beauty makeup skin talk skincare sunscreen

When you walk into Sephora or any other beauty store,  you've probably sees tons of foundations, BB creams, and other makeup products that come with an SPF number. Perhaps these types of products have made you wonder, do they actually protect your skin from the sun? Should we bother wearing makeup with SPF?

I've been really curious about makeup products that promise to offer some sun protection. So I ventured out and read a few articles here and there to answer my own questions.

Is Foundation with SPF Enough to Protect Your Skin from the Sun?
Many people who are knowledgeable about skincare and sun protection know that the answer to this question is a resounding, "NO." Dermatologist Dr. Baumann (interviewed by Susan Clark from WebMD) stated that the amount of foundation that we typically apply to our face is not nearly as much as we need to get adequate sun protection; in fact, you would need to apply "7 times as much foundation" to get the SPF that your makeup promises to deliver. And hell no, I am not caking my face in that much base makeup! No thanks. This is exactly why I always apply a separate sunscreen underneath my foundation.

So then what's the point of having makeup with SPF?
You need at least a quarter-size amount of sunscreen on your face (yep, that's a lot). Even though I try my best to apply as much sunscreen as possible, there may be some areas on my face that I don't apply enough sunscreen to. This is where makeup comes in; by applying base makeup with SPF, I can try to cover up the areas I inadvertently missed. As skincancer.org stated, "The truth is that most people do not get the most out of their sunscreen because either they do not apply enough of it, or they apply it unevenly.  Two applications of cosmetics that contain a sunscreen will increase your chances of getting good protection." The way I see it, it's kind of like how I try to get my daily dose of vitamins through my diet by eating healthy, but I still take vitamin supplements, just in case.

Of course, one of the most annoying things with some makeup products that have SPF is that they can "flash back" in photos, creating the embarrassing ghost face. Luckily, I've found some base makeup products that don't create a white cast, even with flash photography:
1. Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation (SPF 15)
2. Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua (SPF 15)
3. Skin79 VIP Gold BB Cream (SPF 30) - as long as you don't apply too much
4. Laneige BB Cushion Compact

If my sun lotion has an SPF of 30 and my foundation has an SPF of 15, that means I get a sun protection factor of 45, right?
No. It just doesn't work like that. Also, we shouldn't focus so much on number; an SPF of 100 doesn't give you twice the protection of an SPF 50. After 30, there really isn't much of a difference in terms of protection power. In fact, according to this WebMD article, no sunscreen can give 100% protection. Picking a sunscreen lotion with an SPF 30-45 is good enough for me for everyday wear, and the most important thing to do is to reapply. Which brings me to my next point... 

Do I need to reapply?
If you are going to be outside for a long period of time, then YES, no matter how high your SPF number is. I get it: this is such an inconvenience for anyone who wears makeup. After all, who wants to put on some goopy sunscreen on top of your perfectly made up face? My solution to this is to use a BB cushion compact or a mineral powder foundation with SPF when you need to reapply.

How Do I Protect My Lips?
You can use lip products with SPF, but one of the most interesting things I've learned from these readings is that you can use opaque lipstick as a way to give your lips some protection (both WebMD and Skincancer.org have said this). I guess I'll be rocking the bold lip when I go to work from now on!

Bottom line is, makeup alone can't protect you, but it can help if you've already applied your sunscreen.  Now, I'd like to open this up for discussion: What are your thoughts about makeup with SPF? Please feel free to share and add anything anything to this topic!

Till later,
Eva

FTC statement: This is not a sponsored post. The links provided above are not affiliate links.  I purchased all the products mentioned above with my own money.

beauty brightening hydration Innisfree Korean masks sheet masks skincare The Face Shop Tony Moly

And now for the fun part....FACE MASKS! In the winter, I look for masks that hydrate my skin or brighten my complexion. As you can see here, I tend to gravitate towards Korean masks; I've been consistently using The Face Shop, Innisfree, and Tony Moly masks for several years now. Though there are plenty of great masks from other countries and other brands, I've stuck to these brands because they are fairly affordable and highly effective.

As a reminder, I have combination skin, though my skin gets very dehydrated in the winter. As far as when and how often I use these masks, I use sheet masks 1-2 times a week, depending on how my skin is looking. I love using them before a night on the town, though I also use them right before bed when I want to pamper myself. I use my clay mask less often and only for "emergencies."

The Face Shop's Mango Seed and Chia Seed Masks: These two masks perform similarly in terms of the results. They're great for extremely dehydrated skin. After using these, my skin is hydrated and feels plumper. These sheets are packed with so much essence and I find that I don't need to use as much of my moisturizing cream when I use these masks. I'll probably repurchase the mango one and not the chia seed mask, only because the scent of the chia seed mask is unpleasant to my nose. I purchased mine directly from the brand's store in California. Unfortunately, I can't find these masks on an online site that I've purchased from. But if you want another hydrating mask from The Face Shop, I highly recommend their Avocado mask (which was not featured here, only because I used them all up).

Tony Moly I'm Real Mask Sheet (Tomatoes): My skin tends to look dull in the winter, so I turn to this mask to make my skin appear more radiant and bright. Though Tony Moly's masks aren't filled with as much essence as The Face Shop's, I still find them to be highly effective. This mask, in particular, makes my skin glow immediately after use, and the effect seems to linger well into the next day. This is also great at minimizing redness. Despite its brightening properties, the mask does not dry out my skin and actually hydrates it. You can purchase this from iMomoko or Peach and Lily.

Tony Moly Pureness 100 Mask Sheet (Caviar): Sometimes when I eat junk food, take long flights, or get stressed out, my skin starts to look a little crappy; my face gets more sensitive, dry, splotchy, and tired-looking. When that happens, I always turn to a nourishing mask. My favorite this season is this caviar mask, which makes my skin look much more awake and plumper. As with the other masks I've mentioned, this works immediately after I use it. I got mine from Peach and Lily.

Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Pore Clay Mask: I recently wrote a review on this mask (read it here), indicating how much I like it. While it is a little drying, I still use this to clean out my pores when I need to. In the winter, I only apply this on my T-zone and use it no more than once a week (sometimes only two times a month).

Tips that Work for Me

1. Do not leave sheet masks on your face for more than the recommended time, especially if it's made out of cotton. Doing so potentially can dry out your skin, because the cloth will absorb the moisture from your face. I leave my sheet masks on my face for no more than 15 minutes.

2. For best results, use sheet masks after you exfoliate. By removing the dead skin cells on the surface of your skin, the essence from your masks will penetrate into your skin much more effectively.

3. I personally like to use sheet masks after my toner and booster for better absorption. In addition, I always pat and press the mask essence onto my skin after I take off the sheet. Again, this helps it absorb better.

4. There is always a little bit of essence left in the packet after you take out the mask. To avoid waste, I apply the excess essence onto my neck, chest, and hands.

5. Most sheet masks' benefits are temporary, which is why I prefer using one right before I go out for an event or a fun night out. From my personal experience, makeup application goes on much more smoothly after using a sheet mask.  I also find that I use a lot less foundation because the masks make my skin appear healthier and more even-toned than usual.

6. If you don't have easy access to sheet masks, you can soak cotton pads in your favorite hydrating toner and place the pads on your face for three minutes. Avoid using an astringent toner, as it can dry out the skin.

If you haven't read the other parts of my Winter skincare, hop on over to my previous posts!
Part 1: Cleansing
Part 2: Toner and Serums
Part 3: Moisturizers and Eye Creams

Lastly, I've been looking for a good sleeping pack. So far, I've tried Laneige's Water Sleeping Pack and The Face Shop's sleeping mask, but I haven't been satisfied with them. Let me know if you have any recommendations for sleeping masks!

So I'm sure lots of you use masks. If you do, please share: What are your all-time favorite face masks?

Till later,

Eva

FTC statement: This is not a sponsored post. The links provided above are not affiliate links.  I purchased all the products mentioned above with my own money.

beauty eye cream Shiseido skincare

Shiseido's Ibuki Eye Correcting Cream is a product that tends to get mixed reviews. I think the effectiveness of the product really depends on the user's skin type and concerns. Fortunately for me, this eye cream worked quite well. In fact, I tried a sample of this product when it first came out, and I enjoyed it so much that I've purchased three tubes of this since then.

If you're thinking of purchasing the Ibuki Eye Correcting Cream and you're still unsure of whether or not it will work for you, read on!

My Skin Type and Skin Concerns
First, it's worth noting what my skin is like. I have combination skin and the area around my eyes is usually not that dry. In the winter, however, my eye area tends to get slightly drier; sometimes, I get dehydration lines if I don't keep it moisturized enough. Aside from occasional dryness, I also am prone to getting puffy eyelids and dark circles, especially when I don't sleep well.

Shiseido Ibuki Eye Correcting Cream's Promises
According to the packaging, has ingredients to help protect the skin's surface from "environmental stressors." It contains vitamin E and Houttuynia Cordata Extract (a type of detoxifying plant) to de-puff the eye area and support "natural cellular metabolism" (whatever the hell that means).  It also promises to lighten up dark circles with its Lempuyang Extract (a type of ginger, which is known to help inhibit the growth of melanoma cells) and a light-enhancing powder. Evidently, Shiseido's claims matched my own interests.

Packaging
This comes in a plastic tube, which is great if you're worried about dipping your hands into a jar. The tube is also really easy to cut open so that I can get every last drop of this.

Texture and Appearance
The cream is not too thick, though I wouldn't say it's runny either. It's fairly light compared to Shiseido's other eye creams. The cream itself has a subtle peach tint to help brighten up the eye area.

Benefits of the Product
The eye cream was effective in de-puffing my eye area and making my dark circles a lot less noticeable, though I think the brightening under my eyes was more of a superficial effect. But I was very happy about how well it minimized my puffy lids. I think it is a great product to use in the morning after a long night. It also wears fantastically well under concealer, as it does not leave a greasy film around the eyes. I also did not have any adverse reactions (e.g., milia, itchiness, burning) to this at all. In terms of its moisturizing properties, I thought this was sufficient during the day, even in the winter. I've found that this prevents dehydration lines from forming.

Drawbacks of the Product
This is not hydrating enough for me during cold winter nights; usually, I use heavier eye creams before I sleep. I highly doubt this would be effective for someone with dry under-eyes. Also, Shiseido's claims about this protecting against "environmental stressors" is so vague. What does this even mean? There's no way I can test out its effectiveness against such stressors because I feel like this benefit was so poorly defined by the company.

Verdict: 4 out of 5
When I ran out of my first bottle of this eye cream, I really felt like I was missing it badly. It's such a fabulous daytime eye cream for younger people who don't have extremely dry eye areas. If you want an eye cream for the day with some brightening and de-puffing effects, you might enjoy this. But while it wears well under concealer, this won't be hydrating enough for people with extremely dry under-eyes, however. I also do not think this would be effective at all for people looking for something to correct deep-set wrinkles and sagging. I also don't appreciate the lack of clarity in Shiseido's claims about this product. Overall though, it satisfies my needs.

You can purchase Shiseido's Ibuki Eye Correcting Cream from Amazon [Affiliate Link], their official website, Sephora, and at department stores with Shiseido counters.

Hope you found this post helpful. Do share: What is your favorite eye cream and why?

Till later,

Eva


FTC statement: This is NOT a sponsored post. The link provided for Amazon is an affiliate link. You are not obligated to purchase the items through this link, and you may purchase these products on their official websites or other retailers.

beauty body Korres L'Occitane Lush Nivea Origins

From left to right: 1. Origins Ginger Body Scrub Smoothing Body Buffer; 2. L'Occitane Almond Shower Oil; 3. Lush Snowcake Soap; 4. Korres Butter Butter in Guava; 5. Nivea Soft Moisturizing Creme

I love the holidays, but one of the worst things about winter is how dry my body gets. Here are some of the things that I use during the colder months to keep my elbows, knees, feet, and everywhere else on my body hydrated!

1. Origins Ginger Body Scrub Smoothing Body Buffer ($37.00 for 21.2 oz). Sometimes, my body just needs a little bit of a scrub to get rid of those unsightly flakes. About two times a week, I use this Body Buffer. The sea salts are really great at buffing my skin. In addition, it's filled with macadamia, kukui, soybean, and sweet almond oil to keep my skin from drying up. Did I mention is smells really good?

2. L'Occitane Almond Shower Oil [Affiliate Link] ($25 for 8.4 fl. oz).  This oil is great to use when I want a little bit of moisture, especially when I shave my legs. It emulsifies with water into a luxurious cream. It's really effective at hydrating my skin when I shower, but I can't say that I feel really clean after using it. Though I enjoy its moisturizing properties and I like how it smells, I don't think I'll be purchasing this again.

3. Lush Snowcake Soap ($7.95 for 3.5 oz). I will admit that I think most of Lush's bath products are overrated; however, I enjoyed using this soap.  The scent is quite good, just like sweet almonds, marzipan, and a little bit of Play-doh (?). Though not as luxurious and hydrating as L'Occitane's shower oil, this doesn't strip my skin of moisture (despite the fact that SLS is one of its ingredients). It also does a better job at cleaning (and taking off my deodorant...). Keep in mind that Snowcake is only released during the winter, so you might want to grab your piece of it before it runs out.

4. Korres Body Butter in Guava ($29.00 for 7.95 oz). As I mentioned in a past post, I have a skin condition called keratosis pilaris (or KP), which looks like dry patches of chicken skin (sexy, right?). This body butter is excellent at minimizing  this problem! I love how a little goes a long way. It's quite thick and spreading it might be a little difficult, but I think it's totally worth it considering how effective it is. Though it is highly moisturizing, it doesn't leave a disgusting greasy film. I like it! FYI, this body butter has shea butter, sunflower oil, almond oil, and avocado oil.

5. NIVEA Soft Refreshingly Soft Moisturizing Creme, 6.8 Oz [Affiliate Link] (~$5.32 for 6.8 oz). My feet are the saddest part of my body in terms of moisture. (I feel so bad for the pedicurists at the nail salons who have to deal with this pair of crusty crusts). So far, I've been quite happy with this moisturizing cream. Every night, after I shower, I take a huge dollop of this cream, smack it onto my feet, and put socks on. The next morning, my feet are in a much better state!

So there you have it: my favorite body products for this winter! I would love to hear about your favorite products that keep your body moisturized during this cold season.

Till later,

Eva

FTC statement: This is NOT a sponsored post, but the links provided for the L'Occitane and Nivea products are affiliate links. You are not obligated to purchase the items through those links, and you may purchase these products on their official websites or other retailers.

acne beauty health probiotics skin

When I was in high school and college, my skin suffered from moderate to severe acne. My lower cheeks, neck, and forehead were speckled with red, inflamed spots that left unsightly post-acne marks. I was frustrated and couldn't understand how to make the hot mess on my face just go away!

There is no doubt that stress and the harsh skincare products I was using at the time may have aggravated my skin condition. But I later realized that poor digestive health was a possible contributor to my acne. A dermatologist I saw actually suggested that I re-examine my dietary habits and make sure that I was taking care of my gut. This makes sense to me now; in fact,  some evidence suggests that "gut microbes," along with other factors (like stress, low fiber, and a high fat diet) may have implications for the development of acne (Bowe & Logan, 2011; Katzman & Logan, 2007). When we get stressed and or fail to eat a healthy diet, the good bacteria in our stomach change and decrease, and more unhealthy bacteria form. This eventually releases toxins into the bloodstream, which leads to inflammation.  This whole process may lead to breakouts on the skin, mainly for people who are predisposed for getting acne.

For five years now, I've been doing everything I could to make my skin look and feel better. I've been exercising to decrease stress levels, using higher quality products on my skin, avoiding processed food, and increasing my intake of fiber. But I believe the most significant change that I made to my lifestyle was eating yogurt regularly and taking probiotic supplements. Based on my own observations, I believe this made such a big difference not only to my skin (as I rarely get pimples now), but to my overall health and well-being. My stomach has been feeling very happy and my skin has never looked better! 

If you're experiencing acne and or digestive health issues, talk to your doctor and see if taking probiotics is the right thing for you. I'm happy to say that it worked for me, and I hope it will work for you, too!

Till later,

Eva


FTC statement: This is not a sponsored post. Links provided above are not affiliate links.  Item pictured above was purchased by me.

beauty cleanser double-cleansing Korean Mizon skincare

Double-cleansing is one of those habits that I've been doing for about 7 years. It's a step in my skincare regimen that I cannot skip, especially when I wear makeup and sunscreen. I can confidently say that it has been one of the factors that has greatly reduced my acne and the appearance of my pores.

When I double-cleanse every night, I always use an oil cleanser as my first step, like Mizon's No. 1 King's Berry Cleansing Oil.  Prior to purchasing this product, I've been using DHC's Deep Cleansing Oil religiously. Though it has worked for me in the past when my skin used to be oily, I found that DHC's cleanser stripped too much of my moisture during recent uses. I knew I couldn't use this now, especially because I live in such harsh and dry winter climate. So I decided to turn to No. 1 King's Berry Cleansing Oil.

So, how did Mizon's No. 1 King's Berry Cleansing Oil perform on my skin?

Pricing and Size
Right off the bat, one advantage of this over DHC's is that you get more bang for your buck. Though $38 sounds like a lot, this bottle is HUGE  (about 410 mL) and will surely last me a long time. I paid $28 for DHC's Deep Cleansing Oil, but that was only 198 mL.

Texture and Moisture
Compared to heavier cleansing oils (like DHC's and Kose's Softymo Deep Cleansing Oil), the texture is slightly more lightweight; however, I found this to be much more moisturizing. It did not strip away too much of my natural oils, so my skin didn't feel taught after using it. As always, I follow up with a gentle foaming cleanser, so I don't really worry about this being too oily.

Scent and Reactions
Though not fragranced, it does have a slight berry scent that I'm not entirely fond of; however, I am happy to say that my skin did not react negatively to it.

Performance
So, was it good at taking off my makeup and sunscreen? YES. Definitely.  I was already happy with how DHC was able to clean my skin, and I can say that this product performed just as well with respect to taking off all the makeup. I take 1-2 pumps of this, spread it on my face, and gently massage my skin to take everything off. When I do this, the oil emulsifies into a milky texture and I can easily feel all the disgusting gunk in my pores (especially around my nose) start to loosen up and come off.

Ingredients
This product contains the following ingredients:

Black chokeberry, bamboo leaf, papaya fruit, gypsophila paniculata root, portaluca, lavender oil, Japanese plum, lemon, orange, sunflower seed, sugar cane, A. saccharum, olive oil, shiitake mushroom, jojoba seed, natural vegetable oil (Sunflower seed, meadow foam seed, jojoba seed, camellia, lavender, lavender, olive, evening primrose)

As you can see, the first ingredients listed are from fruit. I appreciate that Mizon did not include artificial colors, alcohol, added fragrances, or parabens and decided to use high-quality ingredients instead.

Verdict: 5 out of 5
Without a doubt, I will repurchase this. I am very happy with how well it took off my makeup and waterproof sunscreen without drying out my skin. In fact, my skin feels so soft and supple after using this. If you're a cleansing oil fanatic, I recommend you to try this out. 

Mizon No. 1 King's Berry Cleansing Oil retails for $38.00 (on Peach and Lily) for 410 mL.

Share your thoughts! Have you tried this product or any other cleansing oils?

Till later,

Eva ;)


FTC statement: This is not a sponsored post. Links provided above are not affiliate links.  I purchased the reviewed product with my own money.

beauty food keratosis pilaris konjac sponge Mizon Shiseido skin talk skincare

As the title suggests, this post will be about a skin condition called keratosis pilaris (or KP), which is something that I have. According to the Mayo Clinic's official website, KP leads to dry, rough patches on the skin that look like very tiny red or white bumps. Some people compare its appearance to chicken skin. The reason why the bumps form is because too much keratin builds up and blocks the hair follicle openings. No one really knows what exactly causes KP, but some experts hypothesize that it's partially due to genetic factors. KP also tends to be more common during harsh winters, when the air is dry.

KP isn't a serious medical condition. But let's face it: KP ain't pretty. And it could be really annoying. Most people with KP often get these rough patches on the back of their arms, their legs, and bums. Some, including myself, get KP on their face. My bumps tend to appear right around my mouth and lower cheeks, especially when the outside temperature drops below freezing. As a result, my cheeks look dull and feel rough.

Luckily, KP disappears as you age. But being the impatient person I am, I can't wait that long. Thus, I've committed to a few habits that have minimized the appearance and severity of KP. These are the things that helped me:

1. Exfoliating Gently

I use exfoliation as a preventative measure. As I mentioned, KP occurs when there is too much protein build up around the hair follicles; thus, I rely on gentle exfoliation to prevent the keratin from building up excessively. I emphasize the word "gentle" because harsh exfoliators can really aggravate your skin and worsen the appearance of KP. My favorite way to exfoliate is to use a Japanese Konjac Sponge (affiliate link) every other day. This is a really effective yet gentle tool that I can use on my sensitive skin. This has really helped to prevent KP from rearing its ugly head.

2. Using a Gentle Cleanser

I avoid using cleansers with Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), because this ingredient unnecessarily strips away moisture, which can really aggravate the dry patches on my skin. I've been using Shiseido's Gentle Cleanser for about a year and a half, and it's been working amazingly well for me. It makes my skin feel clean without feeling taut and dry. Other cleansers that I like are HABA Squa Powder Wash Cleanser with Papaya Enzymes (affiliate link) and cleansing oils like Mizon's No. 1 King;s Berry Cleansing Oil and Kose Softymo Deep Cleansing Oil (affiliate link). Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser (affiliate link) is also a great option for no-makeup days.

3. Retaining Moisture in My Skin

I use products with hyaluronic acid to help retain moisture in my skin, which is an ingredient we naturally have in our bodies. The reason why I use products with hyaluronic acid is because it is a hydorphylic molecule (i.e., it loves water); in fact, it is known to bind up to 1000 times its weight in water (see Fessler, Liselotte, & Fessler, 1966). My favorite serum is Mizon's Hyaluronic Acid 1000, which contains 50% of this awesome ingredient and is designed to absorb well into the skin and facilitate the absorption of other skincare products.  In addition, I also make sure I use a highly emollient face cream, day and night. My current favorite for the winter is Shiseido's White Lucent Brightening Moisturizing Cream W; not only is this super moisturizing, but it has ingredients that help with skin's cell turnover (i.e., dead skin cells get replaced with new ones).  This seals in all the previous products I apply and makes my skin feel incredibly soft.

4. Using a Humidifier

When winter hits, people love to crank up the heater in my office and apartment buildings. While I do prefer the toasty temperature to the harsh winter cold, heaters actually dry out my skin and make KP much worse. This is why I decided to buy a humidifier, like the EWARE Mini Ultra-sonic Humidifier (affiliate link). I turn this on while I sleep, and the next day, my skin is soft, supple, and full of moisture. This humidifier has been working well for me, and I love how cute and compact it is.

5. Keeping Myself Hydrated

Last, but definitely not least: I drink LOTS of water! I can definitely tell if I'm dehydrated just by looking at my skin; it appears dull, dry, and tired. I am a believer in facilitating beauty from within. So even if you don't have KP, I highly suggest that you keep yourself hydrated.

So there it is folks--my personal favorite things to do to keep KP at bay. If you have KP or any other skin conditions, feel free to share your habits and products below in the comments!

Till later,

Eva

FTC statement: This is NOT a sponsored post, but some of the links are affiliate links (and they are indicated above). You are not obligated to purchase the items through those links, and you may purchase these products on their official websites or other retailers.

beauty Essie Hands Kiehl's Shiseido winter

Winter weather can be so unkind to our hands and cuticles. During the winter, my hands get so cracked and dry, especially when it gets down to negative temperatures. So, what are my favorite products I use to treat my hands?
 
 SHISEIDO Advanced Essential Energy Hand Nourishing Cream, $24 (3.6 oz)
Every time my fingers get scaly from the dry, cold weather, I always use this. A dime-sized amount is enough to moisturize my hands, fingers, and wrists. This absorbs so fast and is really effective at making my skin feel baby soft and making that softness last for hours (even after I wash my hands). In addition, this hand cream makes my dull, winterized hands look brighter. It does not have any greasy residue, which is awesome because I can easily twist doorknobs and open jars without looking like a slippery idiot. It does have a floral fragrance, which can be a problem for people who prefer not to use scented products; however, I find myself coming back to this when my dry hands desperately need some help.

 KIEHL'S Ultimate Strength Hand Salve (affiliate link), $15 (5.0 oz)
Though not as creamy and luxurious as the Shiseido hand cream, this product does an amazing job of keeping my hands moisturized in the cold weather. I recommend trying this product, especially if you don't like perfumed scents in your beauty products. It's not artificially fragranced, though it does have a light and pleasant medicinal scent. I love packing this on flights; because it does not have an offensive scent, I don't feel embarrassed about applying this on planes. This is a great hand cream for men with tough hands who want an effective hand cream that doesn't smell feminine. In fact, my fiancé, my dad, and my uncle all love this product.

 ESSIE Apricot Cuticle Oil (affiliate link), ~$8.50, (0.50 oz)
 I always use this oil every single night and also as my last step when I do my own manicures at home. This keeps my cuticles nice and soft and prevents my cuticles from ripping. It has a very light apricot scent that is pleasant and inoffensive. I applied this one time on my fiance's cuticles, who has the driest hands known to mankind with painful and annoying hangnails. He won't admit this publicly, but this oil really improved the state of his fingers.

Now that I shared my hand care favorites, please feel free to share yours in the comments below!

Till later,

Eva

FTC statement: This is NOT a sponsored post, but the links provided for the Kiehl's and Essie products are affiliate links. You are not obligated to purchase the items through those links, and you may purchase these products on their official websites or other retailers.