Homemade Hand Cream for Dry Hands: The Ultimate Winter Skin Solution
This homemade hand cream for dry hands is the best deeply moisturizing solution I’ve found when nothing else worked.
We recently moved back to the South after living nearly a decade in the Midwest. I have to say, it’s late October, and we don’t have a care in the world about the winter ahead. And I couldn’t be happier, because there’s nothing quite like dealing with severely parched, rough hands due to the harsh cold weather.
If you struggle with dry skin, then I can imagine you’ve tried almost everything to find the best hand cream for dry hands. My husband certainly did. Every winter that I can remember in Illinois, his hands were so intensely dry that they would become painfully tight, rough, and severely chapped, as did his father’s and other friends and family members.
Fortunately for me, my hands never got quite that dry, but my heels came pretty close. I know how much of a relief it was when I figured out how to make a nourishing heel balm stick two winters past. This led me to develop a rich, homemade hand cream for dry hands that provided deep comfort when nothing else did.
This post contains some affiliate links. Thank you for your support. Check out the full disclosure policy for more details.
How do you make hand cream for dry hands?
If you want to make the best hand cream for severely dry or chapped hands, you’ve got to choose your ingredients wisely!
Look for ingredients that are deeply soothing, protective, and superior moisturizers. Nutrient-dense plant-based body butters and carrier oils, for example, help nourish and guard the skin’s moisture barrier with essential vitamins and minerals.
Finding the right combination will put an end to all your dry skin woes!
The Best Hand Cream Ingredients for Dry Skin
Here’s a look at the key ingredients in this intensive hand cream recipe that do just that, significantly improving the look and feel of dry skin.
Shea Butter
If you’re after a superior moisturizing ingredient – shea butter is it!
Shea butter contains fat-soluble antioxidants, such as Vitamin E, which beautifully condition and rejuvenate the skin. In addition to ultra-calming properties, Vitamins A and F help to provide exceptional comfort for intensely dry skin, acting as a protective shield that noticeably softens rough texture and eases surface irritation.
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is another incredibly effective ingredient for dry, cracked skin!
It contains vitamins K and E that help deeply nourish and smooth parched skin. Coconut oil also boasts high amounts of beneficial fatty acids, including lauric acid, which work beautifully to ease the tightness, dryness, and discomfort that often plagues sensitive skin.
Its natural purifying and comforting qualities make it an exceptional match for softening the dry, brittle texture often associated with sensitive or eczema-prone skin types.
Vitamin E Oil
When applied to the skin, vitamin E oil provides unmatched nourishment for dry hands.!
You see, it helps support the skin’s natural renewal process while deeply conditioning the skin’s moisture barrier, bringing back incredible softness and elasticity to rough, dry areas.
While this recipe only requires these three core ingredients, I highly recommend adding a few drops of comforting essential oils like lavender, which is universally celebrated for its incredibly calming and soothing aromatic benefits.
FOR YOU
free printable labels
Print labels for your homemade bath and body recipes from the Simple Living Library. You’ll also gain access to all past, current, and future items in the Library, along with our exclusive Simple Living Weekly Edition.
print yours
How do you restore and soften dry hands?
For best use, scoop a small amount of this homemade hand cream into your palms. A little goes a long way, as the rich cream melts beautifully when applied to the skin. Gently massage it into dry, chapped, or flaky areas.
For those with exceptionally dry or rough hands, apply this cream before bed and slip on a pair of soft cotton gloves for an intensive overnight hydration boost. You may also want to use it immediately after washing your hands or stepping out of the shower to help lock in moisture and protect delicate skin.
Even though this recipe contains rich, intensive moisturizers, I find it feels delightfully light and creamy when applied. Best of all, my hands always feel silky smooth afterward!
Homemade Hand Cream Recipe for Dry Hands:
This home solution for dry hands was formulated with the intention of providing lasting dry skin relief with an easy-to-follow recipe.
Most importantly, we’ve found this hand cream recipe to be more effective than any other cream or lotion. Ready to give it a go? (grab a printable recipe below)
You won’t need a double boiler or any other specific equipment or skills to make it. And the ingredients are natural and easy to find.
DIY Hand Cream Ingredients & Supplies:
This recipe yields 6 to 8 ounces of hand cream.
How to Make a Homemade Hand Cream:
- In a glass mixing bowl, combine ¼ cup of coconut oil, ¼ cup of shea butter, and ⅛ teaspoon of vitamin E oil. Using a hand mixer, whip ingredients together for 2 to 3 minutes.
- Next, add 6 drops each of lavender and cedarwood essential oil.
- Whip once more with the hand mixer until the hand cream has a creamy consistency.
- Then, scoop the hand cream into an airtight glass jar.
NOTE: It’s best to make it in small batches and store it in a cool, dry place.
Find this helpful?
Share it on Pinterest
And while you’re there, be sure to follow Life-n-Reflection for more inspiring ideas.
Homemade Hand Cream for Dry Hands
This homemade hand cream for dry hands is the best cracked hands remedy I’ve found when nothing else worked.
Materials
- ¼ cup coconut oil, virgin unrefined
- ¼ cup shea butter
- 6 drops lavender essential oil
- ⅛ teaspoon vitamin E oil
- 6 drops cedarwood essential oil
Instructions
- In a glass mixing bowl, combine ¼ cup of coconut oil, ¼ cup of shea butter, and ⅛ teaspoon of vitamin E oil. Using a hand mixer, whip ingredients together for 2 to 3 minutes.
- Next, add 6 drops each of lavender and cedarwood essential oil.
- Whip once more with the hand mixer until the hand cream has a creamy consistency.
- Then, scoop the hand cream into an airtight glass jar.
Notes
- It’s best to make it in small batches and store it in a cool, dry place.
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Between my husband and I, we’ve tried all kinds of lotions to keep our skin moisturized. But nothing has worked better than this DIY hand cream for parched skin.
(I’m so glad it’s easy to make because everyone keeps asking me to whip up another jar for them.)
Don’t miss my Soothing Oats + Chamomile Soap Recipe and DIY Bath Bombs for Dry Skin!
Did you make this?
To share your creation on Instagram, mention @lifenreflection or tag #lifenreflection! What did you love most? Leave a comment below!
Thank you for this recipe. It’s straightforward. I’m looking forward to giving it a try. My hands are like sand paper at the moment. Glad I found your site, too.
Awe thanks Pamela, I hope it works for as well it does my husband.
Thank you for this recipe I live in Utah my hands are dry cracked and bleeding I am glad I ran across this recipe I will be making it today.
I hope your hands are feeling better quickly!
hi. do u have a shea butter u recommend?
Yes, unrefined shea butter I use is linked in the article and ingredients.
Kristy, I just made a batch of your hand cream and I have a question. If I leave out the essential oils, can I put this cream into a plastic container? Also, will the cream “melt” if it gets too warm? Thanks!
Yes, you can put in a plastic container. And will melt if gets too warm. If you travel, take small amount of it. I like to keep a little container in my nightstand and bathroom vanity drawer.