ProductWhores

Cashmere & Silk

I was in BBW tonight (umm, their new collection of mixed fruit/floral scents are awesome and I was dying for their American Boardwalk candle collection) but what really got me was their True Blue Spa Cashmere and Silk Hand Cream!  I had used the Cashmere Hand Cream before but it had an annoying scent that would make me sick to my stomach so, even though it was super moisturizing, I couldn't use it.  Now, they have its sister - Cashmere and Silk - which is lovely!  The scent is slightly of shea butter, super moisturizing and doesn't wash off when you wash your hands!  Love, love, love it.  I actually bought a few items from the collection because I couldn't resist the whole Buy two, get one free promotion.  Love me some BBW.  Now I'll head back this weekend once I get my paycheck so I can get those Boardwalk candles!

Jack Black's Hand Healer

In my latest shopping jaunt to Sephora, the associate introduced me to Jack Black's Industrial Hand Healer and while it's meant for men (not exactly sure why as I don't know any men who apply hand cream), it's super fantastic and I have embraced it as my own.  Yep, I don't listen to what anyone tells me (again, why is this a hand cream for men?!)  It smells minty, sinks in quickly and the best part - it lasts through hand-washings so it keeps working throughout the day.  It's a serious hand cream, and at only 15 bucks it's a steal in my book. Thank you, Sephora associate!

love & toast

What a beautiful day it was when I discovered the brand love & toast by margot elena.  When we received the email from one of our fabulous readers gushing about this handcreme she tried and loved, I feverishly went online and fell in love right away.  love & toast, even before you try anything, captivates your senses with their adorable packaging and unique scents (how can you not try something called paper flower?!)  When I got the package in the mail I thought the rollerballs and handcremes were even more gorgeous in person.  All the boxes have little cut-out hearts and pieces of toast on the inner flaps (are you kidding me?  they're killing me with cuteness?!) and then you realize how high-class this brand really is with the etched hearts and pieces of toast on the glass rollerballs and the metal tubes of creme.  All brilliant packaging aside (I am also a packaging whore, I guess), the products themselves are even more brilliant.  The handcreme formula is super hydrating, sinks right in and smells so beautiful (even though I haven't tried them all, paper flower is a must-try).  The rollerballs have real staying power and the unique scents translate to tons of compliments from passer-bys (what are you wearing?).  I love the candied citron (such a fresh burst of citrus without being overwhelming).  love & toast products are paraben free, not animal tested and the packaging comes from 100% annually renewed resources.  In addition they donate a portion of all sales to regional affiliates of Girls, Inc which helps to empower girls to be strong, smart and bold.  Could this brand be any better??  You'll be hooked once you give them a try... and you'll be thankful for our PWs reader who "got a great handcreme as a present."  

 

Perfect Winter Hand Treatment

The cold weather is so brutal on the skin I could cry (and sometimes do), but my hands are always the worst.  I hate that they get so chapped even trying to apply handcream is painful.  I am so thrilled to have found Atopalm Moisturizing Hand Treatment because it moisturizes my sensitive hands without even so much as a sting.  The cream is paraben free, sinks in immediately (no need to use your sleeve to open a doorknob) and has no smell so won't interact with whatever perfume you're wearing.  The treatment was created specifically for extra-dry, sensitive skin and it really is amazing.  Retails for $18.00 and if you buy from their site you get free shipping.  What a great stocking stuffer this would be!

Note:  A sample of this product was sent to me by a PR representative working with Atopalm

Ultra Winter Cream

At my last Sephora visit I was standing in line by all those beautiful bins of well-priced goodies and I picked up a cream I had never seen before which claimed to cure the driest skin without the use of petroleum or any of those nasty parabens and chemicals.  Of course they didn't have a tester so I was forced (yes, forced) to purchase it and give it a go.  Let's put it this way - I love it so much I went back the next day and bought the lip balm, as well.  Ultra Repair Cream by First Aid Beauty is a definite must-have for everyone and should really be top of your list for stocking stuffers.  The cream is super-hydrating, not sticky at all, fragrance-free and absolutely cures uber-dry skin on the face, hands or body.  I couldn't believe that overnight it cured my seriously dry, cracked knuckles without any stinging at all.  This stuff is the real deal, and I am a fan for life.  Also, the Ultra Repair cream would be amazing for people who suffer from eczema as it contains colloidal oatmeal (soothes itching and redness) and glycerin (helps to hold in the moisture).  2 oz tube costs $12.00 and is worth every single penny.  You can buy the larger size, but there's something incredible about having the travel-size (I, for one, am going to be using a lot of this on my next airplane excursion).

Give me MOR

Oooh, MOR makes amazing hand creams and I am currently obsessed with their Lychee Flower.  Yeah, they're a bit pricey at $12.00 for 1.7 oz tube, but it is so worth it!  The formula is extremely hydrating, sinks right in and smells absolutely delightful!  I love the fresh fruity scent for the summer.  Also, bonus, the tube is beautiful with its pink and gold decoration.  You look like a fancy lady when you pull it out of the handbag (maybe that's just my crazy thinking).  Check out MOR if you haven't before (wow, what a Dr. Seuss moment for me there).

Tiny Hands

Clearly I have watched far too many episodes of "Forensic Files," because when I first saw LUSH's new Tiny Hands online, all I could think was how much it looked like something that would be used in one of those dramatic recreations of a crime scene they do.  In person though, I'm happy to report, that is not the case at all.  Tiny Hands is a moisturizing bar (for hands, obviously!) and it's different from traditional hand creams because it's a solid.  To use, you simply rub it across your hands and then rub them together to smooth in the product that it leaves behind.  It works a lot better than you would think - when I first heard about it, I was kind of like, eh.  But in person, I love it.  First of all, the product it leaves behind is amazing.  It totally moisturizes my dry hands without making them greasy at all, and it smells gorgeous, with its mix of vanilla and floral scents.  So pretty!  It's way more portable than you would think too - I just left it in the little baggie it came in and I've been keeping it in my bag that I drag back and forth to work every day.  I feel like with all the typing I do, my hands kind of take a beating, so I'm always on the lookout for ways to keep them in tip top shape and Tiny Hands delivers in an easy to use, fun way.  I even got one of the men in my office hooked on it, which is kind of hilarious to me.  It really is a new world out there, people!

Note:  A sample of this product was sent to me by a PR representative working with LUSH       

Evolution of Smooth

I am SO happy to have this adorable little bugger in my purse!  First of all, it's such a cute, funny little oval shape which makes me smile when I hold it.  Second, it has a flip top so no messy spilling which means no more lotion-soaked pens, wallet and cosmetic bag.  Third, it smells amazingly of cucumber and is a fantastic hand moisturizer.  Fourth, this lotion is free of all the nasty stuff like dyes, phthalates and paraben.  And fifth, and probably most important, this is one cheap little guy (in a good way) - it retails for only $3.99. How can everyone not own this sweet little hand cream.  

My hands Love Pai

I am a hand cream-a-holic.  I must have literally a million in my place (I am staring at four on my bedside table right this very moment) but none are nearly as luxurious as Pai Skincare's new Fragonia & Sea Buckthorn Instant Hand Therapy Cream.  This stuff is absolutely fabulous on all accounts (and will be taking its stance as Queen Bee on my bedside)!  First of all, I need to give a little background on Pai Skincare because if you're like me, and are new to this brand, you will be so impressed with this company!  Pai Skincare is organic, only uses naturally derived ingredients, no animal testing and was created primarily for people with sensitive skin (the founder, Sarah, started this incredible company because she suffered with allergies for years).  They don't use any icky stuff (I guess the technical term here would be "chemicals") and are certified by the Soil Association, which is a really big deal as this association checks to ensure that the products are produced to the highest quality standards (anyone can say they're organic, but Pai truly is).  Truly unbelievable for a skincare brand to boast all this AND have amazing products at an affordable price!   Back to the hand cream - this stuff is amazingly moisturizing without any greasy feeling at all.  I adore the scent (think Weleda's Sea Buckthorn line, but much better quality) and I think the container is perfection (an adorable little pump perfect for bedside or handbag).  As I've said before, I have super sensitive hands which are very chapped, so hand creams have a tendency to irritate me (I will be reviewing Philosophy's which I recently bought and it makes me cry in pain every time I try to use it).  Pai Skincare's is the first one to make my hands soooo happy - no pain and absolutely works.  I really can't say enough good things about this stuff - everyone needs to own it.  Retails for $25.00 on their site and is worth every penny.  I noticed they have free shipping with $50.00 and their facial moisturizers (which sound incredible) are only $38.00.  A definite bargain for an organic product that actually holds up to it's promises.  Thank you, Pai.  I love you.

Note:  A sample of this product was sent to me by a PR representative working with Pai Skincare.