No, hand creams should not contain oil. Oil repels water and skin cells require water to function properly.  Most hand creams are ineffective because they contain oil.  The oil sits on the skin and does not allow water or other moisturizing compounds to penetrate into the skin’s dehydrated cells.  So although the surface of the skin may temporarily feel better, the skin cells are often starved for moisture.  This can lead to cracks and splits in the skin.  Other causes of cracks in skin include:

•Weather. In general, your skin is driest in winter when temperatures and humidity levels plummet.  People living in desert regions, where summer temperatures can top 110 F and humidity levels sink to 10 percent or less, can have the same kind of problems.
•Central heating and air conditioning.  Central air and heating, wood burning stoves, space heaters and fireplaces all draw moisture out of the air and out of your skin.
•Too much washing/bathing.  Frequent showering or bathing (especially long and hot ones) breaks down the protective lipid barriers in your skin.
•Harsh soaps and detergents. Many popular soaps and detergents strip lipids and water from your skin.
•Hard Work.Working with your hands on the job or as a weekend warrior can take a toll on your hands.

O’Keeffe’s products are completely oil-free. Instead our products use ingredients that actually absorb and retain moisture. These are known as humectants and they function by drawing moisture to themselves from the surrounding air or from the moisturizing product itself.  When humectants are placed on the skin, the moisture they are holding is allowed to penetrate into the skin. The first ingredient in all O’Keeffe’s products is water, followed by Glycerin, which is a humectant that helps to hold onto that water, pull it into the skin, and prevent its evaporation.