This Retinol Hand Cream Helps Get Rid of Sun Spots, Turning Back the Clock on Your Skin

Our hands are often one of the first places to show signs of aging and daily wear (unless we bring back indoor glove-wearing). So while we don’t need to commit to as many skincare steps for our hands as we use for our faces, they do deserve some attention beyond manicures and regular old hand cream.

First off, we need to be putting sunscreen on our hands as frequently as we do our faces, if not more, given how frequently we wash them. Second, we can treat them to active ingredients that moisturize, improve their texture, and even fade the sun spots we got from all those times we skipped that first step. That’s what the immensely popular Nécessaire Hand Duo offers.

“Retinol and alpha hydroxy acids are effective at preserving and/or synthesizing collagen,” says Rachel Westbay, MD, a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist who specializes in anti-aging skincare concerns at Marmur Medical in New York City.

Because retinol increases your skin’s sensitivity to the sun, you should use the Hand Retinol at night. And though it has a low concentration of the ingredient, if you tend to react strongly to retinol, start by using it just once a week before working up to nightly use. Results can take time, but many report that their hands look decades younger as their spots fade and their skin elasticity returns.

The Hand Cream complements this step with ingredients that include five ceramides, niacinamide, omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, and shea butter. These ingredients work to restore moisture, protect cells from damaging free radicals, and protect the skin’s barrier so it can retain moisture. Our research found that this cream leaves hands feeling soft, without making them feel greasy. Additionally, on top of helping your hands look younger, this routine can also soften your cuticles, making them less prone to damage.

As a reminder, if you’re using retinol on your hands, sunscreen remains essential. You could also try protecting your hands with fingerless UV-protection gloves, a style I recently saw all over Japan.