Hi again readers! I’m sorry that I haven’t written for over a month now. Events (some positive, some not-so-much) transpired in my personal and professional life that forced me to sit back and re-evaluate some of the priorities in my life. One of the clear decisions I reached was that I love to write and maintain this website. Even though it may be challenging at times with my medical/graduate school schedule, I plan to now start – and continue – updating on a more regular basis. Thank you for your patience with me during that time.
With that said, during my time “off” from blogging, I discovered a new beauty ritual with Crabtree and Evelyn Lavender Age Defying Hand Cream ($16.99, Amazon.com). The cream contains a lush array of ultra-effective ingredients. Namely, the cream features:
- Soybean oil, which has been found in research published in the British Journal of Dermatology to stimulate the production of collagen and hyaluronic acid in human fibroblasts cultured in vitro;
- Vitamins C and E, which have been found to synergistically enhance the power of one another, as noted in Cosmetic Dermatology. (When one antioxidant is depleted, it can essentially “borrow” an electron from the other antioxidant to renew itself, and vice versa). Vitamins C and E have also been reported by Djerassi et. al. to prevent the formation of carcinogenic nitrosamines, and in this 1996 study, amongst others, to enhance the photoprotective effects of sunscreen. (For the record – and the scientifically very curious – vitamin C has been reported to enhance UVA protection, whereas vitamin E is more effective against UVB radiation.)
- Sweet almond oil. Although there are a limited number of studies addressing the efficacy of sweet almond oil in the scientific community, sweet almond is the essential oil most commonly used by the professional masseuse, by whom it is noted that sweet almond “absorbs quickly” and is “highly hydrating.” However, keep in mind that sweet almond oil is not to be used on or by individuals with nut allergies, even in the small quantity in which it is included in this product.
- Shea butter. A classic emollient, shea butter has been long believed to have healing and soothing properties. A 2008 study in the British Journal of Dermatology confirmed this, revealing that shea butter was one of six lipid-based substances able to hydrate well enough to reduce sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS)-induced irritation in the skin. (For the record, the only others that were able to soothe irritation of those tested were hydrocortisone, petrolatum, fish oil, borage oil, sunflower seed oil, canola oil, and fractions of unsaponifiable lipids from canola oil).
Yet one of my favorite qualities of Crabtree and Evelyn Lavender Age Defying Hand Cream is its amazing lavender scent. Although I have lamented the potential detriments of lavender essential oil before, I have decided to use it anyway since the oil is in such low concentration in this product. And, to put more personal opinion against scientific fact, I find that the lavender scent helps me fall asleep at night, though a 1995 study in the Journal of Advanced Nursing found that subjects who underwent lavender aromatherapy at night demonstrated no statistically significant improvement against controls in either the quality or quantity of sleep. (For the record, the product does come in other scents, such as Citron, Honey, and Coriander and Rosewater, though these varieties are priced at $24.99, and are not available for the discounted $16.99 price on Amazon.com as the Lavender is).
Personal Use and Opinions
I personally found the Crabtree and Evelyn Lavender Age Defying Hand Cream to absorb quickly into the skin. This is also kind-of really personal, but I can never find a cream that makes my poor half-marathon running/high-heel-wearing/constantly on-the-go feet soft, and applying Crabtree and Evelyn Lavender Age Defying Hand Cream before bed once/week really did the trick. I feel like I returned to childhood feet again. (Talk about walking a mile in someone else’s shoes!)
Bottom Line
I. Love. It. New nighttime ritual, on my hands and feet, every night. Forever! (Or at least until Crabtree and Evelyn stops making it, which hopefully they won’t, not with positive reviews like this and sales like yours – hint hint!) =) And no, this wasn’t a pay-per-post; I just really love this cream, and I think that a lot of my readers will too.
Product Rating: 9/10 (High concentration of proven effective ingredients: 3/3. Unique formulation or new technology: 3/3. Value for the money: 3/3. Sunscreen: 0/1).
Key ingredients: Peptide Blend; C&E Complex of Encapsulated Antioxidant Vitamins C & E, Jojoba, Soybean, Sweet Almond and Cottonseed Oils; Shea Butter, Lavender Oil