little white truths

I received around five samples of this hand cream as GWPs when I ordered up on presents for friends and family back in March (there were various promotions on so I took care of birthday and Christmas gifts), and I included a couple of these hand creams in a recent samples post to encourage myself to use and review them.

I'm sorry to say it, but I don't like this hand cream at all. It's very sticky and it's not as hydrating as I would like, so I wouldn't buy it for myself and I can't recommend it. Indeed, I've given it a 'disappointing products' tag. More on that below.

Weleda claims/product details:

• Protects hard-working hands from moisture loss
• This intensively active hand cream will restore rough and stressed skin, leaving it smooth and supple
• Light sesame oil, sea buckthorn oil and pure vegetable oils combine to support the skin's natural metabolism, to assist in rebuilding the skin's oily mantle and maintaining a healthy skin balance
• With a delicious citrus scent, which is a blend of grapefruit, mandarin and sandalwood
• Made in Germany, NATRUE Certified Natural, GMO & Cruelty Free, Certified Fair Trade
• RRP $4.95 AUD for 10ml or $18.95 AUD for 50ml

Verdict

This product has had some great reviews online (see eg nourishedlife.com.au), but I don't like it at all so it obviously just doesn't suit my skin.

It's a white cream that smells like citrus, and the scent isn't overpowering so it shouldn't bother most people. It applies and spreads well, so you don't need much each time and even my two 10ml tubes have lasted me a while.

A few things bother me about this cream, however. First, it's not hydrating enough for my dry skin so it doesn't ease the tightness in my hands or leave my skin feeling soft or comfortable. 

Second, it's unbelievably sticky and I'm surprised to see how many people like it, given that issue. Honestly, it's the stickiest product I've ever used so I can't apply it during the day because I need to wash it off my palms if I need to use them - which I always do of course because, you know, hands get do used somewhat ; ) 

Third, it sits on top of the skin rather than sinking in delivering nourishment where I need it most. This feeds into both the issues mentioned above (ie, it's not hydrating enough and it also has a tacky finish), but I wanted to mention it separately because for me this issue means it doesn't function as a hand cream: it's more of a barrier cream that I can only use overnight to seal in other products, which I don't need to do - so essentially it's performing no function for me personally and I'm looking forward to getting through it.

On the claims: no it doesn't restore rough and stressed skin, nor does it leave it feeling smooth or supple; yes I do think it has a protective element that may help with moisture loss (despite the fact that it's not moisturising itself); and no I don't think it's helped rebuild my skin's oily mantle (it's just added a whole lot of stickiness).

Overall I don't like this hand cream and I can't recommend it. It doesn't work for me at all and I'm honestly surprised by all the rave reviews I've seen, although of course it all comes down to personal preference and perhaps it just doesn't gel with my skin. It's just not moisturising enough for my dry skin and it's far too sticky, so I'm giving it a disappointing products tag.

Not for me.