My Favorite Hand and Foot Creams (Winter Skincare Series)

Two of the most hardworking parts of our body, our hands and feet, are sometimes the most ignored. It baffles me that so many people walk around with dry, calloused, ashy hands and feet when caring for these parts requires relatively minimal effort. All you have to do is exfoliate and moisturize.

~Hands~

Those who know me personally can attest to the fact that I have very soft hands. I do not have any special regimen or exclusive treatment; I simply keep them moisturized. Here are my current favorite hand creams:

1. L’Occitane Hand Cream

I love this stuff and strongly believe it deserves all the acclaim!

It has a delicate scent similar to that of the Ultra Rich line and with 20% Shea butter it is very moisturizing. My favorite thing about this hand cream is that it is non-greasy. It absorbs quickly and does not leave behind that greasy residue like so many other hands creams.

L'Occitane Hand  Cream

I have it in three sizes;

150ml €19: I keep this large tube around the house. I always reach for this after I have done the dishes or used cleaning detergents.

30ml €7: This one I keep in my handbag. It’s a good size to tote around or even to keep in your desk at work.

10ml: I received these tiny tubes from a business class goodie bag, but they are also available in the L’Occitane travel kit. They are just the perfect size to slip into your clutch.

2. Gamila Secret Hands 50ml € 25.95

This was given to me as gift November, 2011. My initial reaction was “oh how nice” and before even trying it I stuck it in a drawer and completely forgot about it. The truth is, I was quite satisfied with using the L’Occitane Hand Cream and as I had not heard of Gamila Secret prior to receiving this gift, I really did not give it much thought.

Gamila Secret Hands

Eventually I “rediscovered” it in the drawer, but could not find any reviews of this product so I did not know what to expect. I decided to give it a try and immediately fell in love with its sweet herbal scent. It’s very soothing, absorbs quickly, and as a bonus, it is an organic product.

~Feet~

Although they are hidden away most of the time our feet are still in need of a bit of loving too. This is particularly true during the winter when our heels are more prone to developing callouses, which when left untreated may lead to cracks. Not only are these symptoms unsightly, they may also cause discomfort. In most cases your regular body lotion or even rich body butter is not designed to combat the drying effects of winter.  Regular exfoliation coupled with a cream designed specifically for foot care is your best bet to prevent dry, cracked heels.

My new fave:

·         Gamila Secret Feet 100 ml € 30.95

I was so impressed with Gamila Secret Hands that I figured why not give “Feet” a try; it did not disappoint. It has a minty scent and when applied is quite refreshing and soothing; a great treat for tired feet at the end of the day. Like the Gamila Secret Hands, this too is an all-natural product.

Gamila Secret Feet

Worth mentioning …

·         The Body Shop No More Rough Stuff Foot Smoother

·         The Body Shop File A Foot

The Body Shop No More Rough Stuff Foot Smoother and File A Foot

I think everyone, male and female, should own a pumice stone. They are inexpensive and very easy to use. I use mine in the shower to quickly buff away any dry skin. I use the File A Foot during my in-home pedicures; leaves my feet oh so smooth.

Be sure to catch the next blog post in this series, “My Favorite Face Moisturizer ”, due October 22^nd, 2012.

Thanks for reading,

xoxo Ree van D

For “My Top 3 Shower Creams” Click HERE

For “My Top 3 Body Butters” Click HERE

My Top 3 Shower Creams (Winter Skincare Series)

An effective winter skincare regimen begins in the shower. In our attempt to maintain good hygiene we strip our skin of its natural oils leaving it susceptible to the drying effects of hot water and cold dry air. Consequently, it is important to use a shower cleanser that helps to replenish some of the moisture lost in the shower. Personally, I prefer a creamy, soap-free shower cream infused with natural plant oils.


Here are my three favorites, which I have purchased over and over again.

The Body Shop Coconut Shower Cream, Shea Shower Cream, & Cocoa Butter Creamy Body Wash

     1.     The Body Shop Coconut Shower Cream 
     2.    The Body Shop Shea Shower Cream
     3.    The Body Shop Cocoa Butter Creamy Body Wash

Each has a sweet-nutty scent relating to the nut oil it contains. The creamy foam nourishes the skin while ridding it of impurities. I use these with a bath lily to help slough away dead cells and dirt. They retail for € 6 for 250 ml, so they will not break the bank.

 

 

Worth Mentioning …

L’Occitane Ultra Rich Shower Cream

L’Occitane Ultra Rich Shower Cream is equally as creamy and nourishing as my favorite Body Shop body cleansers. The reason it did not make my top 3 is because it is a tad bit expensive, particularly for someone like me who goes through a bottle so quickly. At €14 for 250 ml, more than double the price of the Body Shop shower creams, this will put a small dent in your pocket. However, I like variety so I do keep a bottle in stock to mix things up every now and then. I am keen to take advantage of sales to stock-up when possible.

 

 

Be sure to catch the next blog post in this series, “My Top 3 Body Butters”, due October 8^th, 2012.

Thanks for reading,

xoxo Ree van D

P.S. Click here to like my Facebook page  for updates on new and exciting blog posts!!! 

The Body Shop Blue Corn 3-in-1 Deep Cleansing Mask

For a brief moment I thought this was the one. The mask that would end my search for a product that would get rid of the impurities and leave my pores squeaky clean. But alas, it was not to be.

The mask is grey with a blue tint, grainy, and THICK. So thick that is a rather difficult to apply. Once applied, I felt a slight tingling, and thought, this must be working. Plus, it contains Koalin clay, an ingredient well-known for its cleansing and absorbent properties. So it has to work, right?!

It dried in the recommend 10 to 15 minutes. There was no mistaking whether or not I needed to wash it off because this thing dried as hard as concrete. It was very uncomfortable as I could feel it pulling my skin. The worst part is that I could not get it off! I tried warm water and a wash-cloth but it just would not rinse off. I could see little white spots of leftover mask all over my T-zone wear my pores are a bit enlarged.  I had to wash my face with a cleansing gel to remove the whitish residue left all over my face.

Despite these cons, I was still impressed with the refreshing, tingling sensation I got when I applied the mask (silly me), so I held out hope that it would help to  unclog the pores in my t-zone. I tried the mask 7 more times over a period of 4 weeks, but saw no improvements. Needless to say I had to accept defeat and toss this one aside.

I think this product would serve best as an exfoliator, but based on my experience, I would not recommend it as a deep cleansing mask for individuals with oily skin or enlarged pores