Advanced hand creams that go beyond basic hydration are sweeping beauty

By Alessandro Carrara | Published: 27-Apr-2026
Ingredients Body Care

Hand creams are receiving a glow up in 2026 as consumers seek out benefits that go beyond mere hydration and fragrance, in favour of products that actually improve skin brightness, firmness and tackle the more intricate signs of ageing

You need to be a subscriber to read this article.
Click here to find out more.

Hand creams have always been that innocuous beauty product, typically a handbag or winter basic that stands in the shadow of more exciting and luxurious categories.

However, all of that is changing this year, as the category is seeing an increase in new launches that offer hands more than just a nice smell and hydration.

More intricate aspects, such as targeting anti-ageing, brightness, texture and firmness, are becoming more important for consumers than ever before, and crossing into formulation staples.

Have you launched an innovative product, brand or campaign in the past 12 months? Then you could be in with a chance of winning at this year's new and improved Pure Beauty Awards 2026. Click here for more information.

The global hand care market size is also projected to reach US$42.59bn by 2033, according to data from analyst Grand View Research. 

But why is the hand cream category having such a push in innovation now?

Not yet a Subscriber?

This is a small extract of the full article which is available ONLY to premium content subscribers. Click below to get premium content on Cosmetics Business.

Subscribe now Already a subscriber? Sign in here.
See more

You may also like

You need to be a subscriber to read this article.
Click here to find out more.
Ingredients

Deciem relaunches discontinued The Chemistry brand as it revives ‘incubator roots’

Read more
Estée Lauder Companies-owned Deciem is bringing its The Chemistry brand back from the vault four years after discontinuation – starting with cult product Hand Chemistry – as a play to revive its ‘incubator engine’

Trending Articles

  1. You need to be a subscriber to read this article.
    Click here to find out more.
    8 trends from in-cosmetics Global 2026: from ‘blue longevity’ to precision peptides Cosmetics Business walked the show floor to bring you our edit of the standout trends from this year’s beauty ingredient launches
  2. You need to be a subscriber to read this article.
    Click here to find out more.
    Cosmetics Business Picks: 10 new beauty launches for April 2026 This week’s biggest beauty launches include effective skin care for newborns and babies, Dyson’s technology shrunken down to travel size, a mint-green colour correcting powder from Laura Mercier and a limited-edition drop from Half Magic inspired by HBO’s Euphoria
  3. You need to be a subscriber to read this article.
    Click here to find out more.
    A smile with every spritz: why mood-boosting fragrances are on the up Fragrances are transitioning from merely a spritz of a sweet-smelling scent into a tool to boost mental health as mood-boosting aromas turn every spray into a moment of wellness
  4. You need to be a subscriber to read this article.
    Click here to find out more.
    No7 enters longevity conversation with new skin preservation line The Boots-owned UK skin care brand’s new Prime Forever collection has been designed for the ‘longevity consumer’, and one item from the range has sold every seven seconds since its launch
  5. You need to be a subscriber to read this article.
    Click here to find out more.
    Sephora to adopt safeguard measures protecting kids from anti-ageing skin care marketing The LVMH-owned beauty retailer has been instructed to provide warnings and disclaimers about the suitability of products with high levels of active ingredients for children under the age of 13 following an investigation

Upcoming event

Packaging Innovation in Beauty: Sustainability, Materials & Consumer Experience

30 April and 7 May 2026 | Virtual See all

You may also like

You need to be a subscriber to read this article.
Click here to find out more.
Ingredients

Deciem relaunches discontinued The Chemistry brand as it revives ‘incubator roots’

Estée Lauder Companies-owned Deciem is bringing its The Chemistry brand back from the vault four years after discontinuation – starting with cult product Hand Chemistry – as a play to revive its ‘incubator engine’
You need to be a subscriber to read this article.
Click here to find out more.
Body Care

Cosmetics Business picks: Our team’s 14 favourite beauty launches from 2025

From functional fragrances by Bella Hadid to skin-loving serums and everything in between, the Cosmetics Business team reveal their favourite beauty launches from 2025
You need to be a subscriber to read this article.
Click here to find out more.
Ingredients

Cosmetics Business team picks: 5 trends destined to shake-up beauty in 2026

Spicules, wearable maximalism, metabolic beauty, elevated essentials and advanced skin care for ‘Ozempic face’ will dominate the cosmetics sector in 2026. This is why…
Ingredients

The Ordinary tackles ‘misleading’ beauty jargon with The Periodic Fable campaign

The Deciem-owned brand’s The Periodic Fable campaign reimagines the periodic table with beauty buzzwords to expose misleading skin care marketing and mistruths placed on products
You need to be a subscriber to read this article.
Click here to find out more.
Ingredients

The Ordinary launches book 'Ingredients' to help consumers better understand formulations

The Deciem-owned brand’s publishing debut aims to educate consumers on ingredients that have ‘found fame in the skin care industry’ and deepen their knowledge on the mechanism of action with science-backed research
You need to be a subscriber to read this article.
Click here to find out more.
Ingredients

Can niche product offerings deliver the next big wave of body care sales?

As more specialised ranges launch that focus on play, textures, self-care and unusual ingredients, could the body category be about to undergo a huge resurgence?
You need to be a subscriber to read this article.
Click here to find out more.
Ingredients

Are beauty labels lying to you? Misleading marketing of ingredient dosages are on the rise

With some brands adding just enough of an ingredient to include it on the label, but not enough for it to meaningfully contribute to the product’s efficacy, consultant Viola Levy argues, is it time to legislate?
Subscribe now