Do you really need a hand cream or is your regular moisturiser enough?

India Today

15-05-2025

Keeping up with a skincare routine is a challenge these days, and most of you will agree. Just when your skin gets accustomed to one ritual, voila, there's a new serum on the shelf demanding your attention. And dear women, we understand—it's never enough. Not just your face, your feet, hands, legs—every part of your body deserves to be pampered. And skincare brands like Kiehl's and Rare Beauty are doing the drill just right.advertisementPerhaps that's why hand creams have found a new wave of popularity, especially among Gen Z and Millennials.While the love for fragrant, luscious hand creams can partly be traced back to the Covid-19 days, when frequent handwashing was non-negotiable and left hands dry, the obsession with these pocket-sized moisturisers hasn't faded post-pandemic. The craze is so real that even luxury brands have launched their own line of hand creams, and for skincare junkies, there's no looking back.
But while there's now an entire thriving industry (valued at $18.11 billion in 2023) dedicated to the hand-ey business, it also makes us wonder:Do you really need a hand cream, or is your regular moisturiser enough to keep your hands happy?Moisturiser vs Hand Cream: Is there really a difference?At first glance, both moisturisers and hand creams seem to serve the same purpose, hydrating and protecting the skin. But as dermatologists will tell you, they aren't always interchangeable.advertisement'Any sufficiently hydrating cream will do the work,' says Dr Garima Tyagi, dermatologist at SENS Clinic. 'However, for particularly dry hands or for those who frequently wash their hands, the formulation of hand creams may be beneficial.'Hand creams are often thicker, richer, and specifically designed to penetrate the tougher skin on your palms and knuckles. They tend to contain a higher concentration of occlusive and emollient ingredients like shea butter, glycerine, squalene, ceramides and petrolatum, which help seal in moisture and protect the skin barrier. They're not just diluted body lotions in fancier tubes; they're targeted, heavy-duty hydrators.Marketing gimmick or skin saviour?Let's get real for a second. Do beauty brands market hand creams with a little extra gloss and glamour? Absolutely. But does that mean the product itself is redundant? Not necessarily.'Unless you are afflicted by a skin condition, or are in a profession where you must frequently wash or disinfect your hands, or come in contact with aggressive chemicals, you do not need a specially formulated hand cream,' Dr Tyagi explains. 'But for people in those categories, heavy-duty moisturising creams are important. Otherwise, it's just a personal choice.'So, can your body lotion pull double duty?The short answer: yes, if it's packed with barrier-repairing ingredients like ceramides, lipids, and humectants. The longer answer: it depends on the situation.advertisement'If your lotion includes key moisturising agents like glycerine or petroleum jelly, it can be used interchangeably,' says Dr Tyagi. 'That said, people who need to actively use their hands all day may benefit more from a fast-absorbing hand cream over a greasy or slow-absorbing lotion.'Texture also matters. The best hand creams are non-greasy and absorb quickly because let's be honest, no one wants to leave oily fingerprints on their phone screen or keyboard.Tips for hands that look (and feel) greatBy now, most of you know, skincare doesn't end with just your face; it goes way beyond that. Your hands, feet and legs need some pampering too, and for supple hands, you should start with the basics.'Use a gentle soap, scrub adequately to remove germs, and follow it up with an alcohol-based hand rub if needed,' says Dr Tyagi. 'Then always apply a moisturiser to protect your hands from dryness.'The dermatologist's rule of thumb for flawless hands? Cleanse, moisturise, and protect. Some advanced hand creams even come with added perks like repairing microtears, strengthening nails, or fading pigmentation from sun damage. Think of it as skincare's version of a multitasking serum, just in a tube.advertisementDr Ravali Yalamanchili, consultant- dermatology, Arete Hospital, shares a handy trick for those who find hand care tedious: 'Apply the excess product you use on your face, like moisturisers, sunscreen, or retinol-based lotions—onto your hands. It's an easy way to extend your skincare without adding another step.'The verdictYou don't need a hand cream unless your hands are crying out for one, but if they are, it's worth making the splurge.