review neutrogena norwegian formula fragrance-free hand cream

Confession time: I’m OCD about washing my hands. I do it 100 30 times a day.

A good hand cream is a must for me. Without it, my hands get all dry – even to the point of cracking – within a few short days.

At the moment, I’m using Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Fragrance-Free Hand Cream. It’s the fragrance-free claim that attracted me. The last thing my dry hands need is an allergic reaction to fragrance!

Turns out, that’s the only thing I like about this hand cream. Here’s why:

What’s In Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Fragrance-Free Hand Cream?

GLYCERIN

Think of glycerin as a magnet for moisture. Literally.

When you apply it on your skin, glycerin uses its magnetic powers to attract water from the air into the skin and bind it there.

But what if there isn’t enough moisture in the air? Then glycerin takes it from the deeper layers of your skin and deposits it into the superficial layers.

It’s not as drying as it seems. Your skin is made up mostly of water – glycerin simply redistributes it. But if glycerin needs to borrow too much water, your skin can feel a little drier.

Related: What Is Glycerin & Why Is It In All My Skincare Products?

CETYL ALCOHOL

Don’t let the word “alcohol” fool you. Cetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol, i.e. a type of alcohol that moisturises skin. It makes skin softer and smooth to the touch.

While it’s at it, it also makes the texture of the cream easier to spread.

Related: What Does Alcohol-Free In Skincare Really Mean?

Texture

Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Fragrance-Free Hand Cream has a heavy texture that doesn’t spread easily on the skin. Make sure you use only the tiniest amount because this stuff takes 2+ minutes to soak into the skin. Until then, it’ll feel tacky.

Fragrance

It’s fragrance-free. I like that. Did you know that fragrance is one of the most irritating ingredients in cosmetics?

Related: Why Fragrance Is Bad News For Skin

How To Use It

Massage a small dollop on your hands whenever you feel like you need the extra moisture.


Need help creating the best skincare routine for you dry skin? Sign up to the newsletter below to receive the “Dry Skincare Routine Cheatsheet” (it includes product recommendations, too!).


Performance & Personal Opinion

I could put up with the tacky texture if the cream worked. But my hands are dry and Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Fragrance-Free Hand Cream is no match for them.

While it does help heal my dry skin and make it smooth, I need to reapply it religiously after two hours. That’s how long its moisturising properties last on me. After that, my hands feel dry and tight again.

Blame it on the glycerin. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a great ingredient. But when your skin is dry, even the best moisture magnets aren’t enough. You also need an oil or butter that seals the extra moisture glycerin brings into your skin so it won’t evaporate out again.

This cream doesn’t have any such oils or butters. That makes it more of a maintenance cream to keep hands in good condition than a healing cream for dry and cracked hands.

Neutrogena norwegian formula hand cream fragrance-free

Who Is This For?

  • Normal skin
  • Oily skin

Who Is This Not For?

  • Dry skin
  • Cracked skin

Packaging

It comes in a white tube that releases just the right amount of product you need.

Does Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Fragrance-Free Hand Cream?

CLAIM TRUE?
Delivers effective relief for dry, chapped hands. It didn’t help my dry and chapped hands that much.
Hands feel soft and smooth after just one application. Yes, but only for two hours.
Long-lasting. Not on dry skin.

Price & Availability

$3.96 at Walmart

Do You Need It?

Nope. It may work for normal skin, but if your hands are dry, it won’t cut it.

Dupes & Alternatives

Water, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Dilauryl Thiodipropionate, Sodium Sulfate