While your face may be top of mind when it comes to sun protection, you should really consider making one of the best hand creams with SPF part of your routine. No matter the season or the weather condition (sneaky cloudy skies included), wearing sunscreen is essential for protecting your hands from dangerous UV rays that can cause sunspots, skin damage, and even skin cancer.
Regardless of age, our hands are actually super susceptible to damage. The skin on our hands is thinner than other parts of our body and creates less oil, so they just don't hold moisture as well as other areas. And aside from needing extra hydration, our hands are always uncovered, which makes them prime candidates for sun damage. That's why sunspots and other signs of sun damage tend to show up on our hands before other places, if they aren't being properly protected.
At the end of the day, you probably already have a hand cream in your purse, so it won't be hard to swap it for an SPF hand cream that'll ensure your hands are protected from the sun’s rays — provided you're reapplying throughout the day. You'll be glad you have one the next time your hands are on the sunny steering wheel when you’re stuck in traffic.
1A Brightening Hand Cream That Helps Fade Dark Spots
Supergoop! Forever Young Hand Cream SPF 40, $12, Amazon
This SPF hand cream does more than just hydrate and protect hands from harmful rays. It also contains sea buckthorn fruit — rich in omega-7 fatty acids — which is known for its ability to even out the skin tone, and argan oil to keep the skin looking supple while protecting against future damage.
2A Hand Cream Recommended By The Skin Cancer Foundation
Jane Iredale Hand Drink, $29, Amazon
You know you're doing something good for your hands when you're using a cream endorsed by The Skin Cancer Foundation! This broad spectrum SPF 15 hand cream is infused with naturally hydrating organic rose essential oils, liposomal encapsulated apple extract to brighten, and green tea and blackberry extracts to provide antioxidant protection against the sun.
3A Budget Hand Cream That's Favored By Dermatologists
Eucerin Daily Hydration Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Hand Cream, $6, Amazon
With this bargain hand cream, there's no excuse not to protect your hands from the sun's rays. This dermatologist favorite boasts an impressive SPF 30 in one of Eucerin's ultra-hydrating yet non-greasy formulas.
4A Hand Cream That Promotes Collagen Production
Cle de Peau Beaute Hand Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 18, $75, Nordstrom
One of the side effects of too much sun is the depletion of collagen in the skin. This luxurious, protective hand cream contains Damask rosewater to help stimulate collagen production, as well as cherry leaf extract to protect skin from oxidation and rose fruit extract to brighten and even out the skin tone.
5A Hand Cream That Helps Reverse Damage
AHAVA Time to Smooth Age Perfecting Hand Cream Broad Spectrum SPF, $26, Amazon
Users say this hand cream does exactly what it claims to do. It evens out the skin tone and provides endless moisture without being greasy. Along with vitamins (including a stabilized form of Vitamin C) and botanical extracts, this hand cream contains AHAVA's proprietary blend of ingredients: dead sea minerals, date extract, and algae.
6A Fragrance-Free Hand Cream That's Rich In Texture
Sirot Daytime Hand Perfection Cream, $33, evine
Along with protecting hands from the sun's rays, this rich hand cream comprised of nourishing shea butter and a powerful vitamin blend also guards against frequent hand washing and cold weather while evening out the skin tone at the same time. Sirot's fragrance-free dermatologically tested formula is free of parabens, ethanol, and phthalates, among copious other aggressors.
7A Protective Hand Cream That's Great For Cuticles
Deborah Lippmann Rich Girl Broad Spectrum SPF 25 Hand Cream, $28, Amazon
Thanks to an impressive SPF of 25, this award-winning formula from nail care guru Deborah Lippman is a great protective option, but it also receives rave reviews from users due to its long-lasting hydration derived from shea butter, avocado, and jojoba oils — which just so happens to be great for the cuticles, too. For those already dealing with the affects of the sun, a botanical brightening complex helps to even out the skin tone.
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