The Best Hand Creams with SPF According to Dermatologists

This mineral-based hand cream from Unsun provides water-resistant protection for up to 80 minutes, meaning you’ll leave the pool in search of a sparkling beverage long before you’ll need to hop out to reapply. Although it’s also on the lower end of the SPF spectrum Dr. Mamelak loves its soothing and moisturizing ingredients including coconut oil and shea butter.

Hello Sundays: The Best Sunscreen for Your Hands with SPF 30 and Hyaluronic acid

• Pros: Non-greasy
• Cons: Some reviewers claim that the smell is strong

The cheekily titled The One For Your Hands contains all the essentials for soft skin that your hands need, such as hyaluronic, vitamin E and vitamin B5. It also includes aloe vera. And it’s got a nice texture to boot! As one reviewer noted it’s “sun cream that doesn’t feel like sun cream.” High praise, indeed.

What are the features of a hand cream that has SPF?

Dr. Garshick suggests that you look for creams or lotions with broad spectrum protection (meaning they block both UVA rays and UVB rays), and an SPF rating of at least 30. UVA rays can cause skin damage over time and contribute to skin tumors. UVB rays are responsible for sunburns and damage DNA in the skin cells. A sunscreen with an SPF of 30 blocks 97% UVB radiation. SPF 15 blocks only 93% of UVB radiation. Even though many hand creams on the market do not reach the SPF 30 standard (which is the industry standard), Dr. Garshick says that any amount of protection will be better than nothing.

While shopping, you may also run into terms like “mineral” or “chemical” sunscreen. Mineral sunscreen, also known as physical sunscreen, uses ingredients such as titanium dioxide and zirconium oxide to create an actual barrier between you and the sun. This blocks harmful rays. Chemical sunscreens contain ingredients such as aminobenzoic acids, avobenzones, octisalates and octocrylenes that absorb harmful UV radiation. Mineral sunscreens tend to be preferred by those with sensitive skin as they contain ingredients that are less likely than chemical sunscreens to cause irritation. Mineral sunscreens, on the other hand, can leave a white tint, particularly when used by people with darker skin tones.

“Typically, chemical sunscreens don’t leave as much of a white cast,” Regine Mathieu, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist at Behr Laser and Skin Care Center in Fresno, California, tells SELF. “That being said, many companies are striving to create mineral-based sunscreens that are more inclusive.”

The cream or lotion that you select should contain moisturizing agents. (That’s kind of the point of hand balms, right?) You should look for ingredients such as hyaluronic acids, ceramides or glycerin that smooth and soften your skin.

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