Recently, Chanel sent us their newest hand cream, the La Crème Main that’s launching in October. We saw it, and of course we had to Instagram it:
This definitely has very high aesthetic value for a humble hand cream, though it’s Chanel after all, so that probably makes it not-so-humble. As someone pointed out in the comments, yes it looks like an Apple mouse, and we’re already kind of obsessed with it. Chanel promises a formula made of the most exclusive botanicals, like May rose wax and the iris pallida flower from Chanel’s gardens in Grasse, France.
For 50ml, this will set you back $85. A pretty penny to pay for hand cream, but then again, it’s Chanel. The La Crème Main got us contemplating the need for hand cream in our lives, however. Given that we don’t have a dry climate here, it’s definitely not a pressing need for most; and when you put a high premium on a beauty product that’s far from a daily necessity… are you really going to pay for that?
In the case of the La Crème Main, the answer is in the affirmative. Probably just for the sheer novelty of the packaging and the thrill of taking it out of our bags to the impressed gasps of our friends, but it’s worth it. We took the opportunity to seek out other really expensive hand creams, and examine what makes them worth the price.
La Mer The Hand Treatment
$185 for 100ml. Available at La Mer counters.
Suddenly, Chanel’s $85 hand cream seems affordable next to La Mer, which costs a whole hundred dollars more. Of course, you’re getting twice the amount of product here, but it’s not like there’s a cheaper, smaller-sized tube to go for. It’s either almost $200 for a 100ml tube of La Mer for your hands, or nothing at all. Why is this so pricey? The immediate answer is that it’s La Mer, and this one contains that famed Miracle Broth too. If you can afford to apply youth-preserving algae extract on your hands, it’s a pretty clear sign you’ve made it in life.
Clé de Peau Beauté Hand Cream
$120 for 75ml. Available at the Clé de Peau Beauté store and counters.
Coming in a close second at $120 is Clé de Peau Beauté, and this pastel pink tube contains what is described as “a concentrated, richly emollient cream”. It contains the brand’s Illuminating Complex, in case you need your hands to be as radiant as your face is, and SPF 18 because ain’t no sun spots are going to make their way to your hands. Even the fragrance is extra atas: apparently, it’s created from peony, and a rare orchid.
Tata Harper Rejuvenating Hand Cream
US$56.98 for 50ml. Available on net-a-porter.com.
The packaging of this one belies the premium price tag, but what you’re paying for is a formula that’s free of synthetics, artificial fragrances, and… gluten. In case your strict gluten-free diet extends to the skin cells on your hands as well. Dry skin gets treated with hyaluronic acid, avocado peptides, and extracts of rose geranium and magnolia flower, which makes for a very nice natural scent.
Rodin Luxury Hand and Body Cream
US$59.61 for 100ml. Available on net-a-porter.com.
Rodin’s a cult beauty brand famous for their facial oils, and this hand and body cream contains essentials oils as well. Which means this smells like a dream thanks to the oils of jasmine and neroli, so each application will transport you into an almost-spa experience. Suddenly, S$80 for hand cream and Net-A-Porter’s shipping fee seems well worth it. This, dear readers, is what luxury feels like.
BYREDO La Tulipe Hand Cream
$50 for 30ml. Available at escentials.
Like everything else from this Swedish fragrance brand, you’re paying for the branding, and the feeling of whipping this monochrome, intentionally minimalist tube out of your purse, and applying this uniquely-scented cream all over your hands. Or maybe the opportunity to casually slip this into your next Instagram flatlay. No judging, because we’re one of those who gladly hand over almost $200 for a small bottle of Byredo perfume, even though we know we can’t really afford it.
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