Nails | Dior Junon
Bracelet | VERY old, by Fallon
Gold ring | Catbird NYC
Pointer finger ring | by Elissa Soloman, from Catbird, several years old
Bag | Proenza Schouler PS1 in Dark Olive, purchased from Forzieri with credit I earn
It’s always a nice surprise when a product turns out to work like it’s “supposed” to, although it hardly ever happens. I’m more skeptical than not with regard to beauty products, and it takes a lot to convince me otherwise; I like to try new things, and over the years have been very easily swayed by blogs and “favorite” lists; most of the time just to be disappointed.
But as I was walking through Neiman Marcus a couple days ago to get a refill of my Amore Pacific CC cream (one of my holy grail products, I’ve repurchased three times), I was almost literally accosted by the Diptyque vendor wanting to fill my bag with samples.
Never one to turn down samples, I stopped and we chatted for a bit, and left with a few scents and skincare product samples to try. She was most excited to recommend their Luxurious Hand Balm and exclaimed that you can put it on and it will keep your hands soft and silky for hours, even after lots of hand washing. Yeah, right. I’d heard that one before.
But Whoa. For me, this was true. I got up yesterday around 5:30 and while I was puttering around emptying the dishwasher, putting on my sneakers and drinking my lemon water, I removed my nail polish, applied cuticle remover and shaped my nails a bit (it’s sort of my early morning routine lately – taking care of my nails/hands). When I was finished and ready to take Dagny out for a long walk, I washed my hands and immediately applied the Diptyque hand balm. Just a small amount.
First, I love the scent. I’m not very good at describing scents at all, but this one is really beautiful and soft. Of course when I first applied the balm, it felt nice and silky, etc., etc., – as you’d expect after first applying something. But that feeling actually never went away. Throughout the morning I washed my hands more time than I could count, then went to Pure Barre at 9:45, washed my hands again lots of times, and still never re-applied the balm, or any other lotion at all. And my hands STILL looked soft. Not dry, and wrinkly like they usually do an hour or so after I apply hand lotion.
I really loved looking at my hands all day yesterday. And I could smell the scent as well, subtly as time went on, but it was still there, which I enjoyed. My hands/nails are usually very frustrating to me, because they are SO DRY, no matter what I seem to do. I’ve been rather loyal to the Gold Bond hand cream the last few years, using Caudalie also, on occasion, because I like how it smells. And I use CND’s solar oil on my nails. But nothing has ever really made my hands/nails feel as soft and moisturized as I’d like. And I could see my hands looking older and older…
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Anyway, I really love this stuff. And I’ve tried EVERY hand cream out there. It’s spendy though, and I can’t really justify the cost right now. But maybe as a special treat sometime? Or for my birthday? I think a tube would last quite some time, as you really only need a little bit, but I’m sure it will be worth the money, which is a lot more than I can say for a lot of other beauty products I’ve tried.
Have you found your holy grail hand cream? Or are you still searching?
My holy grail is Kiehl’s Ulitmate Strength Hand Salve. But I don’t use it all the time – a great drugstore alternative that I travel with and keep in my purse is the class Neutrogena Norwegian formula hand cream. I tend to prefer unscented (mainly so my husband can use the same thing since he hates most scent). At work, I keep a pump of Lubriderm with spf 15 in it because I’m not good at protecting my hands from sun damage – but since I use lotion so often during the day (I drink water, I use the bathroom, I wash my hands…) I figure that’s a nice way to get in the habit of spf on my hands.
ugh…i need to do better keeping spf on my hands too. it’s so hard to remember!
i used to use the kiehl’s, but was never that impressed. and my mom keeps that neutrogena stuff around and i find it sort of weird? i don’t know…i just don’t like it i guess!
Mine is a split between Cerave’s Moisturizing Creme (the one in the jar) because it has hyaluronic acid in it, which is moisture-retentive (how scientificy sounding of me) & works much better than the Cerave lotion in a regular lotion form, & is fragrance-free – which is one of my mandatory requirements.
The other is Paula’s Choice Hydra-light lotion. It’s teeny tiny (about a 2oz size container), but literally a dab does it. It’s also frag-free & I can put this on my face & not break out.
The Cerave can be a bit “heavy” especially now that summer is here, but a little goes a lng way with that stuff too. I drag that big tub with me when we go to the Keys & mix in a wee bit of jojoba oil so mah skin looks all dewy & everyone automatically assumes I’m only 25. Pretty sure that’s what’s happening. LOL
Ooh – I just got the jar of Cerave (on sale at Costco with the current circular 😉 to use on my feet at night – love it!
The neutrogena and kiehls have a similar texture, and if you don’t like it – I get it. I garden and do a lot of DIY stuff around my house & land, so I need as much moisture as I can get, so by now I don’t mind it. But it’s not the “creamy” easy to use lotion you might expect.
I think I posted last year about body lotions with SPF – there are lots of options these days (I have the lubriderm – I don’t love the scent – and some kiehls I do like). Just keeping it on my desk means I am using it more often. Crimes of opportunity 🙂
I’m lackadaisical about hand creams – given that I’m the kitchenmeister I just put on whatever is to hand when I’m finished getting my hands wet;). But that Amore Pacific, like it’s no-paraben formulation, can you wear it all over your face, like Laura Mercier’s Tinted Moisturizer? (My current go-to.)
Forget the hand creme… The jewelry!! That ring! I love Elissa Solomon… I was *this* close to wearing her ombre eternity band as my wedding ring but chickened out.
Also.. I’ve been meaning to comment on your suburbia post. I’m a Brooklynite since birth, before it was “cool” … With no plans on leaving. In fact, I used to be able to walk to Catbird from my old apt, and I have been browsing your site for years. Your style is very “model off duty” for us gals with normal bodies. Whoever called your style “boring” would probably find NYC style boring as well.
if i lived near catbird i’d be eating ramen (the cheap shit) every day. i want EVERYTHING. but i have to space out my purchases LOL – i’m due for another one soon 🙂
thanks for your comment – i’ve forgotten about it, honestly. everyone has their own opinions about things, and sees things differently. no big deal. it’s just funny when it turns out that how your see yourself and how others see you are complete opposites! shocking at first, but i should be more used to it by now, after posting pictures of myself online for 10 years LOL
yes, i use the amore pacific all over my face. i concentrate it more on my cheeks where i have redness. and sometimes add a little of the RMS un-cover up to tone down the redness even more. but i find it much more moisturizing and “dewy” than laura mercier, which used to be my holy grail, but my skin became much too dry for it…
ha! i keep meaning to try cerave. i just get intimidated by those giant tubs!! what if i don’t like it??
Yep the Cerave tub is a bit of a commitment as it lasts for an eternity. I find a little works just as good than a whole lot. A whole lot is oppressive and I feel like I’m suffocating under it once the heat & humidity of my area begin to envelope me.
However in the “winter” & drier months (well, more like month &”winter” being a time period, not an actual event where I live), then I slather on the Cerave & I’m good to go.
But yeah, a thin layer is good. Anymore is too much.
PSA: Buy a pump that fits the tub. Buy it off of Amazon for about $7 bucks. Look for Cerave tub pump (http://amzn.to/1ButyGy).
My three favorite hand creams are:
L’Occitane shea butter (I even keep a little tube in my purse at all times!)
Kiehl’s Ultimate Strength Hand Salve
Philosophy’s Hands of Hope
I also use CND’s Solar Oil whenever I give myself a manicure.
I’ve got three. The first is the Koh Gen Do cleansing spa water, which is like a makeup remover/cleanser in one. Applied with the KGD cotton pads, it’s like a spa experience at home. And I don’t say that lightly.
My other fave is the Clarin’s Beauty Flash Balm. It brightens and firms, and also helps even out my skintone (I’ve got lots of redness). It goes on very cool and soothing and works well as a pick me up during a long day, or as a makeshift eye cream.
Lastly, I live by Mario Badescu’s rosewater spray. It’s nice and cooling, and I love the scent. It can be used as a toner or to help set your makeup so it doesn’t look so powdery. This was the first product I actually finished and I always keep two on hand now.