I can’t resist purchasing cuticle creams (as seen in my “Cuticle Creams…I’ve got plenty” post!). I’m similarly obsessed with hand creams – I’m forever trying new ones, hoping to find the magical one that will address all of my hand concerns and leave me with moisturized and plumped skin.
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| My hand…waving hello? |
My hands are not my favorite feature – they’re skinny, veiny and have dark knuckles. But I’m not hung up on them either – we have enough bodyparts to worry about (face, neck, hair, etc LOL!) without adding “perfect” hands to the list! Below are mini-reviews of the hand creams that I’m currently using:
- The Body Shop Wild Rose Hand Cream – ($10 for 1oz) I bought this mainly for the scent – a beautiful natural rose fragrance. It’s very light and absorbs easily but is otherwise unremarkable – no prolonged moisturizing or improvement in skin.
- L’Occitane Shea Hand Cream – ($10 for 1oz) VERY popular – HG item for many, but just OK for me. Sweet natural scent, leaves my hands soft but nothing more. On the plus side – the size is very convenient for my handbag – this is my second tube.
- AHAVA Mineral Hand Cream – ($7 for travel size) I don’t like silicone-y creams as I feel they only work temporarily by creating a silicone barrier on top of your skin – doesn’t improve the underlying skin (still looks dry and wrinkly). This softens hands immediately and leaves them feeling silky – but that’s about it. Reminds me of Glysomed.
- Vaseline Healthy Hand & Nail – ($4 for 3oz) Basic drugstore option – feels lovely when you apply it, but is just a light lotion that absorbs quickly and with no lasting effects or benefits.
- Fruit & Passion Avocado Hand Butter – ($8 for 1.4oz) My favorite! Gorgeous natural scent, visible moisturization, adorable packaging (also sold in a tube). Non-greasy but it leaves a tangible barrier that keeps your skin feeling soft – even after washing your hands. I prefer Fruits & Passion products to the Body Shop or Bath & Bodyworks because they seem richer and of better quality.
- Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream – ($19.50 for 2.3oz) This cult favorite is used for lips, cuticles and any really dry skin. It’s VERY greasy and has an unpleasant medicinal smell. I use it overnight and wake up to noticeably moisturized skin. This is the original 8-hour cream, there is a hand cream version too – but I haven’t tried it.
- Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream – ($5 for 2oz) This one looks and feels like Vaseline jelly (although its main ingredient is glycerin). I think this would be a good staple to keep in your handbag/dashboard in the winter – it immediately improves all dry patches – and is wallet friendly. This cream is my second favorite.
- Aquaphor – ($9 for 3.5oz) Another Vaseline-like cream – this is a good dupe for the Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream at half the price. Another bonus, this version is odorless! They even have similar ingredients (Petrolatum, Mineral Oil, Lanolin) but the Aquaphor has Glycerin while the 8-hour cream has Castor Oil and Salicylic Acid.
- Kiehls Ultimate Strength Hand Salve – ($14 for 2.5oz) I’ve just started using this, but I think it may replace the L’Occitane cream as my handbag staple. It absorbs quickly and leaves my skin feeling silky and moisturized. It is heavy duty but doesn’t have the greasy feeling that most hand-salves have.
MY RECOMMENDATIONS: Fruits & Passion Hand Butter is my ultimate favourite – but I would recommend the Kiehls or L’Occitane for your handbag (as they are non-greasy and easy to apply on the go) and the Aquaphor or Neutrogena for REALLY dry winter weather. My budget tip – keep unused face creams and Vaseline in your bedside table drawer – layer the 2 overnight to moisturize and improve the condition of your hands and feet (wear cotton socks & gloves until the product absorbs).
NEXT ON MY LIST TO TRY: Soap & Glory Hand Food (apparently it smells like Coco Mademoiselle perfume!), Clarins Hand & Nail Treatment and this Etsy cream I read about on the Purse Forum. Also want to try Bliss Moisturizing Gloves.
Which is your favorite hand cream – would LOVE to hear your recommendations.
DISCLAIMER: I purchased all these items myself except for the AHAVA cream (was in my glossybox) and the Kiehls salve (was a free gift with purchase).
I love Body Shop hemp hand cream..I find it the most effective. I also love LUSH lemonny flutter cuticle stuff.. really effective!! x
I keep meaning to buy the LUSH lemony flutter – this weekend I'll remember to pick it up! I used to use the Body Shop Hemp Hand cream – but for some reason, I didn't love it…maybe I should give it another try.
Unfortunately, I don't have suggestions for you, but this post came at a perfect time! I was just picking at my cuticles last night and thought to myself, "I REALLY need a mani to clean these up!" I found the link to your cuticle post MOST helpful. With 3 boys at home, mani's aren't always logical/cost effective! 😉
Yay – glad my hand cream/ cuticle cream obsession can be of help LOL! Can't wait to hear which cuticle product you choose – you can't go wrong with the Burts Bees or Body Shop recs.
I'm obsessed with hand cream too! My absolute faves are Cake Beauty hand cremes, you should try them if you haven't already.xo, alison*elle
I haven't owned any Cake products – though I've read good things about the Velveteen one. Really wished I purchased their limited edition Strawberry Shortcake line!
I really enjoyed this post Ella! Always love reading what others use. I love the L'Occitane Shea hand cream. The only problem – it doesn't last me very long during these cold months. Wish the tube was a bit bigger for the price.
Thanks Lilly! Good to know the L'Occitane works for you – it does get used up quickly though…and is so pricey…I have my heart set on their Rose 4 Reines line – smells SO amazing.
I would agree with the above suggestion- Cake has wonderful hand cream products! I also really love LUSH cosmetics dream cream.
Thanks for the tips! Is the dream cream for hands or general use?
Fun post Ella! I have so many hand creams too. I really like Eucerin, Aveda Hand Relief and Caudalie, the jury is still out on my others though. I don't think the scent of Soap and Glory Hand Food is all that great at all! I must be missing something there, lol. I do see a major improvement when I use Josie Maran's argan oil on my dry, cracked, Winter hands.
Oh – I was really hoping the Soap & Glory would smell nice – some people were raving about it…will have to sniff it the next time I'm at the drugstore. I haven't ever tried the Aveda cream either – there are so many options out there, huh?
You should see my hands right now Ella – so dry! not only dry, but cracking and itchy. It's so dry where I live, that this happens every winter. I think Aquaphor sounds great and I'll try it. Lately I use Vaseline or my argan oil.
You should definitely try Carmex Healing Cream (the ones in tubes and not tubs — those are weird vaseline like jellies!) They are so moisturizing and really healed my extremely dry hands… I hate ultra-moisturizing creams that are greasy, but this one absorbs almost instantly but really stays put and protects. I can't describe how it works but it works so wonderfully!! It's a must try.