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Looking for the best cruelty-free & vegan hand cream that’s non-greasy yet ultra-hydrating?
In this cruelty-free hand cream guide, I’m sharing the best vegan hand lotions; whether you prefer a scented formula or something with SPF, for eczema or very dry and sensitive hands, or even an overnight hand mask, there’s something for you in this list!
What To Look For:
Let’s first begin by asking, are hand creams vegan? Some hand and body lotions contain animal-derived ingredients and by-products, including beeswax, lanolin, honey, animal-based glycerin, stearic acid, or some other animal-derived additives.
In addition, most drugstore and high-end hand creams are from brands that still test on animals like Eucerin, CeraVe, L’Occitane, Kiehl’s, Aveeno, Curél, Neutrogena, Fresh, Vaseline, Chanel, EltaMD, Vichy, Clarins, Aquaphor, Avene and should be avoided when looking for a cruelty-free and vegan hand cream.
Best Vegan Hand Creams in 2023
Below is a list of the best-rated and best-selling vegan, cruelty-free hand creams and their product claims.
All of the hand lotions mentioned in this post are from brands that have been verified as being truly cruelty-free and don’t test on animals. Note that I’ve included some options from cruelty-free brands that are owned by an animal-tested parent company. If you choose not to purchase from these beauty brands, avoid the ones marked with an * asterisk.
And all of the cruelty-free hand creams have been verified as being vegan-friendly and don’t contain any animal-derived ingredients. However, always check the manufacturer’s website for the most up-to-date information as ingredients and formulations may change.
EOS Shea Better 24HR Moisture Hand Cream
EOS’s Shea Better Hand Cream is all around awesome. Delivering 24-hour hydration, it brings together the super powers of lightweight shea oil and ultra-rich shea butter for both immediate moisture and lasting protection – that even lasts through hand-washing!
O’Keeffe’s Working Hands Cream
O’Keeffe’s Working Hands Hand Cream is a moisturizer that heals, relieves, and repairs extremely dry, cracked hands. O’Keeffe’s products are specially formulated to create a protective barrier on the skin’s surface that locks in moisture and keeps your skin hydrated.
Benton Shea Butter and Coconut Hand Cream
Benton Shea Butter and Coconut Cruelty-Free Hand Lotion is a naturally derived product made up of 20 % Shea Butter and 3% Coconut Oil. This hand cream keeps hands soft and silky. Adenosine in the formula further helps to smoothen the skin.
*Aesop Resurrection Aromatique Hand Balm
Aesop Resurrection Aromatique Hand Balm features a blend of fragrant botanicals and skin-softening emollients that delivers rich hydration to labour-wearied hands and cuticles.
*Note: Aesop is cruelty-free, but Aesop is now owned by L’Oreal, a parent company that is NOT cruelty-free.
Supergoop! Handscreen Sunscreen SPF 40
If you’re looking for a vegan hand cream with SPF, Supergoop! Handscreen luxurious formula protects and nurtures hands with broad-spectrum SPF 40 sunscreen, powerful antioxidants, and skin-supporting oils.
*Fenty Skin Recovery Glycerin Hand Mask
This hand mask intensively nourishes and softens hands overnight as the smooth, cushiony texture soaks in deeply conditioning hydration. 40% glycerin locks in moisture and leaves hands with a soft, glossy sheen. Features a refreshing tropical fruit and floral scent.
*Note: Fenty is cruelty-free, but Fenty is owned by Kendo, LVMH, a parent company that is NOT cruelty-free.
Skinfix Eczema Hand Repair Cream
The ultimate relief for extreme dry, cracked, irritated skin and eczema on hands. Rebuilds the skin barrier with 2 active pharmaceutical ingredients, a blend of healing botanicals, rich natural butters and emollient oils.
*Grown Alchemist Hand Cream
An intensely moisturizing, but lightweight, non-greasy vegan hand lotion thanks to a blend of botanical oils that deliver superior, deeply penetrating hydration leaving skin soft and supple. Enjoy the calm, pleasant, refreshing scent of Vanillin and Orange peel oils.
*Note: Grown Alchemist is cruelty-free, but Grown Alchemist is owned by L’Occitane, a parent company that is NOT cruelty-free.
Hempz Sweet Pineapple & Honey Melon Hydrating Herbal Hand Creme
Soften your hands with Hempz Sweet Pineapple & Honey Hydrating Herbal Vegan Hand Cream with a mouth-watering skin-sation and feel conditioned and revived.
*Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Touch Hand Cream
A luxuriously rich formula blended with highly effective ingredients locks in moisture and promotes a healthy microbiome to help support skin’s natural barrier. This hand and nail treatment comforts and conditions for spa-like pampering in the uplifting Cheirosa ’62 scent.
*Note: Sol de Janeiro is cruelty-free, but Sol de Janeiro is owned by L’Occitane, a parent company that is NOT cruelty-free.
2 thoughts on “10 Best Vegan Hand Creams for Soft and Smooth Skin”
You’re sure the O’Keeffe’s is vegan? Why wouldn’t it say on the packaging? There’s no leaping bunny or “Cruelty Free” anywhere either.
You can find O’Keeffe’s response here when I asked about their animal testing policy: https://ethicalelephant.com/is-okeeffes-cruelty-free-vegan/
They were cooperative and checked all the boxes in our cruelty-free checklist, therefore, I would classify O’Keeffe’s as a cruelty-free brand.
Regarding if they’re vegan.. they don’t specifically advertise their products as ‘vegan’ but I believe some of their products, including their hand cream is ‘accidentally vegan’ in which it doesn’t contain any animal-derived ingredients or by-products.