It’s a bit tricky to find a hand cream you like in a tropical country, and the least thing you expect is to find it in a clothing store. Day in and day out for most of the year anyway we “sweat it out” and the weather is generally quite sticky at planet earth’s waist. Hand lotions from abroad usually end up making hands feel like they’ve got a greasy layer over them when worn locally, especially if some of the richer formulas were developed for the international markets that get winter. During the first few days of January I did a bit of post Christmas sales shopping for upcoming bridal showers and birthdays and I, quite typically, ignored the clothes at Aeropostale and floated over to the fragrance counter to test the Live Love Dream scented stuff with no expectations. The packaging was, to be expected, teeny-bopper-y (mild gag) but when I looked again…it wasn’t too bad, but what surprised me most of all in the range was the hand cream/lotion itself.
INGREDIENTS: Water, Butylene Glycol, Sweet Almond Oil, Fragrance, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Isopropyl Myristate, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Avocado Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Ceteareth 20, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Shea butter, Sodium Polyacrylate, Ethyhexyl Stearate, Vitamin E, Trideceth-6, Limonene, Disodium EDTA, BHT, Sodium hydroxide, Lilial, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Alpha – isomethyl-lonone, Geraniol, Citronellol.
Individually, the 50ml hand lotion sells for Php285.00, they don’t carry a bigger size but a little more than pea size amount of this cream is enough for both hands . I stalled with the tester in my hand after first application and had to apply a bit more…it felt akin to the Victoria’s Secret Body Lotions which in my 90s teen era experience smell great but also delivered back then in terms of skin softness. I wasn’t imagining things, the LIVE LOVE DREAM cream moisturized my hands just enough but I didn’t feel like I was left with a “glove” of ingredients sitting on top of my fingers. The scent…oh my golly gosh, that slightly universal but bright, non-annoying fresh scent didn’t leave my hands for hours. Note though, if you’re not open to tart fresh scents you won’t like this. Later on in the day while walking about the city if I smelt something I didn’t like nearby I’d put my hands up to my face to smell them instead. Read more (click “more”) for the full review (yes, told you I liked this hand cream) and a sneak peek at one of my upcoming Valentine giveaway prizes!
As for the lotion’s texture I’ve never tried La Roche Posay’s new Cicaplast hand cream but from the way Caroline Hirons and Sali Hughes describe how that feels on the hands afterwards, no “layer” feeling or tackiness, like you can still work and do things afterwards…all that and this sounds pretty similar. I won’t pretend that I know for sure how LRP Cicaplast actually feels, there’s just a similarity in “payoff” perhaps. For sure it’s miles away in formulation. I’ve heard LRP Cicaplast is more waxy and less creamy upon application but leaves no tangible residue behind. Truth out in front, LIVE LOVE DREAM isn’t an organic hand cream, but I’ve tried vegan and organic hand creams, most are simply too rich or sticky to have on your hands while working in this climate and a lot of the time the scent isn’t right. This however ticks my main checkboxes for regular, non-treatment hand cream. It makes my hands feel and smell just right.
It’s brilliant…okay maybe not I just really like it HAHA (chill, it’s just a hand cream, Julia). It performs both in formula and fragrance in context of our climate, and the ingredients list isn’t organic or vegan but is pretty good for the price. It doesn’t contain mineral oil which surprises me positively (though it isn’t paraben-free) and it’s made in the US. It mainly nourishes with sweet almond oil, glycerin, avocado oil and shea butter, *applause* for a hand cream by a clothing line.
I also got the petite 15ml fragrance/eau de toilette for about Php400+ because I’m fickle with fragrances depending on the season. The full size fragrance bottle is way better value at nearly quadruple the size at 50ml is Php800+. If you like fresh summery scents or something in the vein of “Jamba Juicy” fruitiness with a balance of clean joy, the LIVE LOVE DREAM range is for you. It has that 90s era summery fresh vibe that’s quite youthful but sophisticated enough to wear more in the daytime or on a weekend even if you’re not a teen. Please note, however, that the hand cream is generously scented so if your hands are sensitive possibly not recommended. I’ve got normal to sensitive hands and it doesn’t give me any itch or reaction. I’m not 100% sure if this was limited edition or not, it looks like the lotion might have been, only the cologne spray is left on the Aeropostale site. I bought all these in Aeropostale, Glorietta. I think it’s the first fragrance gift set I’ve liked the look of in quite awhile. By the way, do you want it?
Speaking of limited edition, the individual products may be permanent in store, but I’m almost sure this lovely LIVE LOVE DREAM beauty gift set isn’t in stock anymore. If there are any still there are probably only a few left in Aeropostale unless they’ve pulled them out already to make way for new collections. This gift set isn’t on the brand website anymore, the link to the existing item page before comes up empty. For about Php1290.00 this Aeropostale LIVE LOVE DREAM set contains the 50ml hand cream, a full size fragrance, and conveniently enough a rollerball of the same fragrance. Do you want this? I’m not keeping the gift set :) Be on the alert for my upcoming Valentine Giveaway :)! Aeropostale is at Glorietta, I’m not sure if they have other branches or if that’s their solo boutique locally. If you don’t want to buy it because you want the chance to win this from my giveaway at least test the product in store so you experience it :). Tell me whether or not you agree with my newest rave :).
