The Body Shop Almond Hand and Nail Cream - "This effective daily hand cream cares for nails as well as hands and contains two manicurist’s essentials: sweet almond oil and panthenol. Moisturizing. Conditions nails. Sweet almond scent. 100% Vegetarian, Never Tested on Animals, Contains Community Fair Trade Ingredients, No Sulfates, No Phthalates, No GMOs, No Triclosan" - via thebodyshop-usa.com

The Body Shop Almond Hand and Nail Cream

Hey guys! The days are feeling a bit long now as the Holidays are approaching. I guess my body is also going into hibernation mode (i.e. lazy mode). *_* Along with all the festive celebration is the weather changing and turning cold and dry (and sometimes, wet). My skin is feeling the effects of the season and they already feel drier than usual.

The Body Shop Almond Hand and Nail Cream

Thankfully, The Body Shop had a sale last weekend and I purchased a bunch of creams and butters to combat the colder weather. My hands need a bit more TLC because they tend to peel off and crack whenever it gets chilly. I already finished a tube of L'Occitane hand cream but I didn't want to splurge on another tube so decided to try out one from The Body Shop.

The Body Shop Almond Hand and Nail Cream

The store I went to had three variants: Almond, Wild Rose and Absinthe. I got the Almond because the rest were too fragrant for my taste. If I have to nitpick, the Almond also smells a tiny bit strong (and kind of artificial) to my very sensitive nose. The smell fades over time and doesn't really cause me to sneeze so I was OK with it. *This cream smell thin and too overpowering vs. the richer, full-bodied fragrance of their body butters.

The Body Shop Almond Hand and Nail Cream

Packaging: These hand creams come in two sizes: 30ml and 100ml. I wanted to get my money's worth so I got the bigger size. The cream is packaged in a tin/metal tube with a removable twist cap. I would have preferred a flip top but with the twistable cap, it's more travel-friendly. I was also wary that these were not sealed properly but almost all (if not all) The Body Shop products aren't really sealed so you just have to trust that no one had already sampled what you bought. I figured the staff at the store are vigilant enough and don't allow people to just randomly open products because they do have testers. The metal tube looks nice but is very prone to nicks and dents. If you're traveling with this on your bag, I imagine that they will eventually look banged up over time.

The Body Shop Almond Hand and Nail Cream

Texture/Consistency: The cream had a watery consistency, more like a lotion. I did expect it to have a thicker texture but instead it was runny. If you squeeze the cream out of the tube, it will definitely drip off. Despite the thin formula, it did manage to moisturize my hands and nails. It feels very lightweight and was easily absorbed. As with most hand creams, you do have to reapply if you wash your hands often to keep them moisturized. After a few days of using this, my hands are in better condition. It feels soft and supple and the tightness (due to dryness) is gone.

Swatch: The Body Shop Almond Hand and Nail Cream

Pros:
- Moisturizing
- Non-sticky, non-greasy
- Absorbed well and quickly
- Well-made, nice packaging
- Improved overall look and texture of hand and nails
- Relatively affordable

Cons:
- Had a slight (too) sweet, artificial fragrance
- Packaging prone to dents
- Runny consistency, less thick than a cream

The Body Shop Almond Hand and Nail Cream