O Keefe Healthy Hands is a great product!  You can buy on amazon or Bed Bath and Beyond.  Actually O Keefe Healthy Feet is a similar formula that can also be used on the hands.

I like to mix a couple drops of Argan oil with an intensive skin cream (I deal with eczema). First Aid Beauty has an awesome intensive skin relief cream that kind of smells a little medicine-y, but that goes away after a couple minutes. Thicker creams tend to work a little better for my skin than lotions--but mixing Argan oil is a real softening treat for my skin. 

brialliant, thanks for the advice. Argan oil seems like a good oil to have about, it can be used for lots of stuff?

I exfolliate them once or twice a week then I use a moisturizer every time they get wet, and I apply right away. this makes the biggest difference for me! 

If you have dry hands, you'll love this trick. Take any kind of oil you like (I've used cooking oil but have some argon oil on the way).  Start with a nickle size spot of oil(you can add more),  than add 1 teaspoon of sugar. Now just rub all over your hands. This will exfoliate your hands and leave them feeling soft. It's inexpensive and easy to do. Then apply the hand cream of your choice.

I used to be a hairstylist and began to get dry hands then from all the shampooing, never had them before.  Some nurses that I did swore by Neutrogena hand cream.  (It comes in a small box for around $4, I think.)  It was a lifesaver, not glamorous, but effective.

Years after no longer doing hair I lived in Salt Lake City for a while and the air there is exceptionally dry.  I had good luck with Curel.  I agree with the previous poster who said to put hand cream on every time after washing your hands.  I keep hand cream on my desk at work and by the bathroom and kitchen sinks.\

I have found, and so has my Aunt, that always using liquid hand soap, especially a really concentrated one will also dry my hands out.  If you can stand bar soap, I use it at the bathroom sink and use Olay soap with shea butter, I don't expect guests to use it so it's not in the guest bathroom -  yuck!!   There's  no question it doesn't dry them out as much.  I've also put 1/2 liquid soap and 1/2 water in with the soap dispenser.  Watering it down a bit makes it less harsh too & I still get suds.

Look for something that has glycerine close up to the top of the list of ingredients.  Every effective hand cream I've ever used has it in it up towards the top.  Watch out for creams with lanolin, it is often an irritant.

brilliant tips ladies, thanks so much! I am going to take note of all these and try them out!

Susan is right about Neutrogena's Hand Cream, Norwegian formula.  It is not greasy and absorbs fast!

I know they say washing your hands frequently is the most effective way to reduce the chances of getting a cold or flu.  But all that washing dries your skin too...a Catch 22!  So, I'm always putting on the cream again since it washes away.

If you are in a warm environment at home, a humidifier can help.  Heat is drying to the air and skin, so keeping the moisture level comfortable (40% usually) will keep your skin more comfortable too.  I know for me personally, my skin feels tight when the humidity is very low.  It happens a lot here, being in California where it's hot & dry almost daily.