Apologies if you inadvertently saw an approximation of this post in your email/reader etc. It wasn’t ready for publishing till now 🙂
I’ve run out of my favourite hand cream. It was a tragedy because I’ve been around the block and come to the conclusion that most if not all hand cream is just too greasy for me, despite every claim of being non greasy or oily. Before I ran out to buy a new one however, I remembered that I had one from Biotherm.
The Biotherm Biomains Age-Delaying Hand & Nail Treatment sounds a lot like the one from Clarins and it also came well liked by my Canadian buddy Tracy. Hey, anything that works in the harsh Canadian winters must be a winner! I was quite excited about this one 🙂
The other thing that I thought I’d tell you about is the Melvita Argan Oil Roll on Cuticle treatment. Yes, a roll on. Have you tried either one before?
I started out with the Biotherm Biomains hand cream on a wrong foot. Or maybe, wrong hand hehe… I usually slather on body oil before bed, followed by hand cream. Its only something I’ve been doing recently in a valiant effort to keep visible skin-ageing at bay. You did know that hands show signs of age more significantly than your face right? So it does pay to take care of your hands.
Anyway, when I use the Clarins hand treatment, it seems to blend well with whatever remaining oil on my hands and in a very short time, I can handle my bedtime reading without leaving oily prints all over. So, I thought the Biotherm one would too. It doesn’t, and left me feeling a bit nonplussed. So, I said on Instagram that I didn’t like it very much.
I’ll revise my view now. It is a pretty good hand cream in that its not oily or greasy or sticky once its set if you use it on its own. I use a generous squirt, rub my hands together and it does remind me a lot of the Clarins hand cream in this regard. The upside is that this smells a heck lot better than Clarins! So if you are averse to hand creams like I am, do consider trying either the Clarins one or this Biotherm Biomains one. They’re both really non greasy. The age-delaying bit is a big plus of course, and it seems to keep my hands well moisturised and not dry. I will use this up as best I can but I don’t plan to repurchase because despite the scent, I prefer the Clarins one.
The other item I’d been trying out for a bit is by organic French brand, Melvita. The Argan Oil with Geranium Roll-on for hands, nails and cuticles comes in a very slim glass tube and smells strongly of geranium oil. If you like it, its soothing but its strong.
What you do with this, is roll on the oil where you need it, and then rub it in so it absorbs into your skin. However, I found it far too fiddly to be practical. For hands, I’d say its a waste of time because our hands are big, and you will be sitting there forever rolling on the oil all over your hands. Easier to just get something with a pump.
For nails and cuticles, you roll on the oil around your cuticles and nail and then rub it in. I hit another snag. The roller is a temperamental beast.
To start, I had to roll it along my hands for ages before a hint of oil even appeared. You’d think that once it gets flowing it’ll be alright but that isn’t so.
Using the roll on is a bit like playing roulette. You never know if you’d get any oil out on the first try. So while the oil may be good for the cuticles and nail bed, this isn’t something I like. I much prefer using oil that comes in a dropper or a pump. Imminently messier but definitely easier to control.
I am horrible about taking care of my hands but I’m trying. After all, as I reminded you above, hands show age faster then we know, and it wouldn’t be much use taking care of our face and then having our parchment skin hands give things away, eh? 😉
Have you tried either the Biotherm hand cream or the Melvita cuticle oil? Do you have a fave hand and nail care product?
Im usually very lax about my hands so the only concession to taking care of them is intensive application of the Clarins hand cream before bed. So far so good! *touch wood!* 😉
Paris B
Biotherm Biomains Age-Delaying Hand and Nail Treatment Price: to be confirmed Availability : All Biotherm counters ; Melvita Argan Oil Roll on Cuticle treatment Price: RM51/10ml Availability : Melvita stores
I have both. I find the Biotherm hand cream oily. Due to that, I prefer to use another body lotion on my hands. That particular brand of body lotion works better than other brands that I have tried and used so far. BF is going to help me to finish BIotherm hand cream.
Melvita cuticle oil. The BA sold it to me as a cuticle oil as I am a cuticle oil person. Don’t fancy it because it took quite some time before the oil makes its appearance. Again, BF is going to help me to finish it. I am using another brand of cuticle oil and I love it. Not the dropper type but brush type (exactly like nail polish type of brush and botte).
I have tried Eve Lom cuticle balm/cream. I find it too waxy for my liking. I don’t see major improvement after applying for a month. So, I stick to the cuticle oil that I have been using for years.
Which cuticle oil are you using now, Angelina? I have seen one in a nail polish type packaging by OPI or something I believe. I don’t pay attention because I don’t pay attention to my nails LOL So horrible right? I think if I painted my nails I’d be more hardworking about caring for them 😛 I didn’t find the Biotherm hand cream oily if I use it on its own but I still prefer my Clarins one. Seems to do a better job at taking care of my hands too 🙂
SolarOil by CND. It smells of almond (I love it, but some people find it revolting). I apply it everyday because it has become a routine to me. I have few bottles lying around the house, 1 in the car, 1 in my bag and 1 in the office. I found out from my manicurist that most people are lazy to apply cuticle oil (even after purchasing it) because they find it a hassle, and some dislike the it because it is oily. It is oily if you apply lots of it (like me but I like it). It is easily absorbed by the skin/cuticles. It helps to keep dead skin to the minimum. You’ll be amazed with the result if you apply it regularly, just like how often you apply skincare products on your face.
They have big bottle (really big bottle) but my manicurist doesn’t want to sell it to me because it’s nuts. Lol. I don’t mind having a big bottle at home. I can lug it around the house.
Thanks for the rec, Angelina! I think I’ve come across this before on my blog travels. Just never paid attention to them because I don’t pay attention to my nails. Sigh… yet another thing to care for now that I’m aware of it eh? 😛
If you are used to oily kinda of product, the cuticle oil should be suitable for you. Most people are turn off by it. Me, the more, the merrier. Lol. That’s why I always have extras lying around because I use it quite fast.
While reading your post, I found myself reaching for my hand cream…. because you reminded me that my hands are in horrible condition! XD I’m don’t often use hand cream, so I guess my hands look older than they really are. *oh the horror!* The cuticle oil roll-on sounds like a good idea, but yeah, I find roll-ons a bit temperamental – you never know if the product will come out or not. >_<
LOL I’m glad to have inspired you in this post to take care of your hands! 😀 I should take better care of my hands to be honest and I only really started to when I was using the Clarins hand cream. Otherwise, I was horrible about it and it doesn’t help that I have sensitive hands that start to peel at first contact with products it doesn’t like! I’d say skip the roll on. It smells nice and is a nice concept but far too much bother to be practical
I love Crabtree & Evelyn’s Citron Honey and Coriander hand cream. I hate greasy hand creams as well and I’m quite picky, but this one is just fabulous! After it absorbs into the skin, it really is non greasy. Not sure if you’ve tried their hand creams before, but yeah…my new favorite so far 🙂
I used to like the C&E Gardener’s hand therapy cream, Yee! The Citron one on me smells like dishwashing liquid LOL! I do find they take a bit longer to absorb into my skin but it is very nice at treating dry hands. I stopped using them because of the time it takes to absorb. I like to read at night and I need something that doesn’t leave greasy paw prints all over my books 🙂
*gasps* Greasy paw prints on books! I’m a book lover, so I’d like to have none of that as well haha…
Dishwashing liquid eh? I seem to have a weakness for citrus-y scents…I usually hate the smell of coriander, but it doesn’t give off a strong scent in this so I’m good hehe.
Yeah I tested this when they first launched it and minutes later, my friend who was with me told me that my hands smelt like dishwashing liquid LOL I thought it was nice to start with but once he said that, that was it. All i could smell was Sunlight! 😛
Argan oil has been popping out alot lately…. my argan oil is from secretleaf…. it comes with a pipette to squeeze enough drops of oil…. i apply it on my hair at night before sleeping, so at the dame time my hands are getting them too…. talk about multitasking…. 😀
My hands are still feeling dry and rough no matter how much hand cream and lotion i slap on and how often i apply them…. i even carry a small bottle with me to apply whenever i could and whenever i remember…. i use Johnson’s baby lotion throughout the day as it doesnt feel greesy after application…. then at night before sleep, i use Fruit of the Earth vit e lotion as it feels greesy for a long time so i use it when i know i wont be washing my hands for a long time…. i still use it though because it really does moisturise my hands….
Clever girl! Rub the excess into your hands 😉 Argan oil is the new wonder oil it seems. It does seem to work well as a multi tasking oil and even for use on the face, if its something you want to try 🙂 I don’t use hand cream in the day (which is bad, considering I’m in an air-conditioned office all the time) but I just can’t get into the habit. So I make sure I use it before bed. I also find that if my hands react to chemicals – paper, washing up liquid, soap etc – it can feel drier and harder than normal so I do pay a lot of attention to what my hands come into contact with. Sometimes, it could be that and you may not realise it 🙂
Oh yes! My hands feel extra dry after washing the dishes or sometimes even hand washing with soap after using the bathroom…. You could consider keeping those hotel shampoo/soap bottles once you have used & wash them (or just empty them out Xb) and fill in with your hand lotion…. What I did was keep one in my bag, one on my bed, one on my dressing table and one in the living room…. So i’m bound to be reminded to moisturise my hands! 😀
Hmm that’s a very clever idea, Seraph! The body lotions given by hotels usually suck and a bottle is much nicer than carrying a tube that may leak or break. Will have to do this 😀
OOO so intrigued by the Melvita, if for nothing else but the geranium smell! I’ve got to check it out! I love both Aesop hand creams, L’Occitane Shea Butter hand cream, and Jurlique. I reserve Jurlique for bedtime, but I’d use all the rest during daytime as well! I never used hand creams so religiously when I was living in Taiwan, but here in Belgium I need them bad!
Oh if you love the smell of geranium oil, you’d love this cuticle roll on coz its very geraniumy! 😀 You just reminded me I have a tube of Aesop hand cream somewhere. I should give them a try. I’ve never tried their hand cream 😀
Wait, I remember reading about Aesop Reverence here. Is that the hand cream you’re talking about? I’m sooooo obsessed with it! Out of the two this is the one I prefer ever-so-slightly, if for nothing but what you smell! I know it’s not for everyone though 😉 Let me know what you think and I hope you’ll like it!
Haha good memory, Sunny! Yes, I did blog about Reverence before and I broke it out recently too! I do quite like it! 😀
The Melvita had me at geranium, but sorry to hear that the roller is so temperamental. I ordered the Clarins hand cream during the recent strawberrynet sale, and I’m waiting for it to arrive! I just used up my L’Occitane Shea Butter hand cream.
This post just reminded me that I should butter up my body before bed 🙂
Yeah, skip the roll on if you don’t want to have unnecessary stress LOL! I love the Clarins hand cream – picked up a back up already! Hope you’ll like it too when you get it 🙂
Never used both items before. I use many different type of hand creams since some of mine was given as gifts. Currently using the cocoa and vanilla hand cream from Marks & Spencer. I use a cuticle oil that comes with a brush, similar to nail polish. Quite like it as it has a nice soothing scent. I think I purchased it from Shins about 2 years ago. Unfortunately I am lazy at applying cuticle oil (although I do apply hand creams often) and must remember to use it regularly. Lol.
Wanna know a secret? This is the first time I’m using any cuticle oil 😛 I suppose I would be more diligent were I to wear nail polish a lot and don’t want to have ragged cuticles show up too obviously but since I very rarely wear nail polish, I don’t quite care about my poor cuticles LOL! I think my using the Clarins hand cream that treats nails as well helps, as does this Biotherm one that does treat nails too. I’m just horrible about taking care of my hands 😛
I’ve tons of hand creams and I like Crabtree & Evelyn Gardener’s Hand Therapy. As for cuticle oil, just get a bottle of almond oil which doesn’t break the bank
Good tip on the almond oil! I usually just use whatever oil I’m using on my body and then layer again with hand cream just before bed for a really intensive treatment 😀