I’m Stockpiling Fancy Hand Wash and Hand Cream Sets Ahead of the Holidays
It’s the chicest gift set, hands down.
- The Best Hand Wash and Hand Balm Gift Set Overall
- The Best Hydrating Hand Wash and Hand Balm Gift Set
- The Best-Smelling Hand Wash and Hand Balm Gift Set
- The Best Hand Balm Gift Set
- The Best Hand Wash and Hand Balm Gift Set for the Kitchen
- The Best Hand Wash and Hand Balm Gift Set for Sensitive Skin
- The Best Hand Wash Gift Set
- Why Trust Marie Claire
One benefit of being obsessed with both home decor and beauty products is that I have become an unequivocal expert on the best hand wash and hand cream duos. It’s non-negotiable that I have a coordinated set in the chicest jars next to every sink in my home. It’s one of those little luxuries that makes my space feel like a five-star hotel and never fails to get a “wow, I love your soap and lotion” compliment from every single guest entering my home.
That said, a chic hand care set is my go-to holiday gift when I’m trying to spend under-$100. It always feels undeniably luxurious (because who is really spending $98 on themselves just to wash their hands?!), is super practical, and looks elevated in any space—regardless of a person’s home aesthetic. Lucky for us all, limited-edition sets have started to drop. I’ve already bulk ordered every single one of these—and highly suggest you do too before they sell out.
- The Best Hand Wash and Hand Balm Gift Set Overall: EvolveTogether Monaco Hand Care Set
- The Best Hydrating Hand Wash and Hand Balm Gift Set: Oak Essentials Hand Wash and Balm Duo
- The Best-Smelling Hand Wash and Hand Balm Gift Set: Homecourt Clean Hand Wash and Balm
- The Best Hand Balm Gift Set: Le Labo Discovery Set
- The Best Hand Wash and Hand Balm Gift Set for the Kitchen: Element Brooklyn Mandarin Hand Care Set
- The Best Hand Wash and Hand Balm Gift Set for Sensitive Skin: Necessaire The Hand Wash & Lotion in Cypres
- The Best Hand Wash Gift Set: Merit X Erdem The Retrospect Soap Trio
The Best Hand Wash and Hand Lotion Gift Sets
The Best Hand Wash and Hand Balm Gift Set Overall
Evolvetogether is one of those if-you-know-you-know brands that every single beauty editor is obsessed with. The formulas are incredibly effective, the packaging is effortlessly chic, and the scents are elevated and delightful—never suffocating. This baby in particular is such a phenomenal price point, especially given the weighted glass jar for the hand soap. And as someone with eczema-prone skin, I love that I can reapply this moisturizer 9,000 times a day and never get stuck with a greasy residue.
Review: “Everyone who uses it asks about the brand -- Monaco is my fave evolve together scent! Love the ability to layer with the hand wash followed by the coordinating hand cream.” — Nordstrom
The Best Hydrating Hand Wash and Hand Balm Gift Set
I wrote a love letter to this already, so if you want a full review, please dive on in. For those who just want the spark notes? This is my favorite hand wash and balm set I’ve ever owned in my entire life. I’m a massive Jenni Kayne fan (and by extension, Oak Essentials fan), so having these two propped up in my bathroom just makes me feel like all is right in the world. The hand wash is perfectly foamy and very lightly scented, while the balm deeply nourishes my insanely dry hands.
Review: “The hand wash lathers nicely and leaves my hands feeling clean and refreshed without drying them out. I placed it by my kitchen sink an love having it there to use after doing dishes. The fresh scent is a nice little pick me up.” — Bloomingdales
The Best-Smelling Hand Wash and Hand Balm Gift Set
Courtney Cox’s brand Homecourt is my go-to for home cleaning supplies—her surface cleaner is a 10/10—and laundry detergent boosters, so it only felt appropriate that I give her hand wash and lotion a fair shot. My initial thoughts: I’m very impressed. Her products are more fragrant than most on this list, but because she works with fabulous noses, every scent profile smells high-end and balanced. I’m partial to the scent CeCe, which is equal parts cedarwood and cinnamon, but every flavor will add to your home’s fragrance wardrobe.
Review: “Maybe the title of this review is redundant - it’s a Homecourt product, so of course it is perfect! This hand wash works so well. It doesn’t make you feel like your skin is being abraded with sandpaper but it does make it smoother.” — Homecourt
The Best Hand Balm Gift Set
Name me a person who doesn’t love Le Labo? I’ll wait. Discovery sets are always a hit, and this adorable hand cream trio is easily my favorite on the market right now. The kit comes with Another 13, Santal 33, and The Noir 29. The best part, though, is that, if you think far enough ahead, you can get this personalized so it’ll be an extra thoughtful gift.
Review: “I love this because I can toss one in every bag and drawer. In the winter my hands are always dry and tight, so I can never have enough lotion.” — Samantha Holender, Senior Beauty Editor
The Best Hand Wash and Hand Balm Gift Set for the Kitchen
While people are decidedly less picky about the smell of their hand wash and lotion than they are about their fragrance, you may still want to err on the side of caution. Citrus is always a safe bet for a kitchen hand wash and lotion—and this mandarin-scented duo is simply divine. Plus, this set comes with refills, so you’ll never run out.
Review: If you love the scent of Aesop Resurrection Aromatique Hand Wash, this smells identical. The fragrance is fresh, sophisticated, and lingers just enough after washing. Even better, it leaves my hands feeling clean, soft, and moisturized. For a fraction of the price, you’re getting a luxury experience without the luxury price tag. Don’t think twice! This is an easy repurchase, and it’s staying on my subscription list!” — Element Brooklyn
The Best Hand Wash and Hand Balm Gift Set for Sensitive Skin
I know, I know; you keep Necessaire in your shower. While I, too, love the brand for my shampoo and conditioner, it’s equally as amazing for the body. I have the World’s Most Sensitive Skin, so keeping my hands consistently hydrated is my number one priority. I normally use fragrance-free formulas, but I shockingly don’t find this scented version irritating.
Review: “This is the second bottle I’ve bought and haven’t opened yet because we’re still using up what’s left in the first one. I small dab is all you need and it’s very moisturizing . I just wish I had it when I used to work as a dental hygienist. My hands would get so cracked and dry especially in the winter but this soap is so soothing and doesn’t dry out your skin when used in conjunction with the hand lotion.” — Necessaire
The Best Hand Wash Gift Set
Spending under $50 is tricky business, but this gift is both affordable and substantial. Plus, it’s limited edition (scoop it up while you can) and from Merit, which means it’s undeniably coveted by anyone and everyone. The brand teamed up with fashion house Erdem to create this absolutely precious trio of three scented soaps. I’m buying two as a gift and one for me.
Review: “If you love the Retrospect fragrance, you’re going to be obsessed with these little guys. I’m buying some aesthetic soap trays to go with the gift—how cute?!” — Senior Beauty Editor, Samantha Holender
Why Trust Marie Claire
For more than 30 years, Marie Claire has been an internationally recognized destination for news, fashion and beauty trends, investigative packages, and more. When it comes to the products Marie Claire recommends, we take your faith in us seriously. Every product that we feature comes personally recommended by a Marie Claire writer or editor, or by an expert we’ve spoken to firsthand.
Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!
Samantha Holender is the Senior Beauty Editor at Marie Claire, where she reports on the best new launches, dives into the science behind skincare, and shares the breakdown on the latest and greatest trends in the beauty space. She's studied up on every ingredient you'll find on INCI list and is constantly in search of the world's glowiest makeup products. She's constantly tracking the biggest nail and hair trends to pop up in the beauty space, going backstage during fashion weeks, tracking celebrity looks, and constantly talking to celebrity hair stylists, nail artists, and makeup artists. Prior to joining the team, she worked as Us Weekly’s Beauty and Style Editor, where she stayed on the pulse of pop culture and broke down celebrity beauty routines, hair transformations, and red carpet looks. Her words have also appeared on Popsugar, Makeup.com, Skincare.com, Delish.com, and Philadelphia Wedding. Samantha also serves as a board member for the American Society of Magazine Editors (ASME). She first joined the organization in 2018, when she worked as an editorial intern at Food Network Magazine and Pioneer Woman Magazine. Samantha has a degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from The George Washington University’s School of Media and Public Affairs. While at GWU, she was a founding member of the school’s HerCampus chapter and served as its President for four years. When she’s not deep in the beauty closet or swatching eyeshadows, you can find her obsessing over Real Housewives and all things Bravo. Keep up with her on Instagram @samholender.