Best Hand Creams and Scrubs for Gardeners: Soothe and Protect Hardworking Hands

Gardening takes a toll on hands—soil, rocks, tools, and constant washing lead to dry, cracked skin. A good hand cream or scrub can restore moisture, heal damage, and even repel insects. Here’s a curated list of top products loved by gardeners.

Hand Creams & Salves

Crabtree & Evelyn Gardeners Hand Therapy Cream

Formulated with shea butter, green clover, lavender, yarrow, and calendula. Nourishes and protects. Available online and in stores worldwide ($15–20).

Queen Bee Sauce Butta Hand Cream for Gardeners

Whipped‑butter texture with camphor, cinnamon oil, lemongrass, lavender, catnip, aloe, and mango/coconut/palm oils. Fragrance deters bugs; moisturizes during and after gardening. Online, ~$22.

Chandler's Natural Gardeners Hand Cream

Calendula‑infused water blended with sandalwood, yarrow, chamomile distillates, aloe vera, shea butter, wheat germ oil (vitamin E), and four other oils plus uplifting essential oils. 2.5 oz tube, ~$9 online.

Burt's Bees Hand Salve

Intensive treatment with olive oil, beeswax, rosemary, comfrey, and lavender. Widely available at drugstores (~$8).

Gloves in a Bottle

A shielding lotion that bonds to skin’s outer layer, sealing in natural oils and protecting against dirt and repeated washing. Pharmacies, grocery stores, online (~$15).

Bag Balm

Original cow‑udder salve (since 1899) in iconic green tin. Petrolatum/lanolin base with antiseptic. Works for humans and animals. Drugstores, feed/tack shops (~$7).

O'Keefe's Working Hands Cream

Oil‑free formula developed by a pharmacist for her rancher father. Recommended by HandyMan Club of America. 8 oz tub ~$6.

Hand Scrubs

Gardeners by Upper Canada – Lemon Verbena Hand Scrub

Crushed lemon verbena, papaya, bergamot with safflower oil and green tea extract. Cruelty‑free, recyclable packaging. Variety stores and online (~$12).

Earths Organics Gardeners Hand and Body Scrub

New Zealand‑made with organic apricot kernels, walnut shells, lavender oil, manuka honey. Exfoliates and loosens caked dirt. 16 oz pump (~$24).

Mangiacotti Eden Gardener's Hand Scrub

Foaming scrub with apricot shells, pumice, chamomile extract. Ideal for clay‑caked hands. Also makes Eden hand lotion and soap. Online ~$15–18.

Budget‑friendly alternatives: Plain olive oil and lanolin (both at drugstores) are excellent, inexpensive moisturizers.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an endorsement by Dave's Garden.