It won't soften your brain - just your hands (The Body Shop Hemp Hand Protector)

Member Name: Suzela

Product:	The Body Shop Hemp Hand Protector
Date:	11/12/07 (192 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: No more dry skin

Disadvantages: The smell may not be for everyone

I never used hand creams until a year ago when I started to get eczema on the back of my hand. I tried various moisturising creams recommended by friends but they were usually completely ineffective or too greasy and when you handle precious metal wire and crystals all day, greasy hands aren't particularly useful.

So on a chance visit to a Body Shop store over the summer my attention was drawn to a big display of the Hemp range. I was more curious about the fact that it was hemp being used in a product (I did know that it was used for more than smoking but I'll be honest and say I wanted to see if the products had the whiff of a spliff about them!) but reading the blurb about the products I soon realised that the Hemp Hand Protector might have some beneficial effects for my hands. It describes itself as "heavy duty moisturisation, protection and repair" and is suitable for Extremely Dry Skin. And as soon as I tried a small amount from the tester (and yes I did immediately smell it!) I could feel the benefits of the product.

My skin was particularly dry and quite flaky on that day as I was in the process of blasting my eczema with my hydrocortizone cream and I could almost feel my skin sucking in all the moisture from this thick, pale green/grey cream and my skin looked much smoother. The texture of the cream is slightly deceptive as it looks really creamy and yet it has quite a loose texture which melts into the hand with the minimal of rubbing in (as long as you don't apply too much). I knew immediately that this was the hand cream I had been looking for as it soaked right in without much greasiness and any greasiness that there was disappeared in a few minutes. The price wasn't paid any attention to - I just purchased it and have not looked back.

Although I didn't pay any attention to the price at the time, it is £9 for 100ml or £5 for 30ml. The 100ml price is fairly reasonable compared to some of the products I have been recommended although I admit it is a few pounds more than some of the leading "off the chemist/supermarket shelf" brands but as none of those worked for me, I'm not going to quibble over a few pounds! And a tube lasts me about 3 months but it has a shelf life of 12 months from opening. I use about 1cm measures 3 or 4 times a day though (more as we go into the winter) which does both hands. I always concentrate the cream on my eczema and whatever isn't soaked up by that is enough to do the rest of my hands. And then once or twice a week I cover my hands with the cream and put cotton gloves on either all evening or over night to give my skin a good drenching in the cream. You can get these gloves from the Body shop for £7 but I often get things like this in toiletry sets that I get for Christmas or birthdays so if you get some, hang on to them as this is a great way to intensively moisturise your hands with any hand cream.

My skin has improved dramatically since I have been using this product. I still have frequent eczema flare ups but they seem to clear up quicker since I have been using this. The Hemp Seed Oil itself is full of fatty acids and helps to restore and maintain your skins moisture levels as well as make your skin much softer. It also contains Allantoin which helps soothe the skin and panthenol to help improve your nails. Personally I can't really say that it has helped my nails as in my line of work my nails never get the chance to grow but I suppose the cuticles are softer and my nails don't look dry so it's not doing them any harm! It is also great if you have been gardening and as it softens any hard skin formations from digging and replenishes immediately any moisture taken out whilst working with soil - even my husband uses it then. I have also found that things like washing up affects my hands less since using this cream.

One small drawback - the smell is unusual and may not be to everyone's liking! It doesn't smell like you have been smoking it but I don't find it to be a refreshing or light fragrance. It smells natural and slightly earthy and to be honest I little off. And if you apply too much it can smell very off and you may want to wash your hands and start again.

I always keep a tube of it with me now wherever I go and I can see why this is the Body Shop's best selling hand cream as it really does do what it claims to do and is great for anyone with either eczema on their hands, people who have naturally dry hands or through work. I think if you have normal skin you might find this product too greasy if you use it in the amounts that I do but I would still recommend it - just use a smaller amount. All in all I am so glad I went in to that shop that day - it has made a really big difference to what was becoming quite a problem for me.

Summary: When your hands need a drink of moisture this is the product for you