Product Review: Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Intensive Moisturising Hand Treatment

Elizabeth Arden's Intensive Hand Treatment is a spin-off product from its successful Eight Hour Range, which is renowned for its soothing, long-lasting moisturising properties. It's expensive for a hand cream, but you can often find it on 3 for 2 deals at Boots or cheaper online. I always get mine from CheapSmells.com.

Packaging
Elizabeth Arden Hand Treatment comes in a 75ml squeezy tube. It's hygienic, doesn't explode in your handbag and lasts for absolutely ages. It's pretty hardcore as hand cream goes so you don't need a huge amount to really feel the skin-softening effects. You can expect a tube to last around 6 months with regular use.

 

Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Intensive Moisturising Hand Treatment, £24 at Boots

 

Application
Elizabeth Arden gets a lot of complaints about the smell of its Eight Hour range, which is a slightly off herbal scent. If you haven't smelt it before, I would definitely recommend going to have a cheeky sniff at your local counter before you consider buying it online because some people are so turned off they can't bear to use it. Personally, I don't find it unpleasant, and I've found it definitely grows on you. I started using this product when a friend recommended it for my sore, chapped hands and I was trying to avoid using skin-thinning topical steroid creams. Initially I wasn't a huge fan of the smell, but I soon got used to it. It's not the scented wonderland of the Soap & Glory range, but it does work and I find it doesn't aggravate sensitive skin. I'm prone to dermatitis on my palms and fingers and I find this product doesn't make my skin feel like it's having acid massaged into it.

Performance
As somebody who has really, really dry hands, I can't uphold with Elizabeth Arden's claims of eight hours of softness, but it's still a fantastic hand cream. The formula absorbs easily and doesn't leave a greasy residue - I once used it on my face at the gym because I'd forgotten my mug moisturiser and it worked fine, although I wouldn't recommend using a hand formula on your face except in emergencies!

The Bottom Line
Elizabeth Arden Intensive Moisturising Hand Cream is an effective hand cream and makes a great luxury skincare gift, but the recommended retail price of £24 is a little steep. Fortunately, there are loads of deals available in-store and online (although always ensure you're buying from a reputable source!) so your bank balance doesn't have to take such a walloping. If you don't mind the smell, this prod is a handbag essential.

Recommended for sore hands that need an effective but non-greasy formula for long-lasting softness.

Rating: 8.5/10