Hand lotion is specifically designed to treat problems unique to your hands, and can even help with rashes and aging skin.
To help you find the right one for you, we’ve rounded up our top picks of the best vegan hand lotions. Check them out!
In a Hurry? Here’s Our Quick List of Top Picks
- DANI Coconut Hibiscus Hand and Body Lotion
- Avalon Organics Hand & Body Lotion – Lemon
- Puracy Organic Hand & Body Lotion
- Desert Essence Bulgarian Lavender Hand and Body Lotion
- DermOrganic Hand & Body Moisture Lotion
Why Use Hand Lotion vs. Regular Lotion?
Our hands are so important, and we use them for all of our daily tasks. However, our hands are usually the most ignored area of our body.
I can relate – as a busy mom, I’m constantly stripping the moisture from the skin on my hands through cleaning, cooking, and washing them countless times a day.
Water on its own is very drying, but add cleaning solutions and soaps, you are often left with cracked, dry skin. Also, if you live in a dry climate and/or at elevation, dry, rough hands are a way of life.
You may be wondering – why can’t I use my regular lotion for my hands too? Why do I need to buy something separate?
In fact, the skin on the top of your hands is very different from the skin on your palms, and possibly the rest of the skin on your body.
Skin on the top is a lot thinner, and has less oil glands as compared to the thicker skin on your palms.
As a result, the skin on the top easily becomes very dry and needs a special lotion to replace the moisture and balance.
Our hands also end up showing the first signs of aging, and are prone to conditions associated with dryness such as eczema and psoriasis.
Regular lotion is better equipped to handle the low-maintenance areas of your body like arms and legs, while hand lotion has more hydrating abilities for better absorption on hands’ unique skin.
How to Choose and Apply Hand Lotion
Have you ever tried to read the ingredients on the bottle of common lotion? All those impossible-to-pronounce chemicals make applying lotion into a risky daily activity.
When choosing a hand lotion, look for nutritional, natural ingredients with inherently beneficial qualities; rather than synthetic, toxic ingredients which can’t do this.
If you have sensitive skin, it’s best to stick with a fragrance-free lotion void of common irritants.
Other products are formulated to address aging skin or skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, or super dry and itchy.
Think about your lifestyle too. Are you in a job requiring you to wash your hands a lot or use them more than usual? Do you live in a dry or humid climate?
Keeping these considerations in mind will help you choose the right hand lotion to meet your hydration and treatment needs.
Moreover, a good application technique will ensure you’re getting the most of your hand lotion.
Apply lotion to wet hands to achieve the best hydration. After washing your hands, and before drying them, apply your hand lotion.
If you need extra moisture throughout the day, you can easily splash a little water on your hands and re-apply lotion.
Another trick is using gloves at night! Apply your lotion and then put on cotton gloves for the lotion to work all night and not rub off.
Finally, don’t forget your fingernails and cuticles. When applying hand lotion, make sure you pay attention to those areas as well which can also crack and become dry just like your skin.
Things to Look for That Differentiate These Products
All the lotions on our top picks are non-toxic. In contrast, many lotions on the market today contain numerous toxic ingredients which are often reported as leading to cancer and hormone disruption (I’m not exaggerating!).
You can confidently use these reviewed all-natural products knowing you’re safe! Also, they’re cruelty-free and vegan so no animals were used for product testing, and no animal byproducts are used.
There are few differences you’ll discover. For example, some offer aromatherapy while others are formulated for aging-skin.
Meanwhile, others are extra hydrating, fragrance-free, and even anti-microbial!
Depending on your needs, you’ll want to pay attention to the special ingredients or formulations that make each one unique, and we’ll provide you with what you’re looking for.
5 Top Picks for Vegan Hand Lotions
No matter what life and environment you have, our top picks has a hand lotion for you!
DANI Coconut Hibiscus Hand and Body Lotion
DANI’s hand and body lotion is pH balanced and non-toxic with a delicious coconut hibiscus scent making you feel like you’re at the spa!
The plant-based and organic ingredients are part of this careful formulation, and each have a specific therapeutic quality.
For instance, the vitamin-rich shea butter aids in collagen production, protects skin and adds moisture.
Borage oil is a natural anti-inflammatory and treats redness and irritation while preventing moisture loss.
Flaxseed oil improves texture, and the arnica Montana flower and citric acid reduce flakiness and keep skin supple.
These, among many more nourishing ingredients, combine to provide with the best care for your hands in many different ways.
This lotion is non-greasy and long-lasting – use as often as needed!
What We Like
- Nice scent
- Non-toxic, natural ingredients
- Not greasy or sticky
- Gives you super soft hands
What We Don’t Like
- Pump and bottle tend to break and leak due to packaging
- May not be thick enough for some people
- Pricey
Avalon Organics Hand & Body Lotion – Lemon
Avalon Organic’s nourishing hand and body lotion is formulated with certified organic botanicals and essential oils.
The company is proud of their deep-rooted respect for all living beings and the earth. Therefore, all of their plant-based products are vegan and cruelty-free!
Moisturizing ingredients like shea butter, aloe vera, coconut and avocado oil are included along with essential oils like calendula and chamomile flowers.
The refreshing lemon scent is derived from ingredients such as the lemon peel extract and lime oil – no artificial fragrances!
Beta glucan works to restore your skin’s natural lipid balance. So you are restoring and maintaining naturally soft skin!
An added bonus – citrus oil is a natural bug repellent; so this lotion can do more than just moisturize your skin!
It’s recommended you re-apply after bathing or washing your hands and you can use as often as needed.
What We Like
- Smells great
- Certified organic ingredients
- Non-greasy; absorbs well
What We Don’t Like
- Lemon scent is not for everyone
- Some ingredients may be irritating for sensitive skin
- Pump and bottle might leak or break due to packaging
Puracy Organic Hand & Body Lotion
No products found.This hand and body lotion by Puracy is an all-natural, fragrance-free solution. If you have sensitive skin, or dislike strong fragrances, this is the one for you!
This lotion is also safe for all skin types and all ages making it great for the whole family.
I really like how food-grade, plant-based ingredients are used, and it’s been verified by a third-party PhD chemist to ensure its safety!
Plus, the bottles are biodegradable and recyclable, and the refill pouches cut down on waste.
Furthermore, the company donates to local children and families, and the bottle’s artwork supports local artists.
Some of the moisturizing, plant-based ingredients include aloe vera, shea butter, jojoba oil and sunflower oil, and vitamin E to protect your skin.
The formula is very lightweight and non-greasy giving you soft, hydrated skin all day.
Finally, the company provides specific directions on how to unlock the pump to make things easier for you!
What We Like
- Fragrance-free
- Plant-based ingredients
- Good for sensitive skin and all ages
- Non-greasy
- Eco-friendly formula and packaging
What We Don’t Like
- Recent formula change by manufacturer may render different results
Desert Essence Bulgarian Lavender Hand and Body Lotion
Desert Essence’s lotion is more than just hydrating, it also provides aromatherapy to calm stress and your skin!
Infused with Bulgarian lavender known for its stress-reducing qualities you and your skin are in for a treat.
Working together with the lavender are other natural ingredients including sunflower and jojoba oil, green and black tea leaf extracts, vanilla, and clove flower.
You will not find any toxins like parabens and phthalates and it’s gluten-free too!
Also, there are no animal-derived ingredients, or byproducts, and it’s not tested on animals.
Aromatherapy has been used for thousands of years, and offers many benefits to your overall health.
Along with psychological benefits, like stress relief, it has also been used to treat conditions such as respiratory and sinus issues.
Aromatherapy works by using the olfactory system as its vehicle; meaning as you breathe it in, it affects the part of your brain responsible for smell.
The pleasant-smelling molecules then reach your limbic system which positively affects things like blood pressure, memory, stress, breathing, and heart rate.
What We Like
- Aromatherapy qualities; nice scent
- Not oily
- All natural, vegan, cruelty-free
- Non-toxic and gluten-free
What We Don’t Like
- May have difficulty absorbing on damp skin or distributing evenly on skin
- Scent may be too strong for some or fade quickly
DermOrganic Hand & Body Moisture Lotion
DermOrganic’s moisturizing lotion softens, hydrates, and protects while uniquely treating aging skin!
Moroccan argan seed extract is naturally anti-aging and the company’s proprietary BotaniCollagen complex promotes collagen and elastin production.
The argan seed extract is anti-aging due to its natural ability to reduce inflammation and oxidative stress.
Further anti-oxidant protection comes from other natural ingredients including aloe vera, sunflower, and cucumber along with botanicals like lavender, yuzu, orange peel, grape seed, and willow bark.
This lotion is fragrance-free so it’s safe for sensitive skin, and it’s non-toxic too.
Also, it’s non-comedogenic meaning it won’t clog pores; so even if you have oily, acne-prone skin you can use this lotion.
Finally, the natural formula was designed to mimic your skin’s ‘natural moisture factor’ by nourishing your skin’s top layers and encouraging skin cell regeneration.
What We Like
- Great for aging and sensitive skin
- Non-toxic and non-comedogenic
- Oil and fragrance-free
- Gluten-free
What We Don’t Like
- Pricey
Top Choice for the Best Vegan Hand Lotion
All of the lotions on our list are amazing, but one stands out among the others: DermOrganic Hand & Body Moisture Lotion!
DermOrganic delivers quality hydration to your skin, and natural anti-aging capabilities.
Even if you’re lucky to have youthful skin, this lotion will treat your skin and maintain its youthful appearance.
This is thanks to the naturally anti-aging Moroccan argan extract, and the proprietary BotaniCollagen complex which promotes collagen and elastin production.
This isn’t all this lotion does! It’s fragrance-free so it’s safe for sensitive skin, and it’s non-comedogenic.
I love all the natural ingredients delivering anti-oxidant protection to skin! It also creates a balance and natural moisture level.
This product does it all and is our top choice for the best vegan hand lotion!