Welcome to Robb Recommends, a regular series in which our editors and contributors endorse something they’ve tried and loved—and think will change your life for the better.
One thing you discover, covering luxury goods for a living, is that price is never a reliable indicator of quality. But sometimes, very occasionally, a product will come along that justifies its somewhat eye-popping price tag.
Such is the case with Cellcosmet’s $145 hand cream, which is somehow deeply moisturizing yet non-greasy, unscented yet pleasantly perfumed with a rich roster of natural emollients, luxurious yet quotidian, all at the same time.
Though it’s not a new product, it does fly somewhat under the radar—not unlike the entire Cellcosmet range. The Swiss skin care brand’s limited distribution and focus on cellular research have put it squarely in if-you-know-you-know territory. (The friend who recommended I check out its products told me, “Imagine if La Prairie took itself more seriously, and that’s Cellcosmet.”) And given the way any grooming operation focuses on the face instead of the hands, it’s understandable that the hand cream would get short shrift, at least as far as marketing is concerned.
And yet, what justifies its $145 price tag (among those who are read-in enough to know where to find it) is the fact that it just works. While most hand creams seem formulated as an afterthought, this one was concieved with all the seriousness of an anti-aging cream. In it, you’ll find some of the usual hydrating suspects (olive oil, glycerin, vitamin E, urea), but a couple of other ingredients set it apart. The first is what Cellcosmet calls its CytoPep Cellular Extract, which blends proteins and peptides to help the skin preserve its natural, youthful elasticity. The second is a team of barrier-supporting ingredients that form a film over the hands after application, but not an unpleasant one. The point is that it helps the skin hold onto water and protects it from external stressors, such as smog.
I’ve been using the cream for a few weeks now, and yet every time I put some on, I marvel at how easily it absorbs into my skin. It’s been particularly helpful during the itinerant springtime weather, which switches from warm and balmy to cold and dry at a moment’s notice. But what I like about it the most is that it feels like a little bit of a secret—one I’m all to happy to let my friends in on.
