Smart writing always wins." "USA Today" critic Elysa Gardner commended Gomez's "sense of poise and reserve" on the song which she highlighted as "lithe". Ed Masley from "The Arizona Republic" regarded Gomez's phrasing as brilliant and deemed "Hands to Myself" the sexiest track the singer had done. Masley also complimented the production which he felt was uncharacteristic for Martin, likening it to 1990s productions by The Neptunes. Similarly, "Los Angeles Times" critic Mikael Wood commended Gomez's vocal performance as "a study in restraint" and Martin's production as "uncharacteristically delicate". Spencer Kornhaber from "The Atlantic" called it "instantly catchy", highlighting the "wonderfully bizarre" lyrics. Jia Tolentino of "Spin" magazine regarded "Hands to Myself" as "weightless meditation on seduction" and lauded its "dance tent's worth of pent-up energy" and "perfect interlude". Brennan Carley, also writing for "Spin", complimented Gomez's "impeccable" phrasing and the track's "crisp" production, further noting that the song manifested Gomez's growth as a singer; he wrote she "breathes life" into the song and excels at "stretching the boundaries of what her aerated tones can achieve". Myles Tanzer from "The Fader" wrote: "Swedish [production] perfection aside, Gomez makes the song. Her vocal performance is equal parts power and fun." Another "The Fader" writer said Gomez sounded "borderline unrecognizable", adding, "and I'm 100% here for the glo up". Sal Maicki of "Complex" magazine called it "a certified banger", adding, "It's intimate and mature, whilst ridiculously catchy". Lauren Nostro of the same publication deemed the track "absolutely irresistible", and opined that it marked a peak for Gomez's coy attitude and breathy vocals. Nostro concluded: "It's an effortlessly catchy pop smash, but more importantly, it finds Selena at her most playful—she's making grown and sexy music now, and she's not afraid to show it." Some critics viewed the song's "I mean I could but why would I want to?" line as one of the best moments in pop music in 2015. "Billboard" ranked "Hands to Myself" at number 91 on their "Billboard's 100 Best Pop Songs of 2016: Critics' Picks" list, writing “Breathy, sexy fun, and Selena Gomez's quivering delivery of the coy lyrics makes you really believe she literally cannot let her hands stay idle.