Are your hands and nails in desperate need of tender, love and care? If you said yes keep on reading! I had planned on posting about these products for a long time but I kept thinking “this is not going to be news for anyone. Everyone knows about these products”! But I confess I was wrong. Not everyone has heard about these products. We buy stuff that we have tried and found to be good “stuff”, or we buy stuff that we have heard other people say it is good “stuff”. So here I am sharing with you about my top most favorite “stuff” that my hands, feet, and nails love. You can try them and see for yourself.
Burt’s Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream. This luscious cream is heavenly on my cuticles, especially in the winter when my cuticles tend to get rough and dry. I stick this little pot in my jacket pocket at work and I apply it as often as I can. I also use it before putting my winter gloves on and walking out of the house. I massage it around my cuticles as I push them up a little at a time. It works like a charm. I've been in love with this stuff for many years. You can find it at Walmart, Walgreens, and Ulta. I have noticed that some grocery stores in my small hometown have it too. It cost $5.99 at my local Walgreens.
Burts Bees almond milk. This crème is a dear friend to my hands and nails in every season, but even more so in the winter time. I keep a jar close to my kitchen sink so it is handy when washing time comes around. I still wash my dishes by hand, and every so often I use a Brillo pad to scrub pots and pans. To keep my hands from going to pots I slather this stuff all over my hands before putting my dishwashing gloves on. By the time I am done with my dishes my hands are nice and soft. This is a heavy, emollient crème.
Not really suitable to use when you are planning on using your hands freely to touch objects because it will leave a smear all over the place if you do. This is not one of those crèmes that your skin absorbs right away. This crème is best used when your hands are gloved either with dish gloves or your winter gloves. It will also work with gloves to sleep in (if you can manage to keep them on all night). You can buy it for around $8.99 at Walgreens or Walmart. It may seem like a lot of moola for a hand creme at first, but once you realize how little of it you need to get the job done your pocket (and your hands) will thank you.
C.O. Bigelow Rose Salve. C.O. Bigelow’s Hand Salve has been one of my most favorite heavy duty skin products for a long time. I use it pretty much the same way I use the Almond Milk Hand Crème, under rubber gloves, or under my winter gloves. It feels like Vaseline on the skin but it smells better, like roses as the name reads. It works well on hands, elbows, knees, lips, and even your feet. I got mine at Bath an Body Works for $5.50. I’ve had this little tin for a long time too. You don’t need too much of it to see results.
California Mango Mend Treatment Balm. This is what their website says: Promotes soft cuticles and healthy nail growth. Softens rough, dry patches on skin. Luscious California Mango scent. Cures cracked heels. "California Mango Mend Balm is an hydrating balm that is specifically designed to cure cracked heels and soften rough, dry patches on hands, knees and elbows." This is what I say: This stuff is like Vaseline on steroids! It is greasy, strong, and it really does do miracles on dry, nasty looking heels. My preferred way to use it is at night under my socks. I usually take good care of my feet (I hate thick, dry heels), so I use this stuff at least twice a week before going to bed. One warning thou, it will stain your socks orange, so make sure you use sockies that you won't mind staining. I paid $7.50 for this stuff at Sally's Beauty Supplies.
Carol's Daughter Ecstasy Shea Soufflé. Now, this is my baby! Save the best for last! I had never heard of Carol’s Daughter products until 2011 when a friend gave me a jar, in the “Orange Blossom” scent. It was after I tried the crème that I googled it to see how and where to buy more of it, that’s how impressed I was. After I used up the entire jar that was given to me I started buying it regularly. And I swear this crème is really a good investment for my skin. I don’t mind one bit that I have to order it online, or that it cost $13.50 for a 4 oz. jar. I usually get mine from Sephora or from Carol's Daughter Website.
It turns out Oprah talked about Carol’s Daughter’s products as one of her “favorite things”, but I didn’t watch Oprah and had no knowledge of such products. I was just stunned by how much I loved it. This is not greasy at all. It is a fast absorbing daily moisturizer for dry or extra-dry skin. This crème can be applied all over the body but since I can’t buy it at any local store in my town I reserve it for my hands and elbows. Like a precious crème that I have to use wisely so I don’t run out of it too soon. This stuff feels like butter and it really does sink into the skin beautifully. I am currently using the “Ecstasy” scent which smells fantastic, not too strong, and not too timid.
Next I will buy the “Almond Cookie” scent just because I really love almond scented stuff. Since this is a non-greasy crème it is safe to apply it before going about your daily chores because it leaves no residue behind. It all sinks down, penetrating the skin to the softest, smoothest texture ever. From all the crèmes I have ever used on my skin this is by far my favorite of all. Have you ever tried any of these products? If so, what did you think? Will you repurchase? Do you have any holy grail products to keep your hands, nails and skin lovely? If you do share with us!
