnamon 

Should I wear hand cream with SPF? 

Yes, you should wear hand cream with SPF or natural ingredients that protect your skin from sun and UV damage. Your hands get exposed to the sun regularly. Vegan SPF hand cream hydrates your hands and prevents your skin from drying. 

Natural ingredients that protect skin from sun and UV damage include: 

• Beta-carotene
• Lycopene 
• Epi­gallocatechin gallate (ECGC) & Polyphenols 
• Lutein 
• Vitamin C 
• Astaxanthin 
• Omega 3 & 6

Vitamin D production starts when sun and UV rays touch our skin. While using SPF blocks the damaging properties of the sun, it also hinders vitamin D production. You should consider taking a vitamin D supplement if you wear SPF regularly. Speak with a healthcare practitioner first to determine if it is necessary for you. 

Is it bad if hand cream contains alcohol?

It is not advisable to use hand creams that contain alcohol because excessive use of alcohol is known to harm your skin. Small amounts of alcohol in a hand cream are likely not a big deal, but if you have sensitive, eczema-prone, or dry skin, it could irritate you more than alleviate you. 

Vegan hand cream without alcohol uses natural ingredients to replenish the nutrients in your skin. Alcohol in hand creams strips your skin of nutrients and dysregulates natural oil production. The stripping leaves your skin with too much or too little oil.