Friday, November 8, 2013

Fab Friday Favorites: Hand Creams! (Fall Into Beauty)

Fab Friday Favorites: Hand Creams!

My hands have always been notoriously rough. It's just the way they are. But over time I have discovered that the right cream can make them look good and feel smooth {even if not quite soft}. Plus, regular use of hand cream is sort of important if you plan on taking pictures of pretty polishes on your nails from time to time {which I am wont to do about once a week, usually on Mondays :) }. These are a few of my tried and trues - conveniently separated into drugstore and luxury categories, plus two that I'm dying to get my hands on {particularly because I've tried other products from the brands that are just FANTASTIC}! {Products that were sent for consideration will be noted with {c/o} } 

Drugstore Wonders: 

Burt’s Bees Almond Milk Beeswax Hand Cream {c/o} moisturizes and shields the driest of hands with Sweet Almond Oil and Vitamin E. This glass container is pretty enough to leave out on your bathroom counter or on your desk at work , but I leave it on my night stand so that I can reach for it just before going to sleep. There's something very therapeutic and pampering about twisting off the top and dipping my fingers into the luscious concoction. Plus the smell of almonds is one of my faves, so using this puts me right in the mood for a sweet, sound rest!

Curél Hand & Cuticle Therapy {c/o}- this non-greasy formula is infused with soy milk, monoi oil and vitamin E to help noticably soften hands in just one use. Wash your hands a lot throughout the day {if you're a mom, of course you do}? No worries – Curél Hand & Cuticle Therapy cream soothes even the driest of hands even through repetitive hand washing. This dermatologist-recommended, award-winning hand cream is the perfect essential year round, but especially useful when the temps drop.

Le Couvent Des Minimes Gardener's Hand Healer {c/o} has been my jam since this summer! It combines 20% shea butter with seven beneficial plants in a rich and emollient cream, to nourish and repair dry and damaged hands while protecting against cracks and chapped skin like an invisible glove. Plus it's French so you know I love that!

Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream {c/o} is legendary for its effectiveness! I pull this out the day before I know I'll be taking polish pictures to help make sure my skin looks semi decent {trust me, I have no delusion that my polish pictures are the best, but I'm working on it!}. The thick cream takes some getting used to though-it leaves a bit of protective coating on your hands, which is cool in a way, but can be off-putting to some.

Luxury Finds: 

Jurlique Lavender Hand Cream {I won it!}has been one of my go-to's for over a year now. It's one of those products that I use for a while, then put away to try something else, but inevitably pull back out to add to my regular line up because it is just that good. This is another cream that stays at my bedside-the lavender scent is beautifully soothing after a particularly stressful day. It uses safflower seed oil and macadamia oil to restore moisture and protect from future dryness. Carrot root extract and aloe vera soften and soothe, while vitamin E provides antioxidant protection for the skin. It is the perfect addition to top off my night time ritual.

 L’Occitane Limited-Edition Shea Flowers of Love Travel-Size Hand Cream in Passionate Jasmine {c/o}. This pretty little tube lives in my purse. It smells so pretty and feminine and I just feel so chic whipping it out after I wash my hands in public. Its 20% shea butter formula also ensures that my hands are nice, smooth, and protected!

Soap & Glory Hand Food {I bought this} held a place in my heart all summer long! It features Soap & Glory's signature Pink scent and is the perfect mix of sweet, floral, and citrus. Plus it works double time to sooth dry hands, soften cuticles, and pamper hands with its mix of shea butter, macadamia oil and marshmallow - all without leaving a trace of grease.

Mémoire Liquide 'Soleil Liquide' Hand & Body Cream {I bought this} is pure luxury in a tube. I reach for it more for the fragrance than its moisturizing prowess {though it's not shabby in that regard either}. The scent is meant to evoke "the memory of warm sunshine on a dazzling, bright summer day with notes of grapefruit, tangerine, blood orange and neroli flowers, accentuated with santal and white musk," so I find myself using it on those days when it's dreary and grey outside and my mood needs a bit of a boost.

Wishlist Fodder: 

Laura Mercier 'Ambre Vanillé' Hand Crème is on my wishlist after trying the Honey Bath and Creme Body Wash from the brand and being SUPER impressed with their hydrating abilities. Ambre Vanille sounds like the PERFECT fall scent {it boasts top notes of tangerine, coconut, and almond; middle notes of tiger orchid, milk flower, and heliotrope; and base notes of amber, vanilla bean, and brown sugar} and the formula sounds fantastic too:  "a deeply moisturizing cream continues to nourish hands well after it is absorbed into the skin; with grape seed and vanilla extracts, shea butter and macadamia oil to smooth and comfort skin, leaving hands feeling velvety soft."

Cowshed Cow Herb Restoring Hand Cream is enriched with lavender and fennel essential oils and made made wishlist after trying out the Lazy Cow Soothing Bath & Shower Gel and Wild Cow Invigorating Bath & Body Oil and falling head over heals for the intoxicating scents {Lazy Cow features essential oils of jasmine, chamomile, and sandalwood to help you relax, while Wild Cow has essential oils of lemongrass, ginger, and rosemary to rev you up!}. I can only imagine what wonders the scent of the restoring hand cream can work on my psyche.

Yep...Y'all know me well enough by now to know that when I love a product or brand, I go full hog at it {does anybody know the origin of that colloquillism?}! I've been obsessed with hand creams for a while and believe it or not, all of my favorites {let alone all the ones that I own} did not make the list. These are just my latest and greatest so to speak. Do you see any of your favorites on the list? Do you have any recommendations for me? My inquiring mind wants to know! Leave a comment below and let me know what you think! Until next time...










1 comment:

  1. I've heard good things about L’Occitane's hand creams. I don't think I'll be able to make it to the stores in time for the limited editions, but someday I plan to try the general collection ones.

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