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As the temperatures drop, it means paying extra attention to areas in need of therapy. One of them are your hands and I don’t know about you, but mine feel particularly dry during the cold months and so I depend on hand creams to keep my mitts soft and moisturised.
I’ve been trialling a few hand creams over the past six months, and hope that by sharing my experience of using these products, you might have suggestions of your own as well.
First up is Liz Earle’s Hand Repair. On the back of the Cleanse & Polish routine, I was expecting big things when I was sent this product to try. It comes in a 150ml bottle (but a smaller tube size is available). The pump action on the large bottle allows you to dispense the desired amount.
Containing echinacea, toning hops, antioxidants beta-carotene and natural source vitamin E, the hand cream is non-greasy and very thick in consistency. It absorbs into the skin quickly but the effect is temporary and my hands don’t feel completely moisturised. Also the scent of lavender is quite powerful so for those who aren’t keen on this shrub (and I know a few), avoid at all costs.
Liz Earle’s Hand Repair is available in three sizes: 150ml (£20.25), 100 ml (15.25), 50ml tube (£9.25). For more information, visit http://uk.lizearle.com/hands-and-feet/hand-repair.html.
*PR sample*
Crabtree & Evelyn is a name I’m familiar with but never tried, mostly because it strikes me as something for the blue rinse brigade. So when I was given their Citron, Honey & Coriander hand cream as a present by a friend who swore it’s the reason why he has such soft hands, I decided to be open minded and allow Crabtree & Evelyn into my life. (By the way, my friend has enviably soft hands…for a man!)
This one is a shea butter-rich moisturiser with Ceramides 3 and 6 II which claims to reduce moisture loss for softness and hydration. Ingredients are myrrh extract to condition nails, and Hyaluronic Acid to hold moisture close to the skin. Crabtree & Evelyn’s hand cream is also free of parabens, lauryl sulfates, mineral oil and propylene glycol.
The thought of coriander makes a lot of people retch so combined with honey sounds horrendous except it’s not. Although the scent is described as “vibrant lemon and fresh coriander with a touch of sweet honey” I can’t pick up any hint of coriander or honey. It is a very pleasant scent, however and keeps the hands divinely moisturised and supple. The tube size is also perfect to slip into the handbag or pocket.
100ml tube costs £14.00. For more information, visit http://www.crabtree-evelyn.co.uk/eng/products/hands-feet/hand-care/hand-care-offers/hand_cream?79481.
Next up is L’Occitane’s Shea Butter Hand Cream, voted ‘best hand cream’ by She and Harpers Bazaar magazine. Designed for dry skin, it smells beautiful and feels luxurious when you use it, but best of all, the results are lasting.
With shea butter, honey, almond extracts and coconut oil blended the cream absorbs into the skin effortlessly, leaving my hands soft and smooth and there is no greasy residue left over. Out of the products I’ve used, this is by far the best one but it’s also the priciest.
A 150 ml tube costs £17.50. For more information, visit http://uk.loccitane.com/FO/shea-butter-hand-cream.htm.
*PR sample*
I’m curious to know what other hand cream products you’ve tried and would recommend. Do let me know your thoughts by posting a comment below.
I use E45 hand cream. It’s really cheap but it does leave my hands lovely and moisturised. It is slightly greasy though so I only wear it at night.
Lush products are always good. Elemis stuff is exceptional. Elemis never lets you down…
Soap & Glory’s Hand Food is the best i’ve used recently. The Body Shop also has a really good one – I think it’s almond hand and nail cream or someting similar.
My fave hand creme is “Hemp Hand Protector” by The Body Shop. It’s great for dry to extremely dry skin. I discovered it this past December. I picked up a small sized tube to try it and just today I bought my 2nd full sized tube. I love the stuff. Some people don’t really like the scent of it, but I personally really like it.
I was lucky enough to get my hands (literally) on Elemis’s new handcream a few months before it went on general sale in Feb. Its just glorious! I love Elemis and I do love a good handcream, it has to be silky, smooth, do the job its supposed to and not leave my hands feeling wet or clammy! This ticks all the boxes for me! I also like L’Occitane too and even though Lavender is a bit “old ladyish” I have to say their blend is quite sophisticated!
Thanks, ladies. I’ve tried Soap & Glory’s Hand Food and Lush. I was going to blog about Dove’s hand cream but found it to be too sillicony. I’ll look into Elemis (never tried their products but I’ve heard amazing things) and I bought Body Shop’s Hemp Hand Protector (agree, the scent is unusual but if it does the job, I’m not fussed) and also their almond hand and nail cream.
My absolute favourite is the All For Eve hand cream – I love the fresh smell, I love the way it absorbs quickly and it leaves my poor overworked hands feeling lovely and pampered! You only need a tiny squidge too! Beautiful!!
Clarins Hand & Nail Cream is by far the best one I’ve ever used, however I have a soft spot for The Body Shop Wild Rose one, too, although it’s very rich so is better on dryer skins or in the winter.
Hi Sheenie, have you tried Balance Me, super moisturising handcream? I discovered it last year in my Carmine box & have been hooked since. No parabens etc & is just perfect for me.
My holy grail hand cream has got to be Vaseline Healthy Hand & Nail Conditioning. I know a lot of people aren’t big on it for the ingredients, but nothing leaves my hands and cuticles so tamed and tidy!
I do mean to try Soap and Glory at some point, so maybe when my travel-size Vaseline runs out!
As part of my job I do a lot of packing things into boxes and folding / cutting cardboard etc, which is pretty tough on the hands. If I don’t use any hand cream, my finger tips can crack and be very painful, so I have tried several. I haven’t yet found anything which is long lasting, smells ok, and isn’t too expensive, but my current favourite are OPI’s Avojuice skin quenchers. My daughter seems to like them too given how often she comes into my office and uses some herself!