Life. Love. Beauty. Paradise: 10 Must-Have Hand Creams

There are hundreds of hand creams on the market, so how do you know which ones are best? The perfect hand cream should feel as though the skin is being fed with nourishment and ideally, it should protect against age spots and wrinkles too. But it can still be hard to find the right one for your hands particularly at this time of year. Cold weather is notorious for leaving even young hands feeling dry or chapped and often aging them years ahead of their time. Our hands are often over-looked in our skincare routine. But when you think that your hands are exposed to the elements as much as your face is, it makes sense to invest in the best hand cream you can to protect them. Just like skincare for your face, your hand cream should contain SPF, fight dark spots and firm up your skin for an overall younger-looking effect.

The Lancôme Nutrix Royal Mains reinforces the surface of the nails and surrounding skin to strengthen and improve the overall look of your digits. I like the scent, it is sophisticated but really light perfumed with a rose scent. The product itself has a heavy texture but once you put it on your hands it becomes really soft. I like the packaging, really nice and clean. It moistures greatly and makes hands look beautiful and well-groomed. It also keeps my nails and cuticles looking their best. Yes, it is pricy but, I personally think it is worth the money and I would definitely buy this product again!

Specially formulated for extra-dry hands, the Nivea Hand Q10 Plus Age-Defying Hand Cream not only smells divine, it also smoothes fine lines and guards against age spots, too. I love the creamy texture. My skin felt hydrated and I've noticed less fine lines after only using it a few times. It absorbs within minutes leaving my hands with no residue other than a feeling of naturally soft skin rather than oily hands. Great for the handbag when you are out and about and need to get moisture in the skin. Would definitely buy this again!

Like Elizabeth Arden's famous Eight Hour Cream, their hand cream version has that vaguely medicinal fragrance that instantly convinces you the salve is working wonders - and it is. This is another hand cream which I love, again a little goes a long way and you don't need to use a lot otherwise it will feel greasy. Very absorbent after application and leaves my hands soft and nourished for a long time afterwards. It doesn't have the usual 8 hour cream scent which I like, this smells more like your average normal moisturiser. Especially good in the winter when hands need extra nourishment. Amazingly, I can still feel it on my hands after one or two washes, so there's no need to continuously reapply throughout the day.

Packed with a whole host of active ingredients, Clarins' gorgeous hand and nail treatment cream takes some beating. This nongreasy hand cream has a lovely light lemon scent. It provides sufficient moisture for my dry hands and nails. It's packed in a small tube which works well at home or in the purse. A little expensive, but worth it. Plus, there's the astringent (a compound that constricts body tissue), condurango bark extract in the Clarins Hand and Nail Treatment Cream, which helps to prevent damp palms. You'll want one permanently by your side.

This is a great, affordable hand cream that gets the job done. It's somewhat of an ointment consistency but not greasy. Absorbs well. It has been great at keeping my hands hydrated this winter. For the price and quality it is absolutely worth it. This is very emollient and moisturizing. Would recommend and repurchase!

This is expensive but indulgent. It’s good for making skin feel more supple and does seem to reduce the look of dark spots and wrinkles. Good news for dry hands is that it keeps skin moisturised even after you’ve washed them several times. Okay, so I don't actually own this as of yet. But I tried samples, since my mom works at Estee Lauder. I will definitely be purchasing this. My hands were incredibly soft and smooth and my cuticles looked like I had just gotten back from a manicure. Not to mention that after I woke up the next morning my hands were still soft and smooth.

I work in dermatology office, so we get samples of Eucerin Intensive Repair Extra Enriched Hand Cream all the time. It's completely unscented, so if you prefer aromatic hand creams then you probably won't like it. Because it's unscented, even my husband adores it. It's lightweight yet super hydrating, no greasy residue, just wonderful smoothness. Essential for use after washing hands and a great size for your handbag/desk drawer (I keep tubes of this everywhere). Reasonably priced, but Eucerin run coupons a lot too, so you should never have to pay full price. Love it!

Another, amazing lotion we carry samples of in our office. Rich, yet fast absorbing, this hydrating lotion starts to work immediately to nourish and restore essential moisture to extra-dry or sensitive skin so that it looks and feels healthier. I have this in the tube version so it's easier for traveling. It soothes my itchy dry skin without stinging or burning like other lotions and creams for itchy skin. It sinks in fairly quickly without being sticky even in the summer and leaves my skin feeling soft and moisturized for more than a day. It's thicker and creamier than usual lotions.

I was given this product in a gift set. Jaqua's Raspberry Buttercream Frosting Hand Crème has a strong, sweet scent. Yummy! This hand lotion not only works great, but it can also curb your sweet tooth. A little goes a long way, and I am always complimented on this wonderful lotion. The really astonishing part is how well it moisturizes and how amazing your hands will feel. They become so soft and smooth.

First of all, I love the cucumber scent! Vaseline Total Moisture Aloe Fresh is a light-feeling lotion for healthy skin. It awakens the skin with a sheer, weightless burst of hydration. I love this I got it as a gift the first time I tried it and I loved the smell I always re-purchase and it seems no matter when or where it is its always cool and refreshing.