Best for Mature Skin
Nécessaire The Hand Retinol
Pros
- Combines potent retinol with exfoliating AHAs for comprehensive age spot reduction
- Addresses multiple signs of aging on hands, including texture and firmness
- Enriched with nourishing ingredients like niacinamide and vitamins
- Clean formulation, fragrance-free, and generally well-tolerated
Cons
- Retinol content requires gradual introduction to minimize potential irritation (dryness, redness)
- Increases sun sensitivity, necessitating consistent daily SPF on hands
Key Specs
- Active Ingredients: Retinol .25 percent, AHAs
- Targets: Age spots, dry skin, crepiness
- Fragrance-free: No synthetic fragrance added, but subtle rose scent from rosewater
Retinol works by significantly accelerating skin cell turnover, helping to shed old, pigmented cells more rapidly and bringing fresh, unpigmented skin to the surface. It also aids in normalizing melanocyte activity, which directly reduces the production of melanin that forms age spots. The AHAs complement this action by chemically exfoliating the skin's surface, further promoting the removal of dull, discolored cells and enhancing the penetration of retinol. This synergistic blend means the product not only works to lighten existing age spots but also improves overall skin texture and tone, which is crucial for mature skin.
This product has a subtle rose scent, but it’s derived from natural rosewater, and the formula is fragrance-free, making it an excellent option for those sensitive to fragrance. It has a rich, balmy texture and comes in a tube, which makes it convenient to use, day or night. According to our research, this product yields noticeable results and can help hands appear “decades younger” within a few weeks.
Best Drugstore
Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Retinol Oil
Pros
- Effective retinol for significant age spot reduction.
- Accelerated cell turnover also improves overall skin texture and reduces fine lines
- Affordable and widely accessible drugstore option
- Oil format can be very nourishing for dry hands
Cons
- As an oil, it may feel greasy to some users immediately after application
- Retinol requires gradual introduction to prevent irritation
Key Specs
- Active Ingredients: Retinol 0.3 percent vitamin E
- Targets: Age spots, texture, dry skin
- Fragrance-free: No
The Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Retinol Oil, primarily a face product, can be efficiently utilized as a targeted treatment for age spots on hands due to its potent concentration of retinol, which helps shed pigmented skin. Even though it’s not the lowest-priced product on our list, it still earned our best drugstore formula for its high concentration of retinol, which we think is an excellent value.
Best Dermatologist Pick
Revision Skincare Lumiquin Hand Cream
Pros
- Recommended by dermatologists for youthful-looking hands
- Combines protective, brightening, and firming benefits
- Often recommended by dermatologists for comprehensive hand anti-aging
- Luxurious texture and feel
Cons
- May take up to a year for visible results
- Expensive for a daily-use product
Key Specs
- Active Ingredients: Vitamin C, peptides, licorice root
- Targets: Age spots, dullness, dry skin
- Fragrance-free: Yes
Revision Skincare Lumiquin Hand Cream is a top dermatologist pick for its highly efficient approach to reducing age spots and improving overall hand appearance.
Dr. Westbay also notes that the product’s other ingredients “enhance skin’s moisture, so hands look and feel more youthful.” This multifaceted formula means it's not just fading spots but also improving skin texture, firmness, and hydration, which are critical concerns for aging hands.
It is packaged in a pump bottle, which is convenient for frequent use. We love that a little goes a long way, with approximately two pumps being sufficient, according to our research. The smooth and creamy texture makes this a popular choice, but the cream’s efficacy ultimately gives it a loyal following.
Best for Uneven Texture
Gold Bond Age Renew Retinol Overnight Body & Face Lotion
Pros
- Improves skin texture and smoothness
- Effectively fades age spots by accelerating cell turnover
- Can be used on both hands and body for comprehensive treatment
- Affordable
Cons
- Retinol concentration not listed
- Can be sticky
Key Specs
- Active Ingredients: Retinol, peptides, shea butter, niacinamide
- Targets: Age spots, texture, dullness
- Fragrance-free: Yes
We love its rich, hydrating formula that renews while keeping skin moisturized and comfortable, making it ideal for the often-dry skin on hands. The tube packaging makes it convenient, and our research notes that it absorbs quickly, even with its thick and creamy texture, so it’s great for on-the-go use.
Best for Dry Skin
La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Hand Cream
Pros
- Provides long-lasting hydration for dry, cracked hands
- Helps soothe irritation and reduce redness
- Non-greasy, fast-absorbing texture
- Supports a more even skin tone by improving overall skin health
Cons
- Better suited for dullness than directly fading stubborn age spots
- Some find it sticky
Key Specs
- Active Ingredients: Niacinamide, shea butter, glycerin
- Targets: Moisture loss, dullness, skin barrier health
- Fragrance-free: Yes
Best Anti-Aging
Dr. Barbara Sturm Super Anti-Aging Hand Cream
Pros
- Provides comprehensive anti-aging benefits beyond just age spot reduction
- Hydrates, plumps, and improves skin elasticity
- Contains powerful antioxidants to protect against environmental damage
- Luxurious texture and experience
Cons
- High price point
- May not be as directly potent for fading stubborn age spots as dedicated pigment-inhibiting serums
Key Specs
- Active Ingredients: Purslane, hyaluronic acid, panthenol
- Targets: Dullness, dry skin, crepiness
- Fragrance-free: Yes
It is a luxury product, which means it’s on the pricier side, but the formulation makes it worth the spend. As for the texture, the cream is luxuriously dense and rich. The tube is convenient, and our research notes that the texture doesn’t leave a sticky residue on your hands the way some thick creams might. As for its efficacy, it’s designed to address age spots, dryness, wrinkles, and loss of firmness, leading to a comprehensive rejuvenation of the hands. It makes spots less visibly prominent, and new ones are less likely to form.
Best With SPF
MD’s Pick De Barista Sun Shield Hand Cream
Pros
- Provides essential broad-spectrum sun protection (physical filters)
- Crucial for preventing new age spots and stopping existing ones from worsening
- Hydrates and nourishes the skin
Cons
- Doesn’t lighten existing age spots, focuses only on prevention
- Requires consistent daily reapplication, especially after washing hands
Key Specs
- Active Ingredients: Glycine, Niacinamide, vitamin E
- Targets: New age spots from forming
- Fragrance-free: Yes
Best Reparative
Augustinus Bader The Hand Treatment
Pros
- Supports the skin's natural renewal and repair processes
- Can improve overall skin firmness and elasticity
- Luxurious, deeply hydrating, and nourishing texture
Cons
- High price point
- Results for age spots may be more gradual compared to dedicated pigment-fading serums
Key Specs
- Active Ingredients: TFC8® complex
- Targets: Dullness, dry skin, uneven skin tone
- Fragrance-free: Yes
Although it has a high price point, our research notes that the product has a velvety texture and that a small amount goes a long way to make hands feel soft and supple.
Best for Cracked Skin
Prequel Hand Wrap
Pros
- Provides hydration and skin barrier repair for severely cracked hands
- Creates a protective layer to aid healing and prevent further damage
- By improving overall skin health, it can make age spots less noticeable
- Ideal for frequent hand washers
Cons
- Would require pairing with a separate pigment-reducing treatment for direct age spot targeting
- Thick texture may feel greasy
Key Specs
- Active Ingredients: Dimethicone and ceramides
- Targets: Cracked skin, dry skin, mature skin
- Fragrance-free: Yes
Although it doesn't contain active pigment-fading ingredients, its strength lies in creating an optimal healing environment, with a 24-hour film to help reduce moisture loss, even after handwashing. We love it for frequent handwashers or those who have a compromised skin barrier. It can provide a better foundation for any concurrent pigment-reducing treatments to work effectively, indirectly contributing to a more even and less red appearance where age spots might otherwise be exacerbated.
Best for Overnight Use
Aveeno Skin Relief Repairing Hand Mask
Pros
- Convenient and easy-to-use mask format for a targeted treatment
- Provides intense, deep hydration and soothing benefits for dry, rough hands
- Promotes skin barrier repair overnight to make age spots less noticeable
Cons
- Primarily focuses on hydration and barrier repair, so it's an indirect aid for age spots
- Meant for occasional intensive treatment, not daily use
Key Specs
- Active Ingredients: Colloidal oatmeal, shea butter, and glycerin
- Targets: Dry skin, rough skin, itchy skin
- Fragrance-free: Yes
The Aveeno Skin Relief Repairing Hand Mask is a convenient, mess-free overnight treatment. It indirectly aids in the reduction of age spots by intensely hydrating and repairing the skin barrier, creating an optimal environment for natural skin renewal. The cream comes packaged as two single-use gloves designed to optimize absorption.
When you put on the gloves, expect a lightweight, creamy gel texture to envelop your hands. Our research suggests that you can perform simple tasks like using your phone while wearing the gloves, but we love them as an overnight treatment.
Why Trust Everyday Health
Jill Di Donato
Author
Jill has over 15 years of experience writing about women's health, wellness, and beauty. She has deep knowledge of buzzy products and what makes them popular with consumers. She's tested hundreds of skin care products, tools, and medical aesthetics procedures throughout her career, and she has interviewed top dermatologists, plastic surgeons, and holistic physicians to stay on top of the latest in skin health and wellness.
Jill is the former associate editorial operations director of the beauty group at Dotdash Meredith, where she worked on brands such as Shape and Byrdie, editing health, fitness, skin care, wellness, and body care commerce content.
She's also a former sex and relationship writer, and has made national television appearances to discuss sexual wellness topics for women. In addition to anything beauty and sexual wellness, Jill specializes in writing about body neutrality and mental health.
Jill has a degree in sociology, with a focus on gender studies and she has taught sociology classes at Barnard and Columbia University.
Jacquelyn Dosal, MD
Medical Reviewer
Jacquelyn Dosal, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist practicing at The Dermatology House in Park City, Utah. Her areas of expertise include acne, rosacea, integrative treatments of inflammatory skin diseases, as well as laser treatment of the skin and injectables.
Dr. Dosal writes cosmetic questions for the certifying exams for the American Board of Dermatology. She is also the deputy editor for the American Academy of Dermatology's podcast, Dialogues in Dermatology.
Daniel Oakley
Fact-Checker
Daniel Oakley is a journalist, editor, and fact-checker. He has written, edited, taught, and produced media for Dow Jones, S&P Global, IHS Markit, Third Coast Studios Magazine, and 826 National.
Oakley's path has always been a health-and-wellness-focused one. A competitive triathlete and racing fundraiser for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, he also spends summer weekends as an ISA-certified surf instructor and Red Cross professional water rescuer with Laru Beya Collective in Rockaway Beach, which helps kids master and delight in their own backyard — the ocean. It has taught Oakley that “optimizing body and mind” flourishes precisely at the wellspring of community.
Alexandra Klausner
Editor
Alexandra Klausner is a freelance health writer and editor with over 10 years of journalism experience. Prior to going freelance, she worked as a reporter and editor at the New York Post for eight years covering everything from health and wellness to features and breaking news. Before that, she covered multiple beats at the Daily Mail Online for three years.
Alexandra graduated from Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs with a bachelor's degree in theater. As a New York City native, she is also a grant-winning playwright, actor, freestyle singer, catchy-hook writer, and podcaster. She loves yoga, 5 Rhythms dance meditation, and running.