Easy Homemade Hand Cream Recipe (Non-Greasy)
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Looking for an easy homemade hand cream recipe? This one is a keeper. It’s rich enough to deeply moisturize dry hands, but it has a lighter, less greasy feel than many DIY hand creams.
This simple DIY hand cream uses nourishing oils and butters, comes together quickly, and can be customized with essential oils if you like. Even better, it works beautifully as a homemade hand lotion for dry skin, especially in winter.
This recipe is especially great if you have dry hands, wash your hands frequently, or want a natural, non-toxic alternative to store-bought hand creams.
I love making as many of my personal care items in order to cut down on toxins in our home and on our bodies.
I've made Eye Makeup Remover, Alcohol-Free Hairspray, Sugar Scrub, Nourishing Lip Scrub, Hair Rinse, Homemade Body Wash, and more. I've been looking for a homemade lotion recipe that works for a long time, and I finally have it.
I can't stand forking out a ton of money for something when I can make it for a fraction of the cost myself.
This recipe is based off of a recipe that one of my readers shared with me. I liked it a lot, but ended up tweaking it to make it even better.
Why You’ll Love This Hand Cream
This homemade hand cream is
- deeply moisturizing for dry hands
- non-greasy compared to many DIY hand creams
- easy to make with simple ingredients
- customizable with different oils, butters, and scents
- doubles as a hand lotion or body cream
Why This Hand Cream Works Better Than Lotion Bars for Me
I love the concept of lotion bars, but I've found them to be hard to use due to how long it takes for them to soften. When I try to use them before they’ve softened enough, they pull on my skin, which I don’t love.
This hand cream is solid at room temperature, but it isn’t super hard and softens up really quickly in your hands, even in our home in winter, and we don't keep our heat turned up that high.
Why This Hand Cream Feels Less Greasy
The simple step of adding arrowroot powder helps this hand cream feel much less greasy on your skin. So simple!
Arrowroot is a great oil absorber. It can be used for removing oil stains from clothing and it’s also a great ingredient in DIY dry shampoo. In fact, we often use arrowroot on its own as a super quick “I didn’t have time to wash my hair” solution.
Of course, arrowroot doesn’t remove all of the oil in the recipe (that would be ridiculous), arrowroot absorbs some of it so that the resulting lotion is a great consistency and also a non-greasy treat for your skin.
You can also use cornstarch or tapioca starch, and you should get the same or a very similar result.
How to Use This Homemade Hand Cream
You can use this homemade hand cream
- before bed
- any time of day for dry hands
- to soften cuticles
- for rough patches anywhere on hands or body
- elbows/knees if desired
You can simply apply this hand cream anytime, but here are a few ways to make it work even better.
- Use a Sugar Scrub followed with this cream for hands that feel super soft and revitalized. The moisture left from rinsing off the scrub is sealed into your skin by the cream.
- Put this body cream on before bed (misting your body with some water first is best) and wake up to healthy, nourished skin.
Hand Cream vs. Hand Lotion: What’s the Difference?
Hand cream is usually thicker and more concentrated than hand lotion, which makes it especially helpful for dry or rough hands. This recipe has the richness of a hand cream, but thanks to the arrowroot, it feels lighter and less greasy than many homemade versions. So while I call it a hand cream, many people would think of it as a homemade hand lotion too.
How to Customize This Hand Cream for Different Skin Needs
By choosing essential oils for your specific skincare need, you can turn your lotion from being simply moisturizing to something that really addresses what is going on with your skin.
- Dry or aging skin? Try rose or geranium.
- Need to be energized and refreshed? Try lavender, lemon, and grapefruit.
- Troubled skin? Try helichrysum, frankincense, lavender, sandalwood, chamomile, rose or jasmine.
- Want to avoid stretch marks? Try helichrysum, lavender, patchouli, neroli, rose, or geranium.
Recipe Notes
- Essential Oil Options: Use whatever combination you like. I've used orange, which was really heavenly smelling, especially combined with the fragrance of the coconut oil. It smelled kind of like a creamsicle. Lavender would be very soothing as well.
- Butter/Oil Options: This recipe is very versatile. I've used extra coconut oil and shea butter when I was out of cocoa butter, and it still turned out great.
- Container Size: This makes a small amount: just enough for small canning jars like these.
- Solidifying Problems: Please note that some (including me) who have made this have had issues with it not solidifying. I suspect it has to do with the type of shea butter used. It seems that if you use a raw shea butter, the resulting product is not as firm. Even if your hand cream is more liquid, you can still use it. In fact, you could put it in a pump bottle and use it that way.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use this as hand lotion?
Yes. This recipe is thicker than a typical hand lotion, but it spreads easily and works beautifully as a homemade hand lotion.
Why is this homemade hand cream non-greasy?
Arrowroot powder helps absorb some of the oils, so the finished cream feels less heavy and greasy on the skin.
Can I make this hand cream without shea butter?
Yes, but the texture may change. You can experiment with more coconut oil or another butter, though the finished cream may be softer or firmer depending on what you choose.
Why didn’t my hand cream solidify?
Different brands and types of ingredients can affect texture. If your cream stays softer than expected, you can still use it in a jar or pump bottle.
Can I use cornstarch instead of arrowroot?
Usually yes. Tapioca starch may also work similarly.
More Homemade Personal Care Products You'll Love
- Homemade Shea Butter Lotion – non-greasy and great for all skin types, including aging skin and acne-pron skin.
- Homemade Lip Scrub – so healthy you can literally eat it!
- Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse – makes your hair super healthy!
- DIY Sugar Scrub – get spa results without the spa prices
- Black Cumin Face Oil Blend – get amazing skin without paying a hefty price
Nourishing Hand Cream (Non-Greasy)
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup coconut oil
- 1/8 cup shea butter
- 1/8 cup cocoa butter
- 1 tablespoon carrier oil of choice
- 1/2 tablespoon arrowroot powder
- 5-10 drops essential oils (optional)
Instructions
- Heat the shea butter, coconut oil, and cocoa butter over very low heat until melted. A double boiler works well for this.
- Remove from heat.
- Combine the carrier oil, arrowroot, and essential oils (if using) in a small bowl. Whisk to combine.
- Store in container of your choice. I like these small canning jars.
- Add the carrier oil mixture to the melted butters. Mix well with a fork or hand mixer, but don't over-whip. Allow to cool in the fridge.
Not Wanting To DIY?
If you aren't really in the mood to make your own lotion, or just are out of time, you can buy clean lotions too. I'm really careful to avoid using anything with artificial fragrances.
Poofy Organics has a lot of great options at a reasonable price. Their Skin Hero lotion is fantastic. Use code WNM to get 10% off your first order.
Have you ever made your own homemade hand cream?
Photo credits – Naomi Huzovicova
Hi Adrienne, have you tried using amaranth oil before? https://www.amazon.com/Amaranth-Worlds-Cold-Pressed-Organic-Bottle/dp/B01NCY6667/ref=sr_1_9_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1486322369&sr=8-9&keywords=amaranth+oil
I have not – I didn’t know it was around but of course they are making oil out of everything these days!
What about Neem Oil, and to thicken your lotion try finely ground oatmeal. That’s what I put in my homemade lotion, it’s a fabulous moisture lock for the skin. Makes you feel velvety.
Sounds fabulous!
Could vegetable glycerine be subs for the aloe juice?
I think that should work. Hope so!
Just a question about the aloe vera juice- what if you used aloe vera gel instead, would that eliminate the need for the preservative?
Also-I have heard that vitamin E acts as a natural preservative-so could you add vitamin E oil or say a sunflower oil or another that is high in vitamin E?
My understanding is that aloe gel is mostly water so no, that is still an issue. As for Vitamin E, that is a concern as well as it’s an antioxidant but not a preservative. I will be writing more about this so stay tuned….
I have been making my own skin cream for years. Citrus seed extract seems to work to preserve freshness. Would love to hear your findings.
Have you done studies on how much you need? Is that GSE that you are using?
Hi there,
I really love your post and am very interested in making my own natural moisturiser.
I couldn’t, however, find on your post any suggestions for natural preservative (apologies if I have missed it!).
Could you please recommend a few to me that will match your recipe?
Many thanks,
Jess
Thanks for reading. I’m not an expert in preservatives but I am talking with someone who is. I hope to have more information on the blog soon about this but some maintain that synthetic preservatives are necessary for broad protection. Typically natural ones would include essential oils, radish root, and some others.
What about note to use right away or add a preservative?
Are you asking why I have the note there?
Well is it really necessary. Please be more specific for newbies. What should I use as a preservative?
I have been doing more research into preservatives and I recommend it. Bacteria can start to grow very quickly. What you use it up to you – there are different ones available on the market. I am by no means an expert on this – I have used products using only essential oils as preservatives but have been reading that that is possibly / probably insufficient so I can only say this right now. You could leave the aloe out and have a much thicker product which would remove the water base.
Thanks for your input.
I actually want softer, and I’m not wasting my cocoa butter on lotion, that’s for my chocolate! I have tons of fractionated coconut oil, almond oil, safflower seed oil, that I can use. I think coconut milk whipped is what they use to make body butter. I know it’s excellent for your hair, which I will be using on soon. I use coconut, Shea butter, almond, bees wax to make sticks of lotions. Basically the same idea just a bit of bees wax then pour into lip tubes, and the round deodorant tubes you can get. I have psoriasis and with the essential oils I put in it it works great to keep it under control. Even on my face. Love your recipe, thanks!
Sounds great!!!! Did you know psoriasis is autoimmune? I have seen some reverse it with diet change. Hope that’s helpful!
Yes, I’ve been working on that. It does help, when I can stay away from sugar! I’m an addict. I’ll do good for a few weeks then breakdown and get ice cream. I’ve made my own ice cream and brownies without the sugar, but they are just not as good as the “So Delious Cashew milk salted caramel” it gets me every time! I have RA, and PsA. So staying off of the bad foods makes a huge difference in my pain level as well. Thanks
Great!
On no on the ice cream! You need to make your own w/ coconut milk. Have you tried it? “Just say no” 🙂 If I can do it, you can. Signed, the Biggest Sugarholic that ever was (I think): https://wholenewmom.com/health-concerns/what-is-candida-the-beginning-of-my-sugar-free-lifestyle/
Would love a deodorant recipe and one for psoriasis if you don’t mind!
I made this a few weeks ago, and I also added probiotics to it. Mine turned out liquidy with the raw Shea butter, and so I put it in a pump bottle. I absolutely love it!
So glad!!!
Hello Adrienne thanks for this wonderful article. What i want to ask is how long can i preserve it ? I want to make this and sell to local shops. But it might take a long time for me to sell and the end customers to use. Is there any method, it can be used for a long time ? Just like we buy lotions from stores and they can be used for months or years!
Hi there. I have a note in the recipe that you really need to be careful and add a preservative. I hope to write more about this soon. Thanks!
What kind of preservatives would work. I have rosemary essential oil and tea tree essential oil, I was wondering if either of those would work and how much to use. I am a barber and would like a healthy alternative to store bought lotions, but can’t keep them in the fridge. Thank you
Hi there. I haven’t done enough research into preservatives but I have heard from a skincare expert that EOs are not sufficient and would have to be used at a very high proportion to work. I see sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate used pretty frequently in personal care products. I will be writing more about this in the future.