Tips on Tuesday: Lotion up with Curél Intensive Healing

Hiya! I do this fancy pantsy thing called BzzAgent. Sometimes, when the stars align (aka my profile is up-to-date and I fit the criteria and completed all my surveys) they send me free stuff to try out and give them feedback!

You can sign up here.

photo credit to the Google image monster

Just recently I opted into the Curél Intensive Healing hand cream campaign. Not only do I always need a good hand cream, but I am sure you, as my readers, are always on the look out for one too!
At the end of the post I have a before and after look at my nails/hands and fun Halloween nail art using a new polish from Carpe Noctem's Samhain/Halloween line!

I like a good cream because my skin dries out so quickly and I tend to get eczema on my elbows, on occasion, so the Intensive Healing part of this campaign really intrigued me!

I also have a cat who sleeps in my bed, so I need a cream that isn't greasy, otherwise I'll be eating cat hairs and getting them stuck in my eyeballs or mouth on accident all night.

Keep reading to find out if Curél is a lint trap or not!

I was sent a 1 oz pot of lotion to test out with some extra pots that I sent off to some other bloggers!

So why exactly is this lotion unique?

It helps stimulate the production of ceramides, which are the protective barrier that helps "glue" the surface skin cells together. When this protective barrier is compromised, your skin is more susceptible to dryness!

Curél Intensive Healing is fragrance free and hypo-allergenic. I like it when hand creams are unscented, as I put my hands near my face and mouth a lot too much and sometimes the scent starts to bother me. This cream looks like a whipped body butter in the canister, but is actually nice and thick!

It does go on seemingly sticky and greasy, however it is REALLY FAST absorbing! 

No kitty hair for dinner tonight!

For just a few minutes it feels like there is gak on your hands, but after it transforms your skin into a silky powdery feel. The only thing I didn't really care for about this cream, is that is comes in a canister. I prefer a squeeze tube, because the lotion won't get stuck under my nails that way. It is also on a expensive side. A 16oz canister will run you about $10-$12, even when purchased at Walmart.

Although, for those of you who suffer from eczema know that some creams do and don't work, and finding one, even if it is expensive, is a lifesaver!!

Since this is a nail blog I obviously had to squeeze in some nail art! I have a before and after comparison of my hands and cuticles after using Curél hand cream!

Before. 

You can see that my fingers are especially dry, showing a lot of my skin cracks and my cuticles are looking a little flaky around the edges.

After.

My fingers definitely look improved from the before photo and look a lot smoother. My skin also doesn't appear shiny and tight looking, like the before photo.

I have also been using this cream on my elbows to ward away any unwanted eczema! It took a few days, but my elbows are feeling a lot smoother than they were!

Overall, I enjoy this hand cream but I do wish it was in a squeeze or pump container and that the price point was a little lower. Unfortunately, when I am in the market for another hand cream, I might opt for a more budget friendly and more favorable container option over this one.

You can find Curél on:

Facebook | Website

I also have several $2 off Curel Intensive Healing coupons up for grabs! 

Message me on Facebook if you want one!

Polishes used in this post:

Carpe Noctem Cosmetics Fright Night 

Facebook | Etsy

Art Club Stripers in black and white.

Sephora Matte topcoat

Wet n Wild Glow in the Dark top coat

**Disclosure: The product(s) in this post were provided to me by their manufacturer or Bzzagent for my unbiased review. Please see my Disclaimer page for more info**

Tips on Tuesday: My Current Cuticle Care Favorites

Tips on Tuesday! Woot! 

Today I wanted to do a rundown of my current cuticle care favorites. You might notice a reoccurring trend in some of my posts -- every polish I review is pretty much deemed MY FAVORITE (at the time)! As my cuticle care favorites evolve, so will these posts :)

I love Sally Hansen. Just going to throw that out there. She is such a great gal and I bet her hands and nails look freaking-fantastic.
 I trust her.
I use her polish and base coats all the time.
Just recently CVS was having a Spend $10 get $5 back in ExtraBucks on SH cosmetics. I decided that was as good a time as any to try some cuticle care items!
These have become staples in my mani routine (when I can find them in my stash -- working on that mess) and keep my cuticles looking nice!

By the way -- I am totally not an expert, and just like regular makeup and personal care items: What works for me might not work for you. 
I always buy these types of items in Drugstores because they all have GREAT return policies -- even if the package is open!

SH VitaSurge Cuticle Gel. Looks like an orange, smells like an orange! This cuticle gel is very lightly scented and is so fast absorbing. There are beads inside the gel that are filled with Vitamin E and Botanical Extracts that, with the gel, help heal dry, ragged cuticles.

Application is a breeze because of the felt tipped applicator. You can use this over your bare nail or over dry polish.

I like to give a swipe around my upper finger, my cuticles and over my bare nail. I rub it in gently after putting a swipe or 2 on each finger. Within 20 seconds or so -- it has all absorbed and leaves no color or scent behind! Because it absorbs so fast I will use it more than once if my cuticles are really dry.
Love it!
There is also a Strength Gel and a Growth gel.
Retails for $6.99 at CVS.

The other SH product I picked up was the Maximum Growth Cuticle Pen.
This helps grow longer, and healthier nails (supposedly in 7 days). It also nourishes dry, rough cuticles.

This pen is great because the applicator makes it so easy and precise to apply to cuticles. It is a little oily, but it absorbs with a little rubbing.

When the tip needs more oil, you just turn the base to wet it! 

It smells ok. Kind of like coconut macaroons...But like the Cuticle Gel, it isn't a strong scent (I was practically sticking it up my nose to smell it) and it fades pretty quickly.

Both of these product work great for me!

Retails for $6.99 at CVS.

However, my all time cuticle care favorite has to be Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream. Seriously, though. Not just my favorite today. I have had one of these tins on my desk at work for YEARS.

It calls itself a cream, but I would say it is definitely more of a balm. It comes in a .60oz tin and I swear, this thing last FOREVER. I have 2 of these tins and I have had one of them on my desk for just about 2 years now. I use it multiple times a day (almost every time after washing my hands) and it has still lasted me such a long time. Despite loving the SH cuticle care items above, I do not see getting this type of longevity out of them.

Despite being a balm, it isn't too greasy, but instead a nice and creamy. If you have a cat, yea, you probably will get some cat hairs stuck to your fingers (so bring it to work instead!). It smells like you would think lemon butter would smell like.

I really use this religiously, and very very highly recommend this as your must-have go-to cuticle care item!

Retails for $5.99 at CVS.

Not only is it cheaper than the SH but it is definitely the best bang for your buck.

What are your favorite cuticle care items? Tell me which ones to try next!

Cared for cuticles are happy cuticles!

:)