the hand-care renaissance is here

plus facemists, freshly launched products and the end of my bleach era </3

Dear readers,

I’ve developed a new obsession: intentional hand care. Not the casual “I keep a chic tube in my bag” sort of habit, no. Actual rituals, with steps, intention, and maybe even a little existential reflection.

Hands have always lingered at the back of my mind. They clock more UV exposure than most of the body - sometimes more than the face - but only recently have they stepped into the spotlight for me. Since getting engaged, I’ve found myself looking at them more, noticing every detail, every shift in texture.

I’ve been lucky - thank you, parents, for my DNA, and thank you, self, for years of SPF use - but I’ve never truly figured out an actual consistent hand-care routine. Mainly because I have OCD in my rearview mirror, and there are seasons where I wash or sanitise my hands a lot. Hydration and even sun protection doesn’t really survive that kind of lifestyle. Do I reapply hand cream or SPF after every wash? No. Do I feel a quiet sense of dread about what that might mean for my skin? Sometimes. Lately I’ve started noticing signs of aging, but maybe it’s just dehydration or obsession. Either way, I’ve started treating my hands with more care. not as an afterthought, but as their own skincare focus.

When it comes to hand rituals there is only one real queen: Sylvia Geng, though I haven’t reached her level of dedication yet.

@sylvia.geng🧴☁️🐇ASMR Handcare routine #aesthetic #routine #asmr #handcare #nailcare #facial #selfcareroutine #athomespaday #handroutine #springnails #handmask #handfacial #handtreatment #selfcare #skincare #nightroutine #cleangirl #thatgirl #softgirl #evening #relax #satisfying #anxietyrelief #fyp #foryoupage #health #lifestyle #trending #viral

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I’m still experimenting: In the mornings, I exfoliate with Korean AHA/PHA pads - they’re gentle, quick, and don’t disrupt my rhythm. Then I apply whatever face sunscreen I didn’t love enough for my face (never anything that irritated my eyes; I touch my face too often to take that risk).

At night, it’s retinoids and hydrating layers: CeraVe ointment with ceramides, sometimes the Nivea famous blue tin jar for a trip down scent-induced memory lane, and occasionally U Beauty’s Super Hydrator, because I’ve decided my hands deserve luxury too.

What I didn’t expect? I reallllyy dislike most hand creams. Too greasy, too scented (for my sensitive nose and brain or most often for my cats!), or they sit on the skin - ugh. It’s a tough category to crack, but I’m determined.

So I’m curious. How do you treat your hands? Have they been part of your skincare game, or are they quietly dealing with the fallout of years of typing, washing, and general neglect?

Let’s normalise a hand-care renaissance. The face gets enough attention. It’s time our hands got their moment, even if it’s just by using the products for them that we didn’t love enough for our faces.

Hand-Care Product Tips

• Experimentation is key: Try moisturizers or SPFs that your face rejected on your hands. Everyone has different texture preferences.

• Splurge-worthy: U Beauty The SUPER Hydrator (Mini for Hands) makes my hands incredibly soft. Its SIREN Capsule Technology provides deep hydration that actually lasts. Use it as a luxe hand mask at night. The mini version costs around €30.

• Budget-friendly: CeraVe Reparative Hand Cream is fragrance-free and rich in ceramides. Perfect for constant reapplication without buildup.

• Multi-use: Medik8 Advanced Night Restore works wonders on face, neck, and hands.

• Serious skincare: Incorporate Geek & Gorgeous retinal 0.05% or Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum into your hand-care routine.

• Elegance in a tube: Victoria Beckham Beauty Portofino '97 Hand Cream is light, elegant, and non-greasy. Basically skincare for your hands, with niacinamide and squalane.

Reads

• All about the latest hairdo: The Gothic Updo Trend
  The gothic updo trend is a mix of drama and sophistication, complementing the dark, vampy aesthetic of goth fashion. Think messy textures, lots of hanging tendrils, beehives, micro bangs, and thick Elvira bangs. Byrdie

• Talking about hair, I’ve bleached mine for the past three years and, despite deploying every mask, treatment, and water filter known to man, the breakage has staged a full coup. So, I went chocolate brown. Now I’m just hoping people will still recognise me, unlike poor Jason Isaacs, who’s left White Lotus fans spiraling after they found out he is the same actor that played Lucius Malfoy in Harry Potter. Turns out, going from platinum to brunette can be disorienting for everyone involved. Case in point.

  

• Dermatologists talking supplements. This stood out to me: “Omega-3 fatty acids, particularly EPA and DHA and their metabolites, have powerful anti-inflammatory effects that are essential for overall skin health. They help strengthen the skin barrier, improving hydration and reducing dryness. Research shows they can also soothe inflammation, making them particularly beneficial for conditions like eczema, psoriasis, wound healing, and acne. I also appreciate the metabolites' role in enhancing the body’s natural defences against environmental stressors such as UV radiation.”

• Consider this your permission slip to stop panic-buying 12-step routines: The Cut dives into Underconsumption Core, TikTok’s latest aesthetic flex where intentional minimalism and subtle luxury signal status not through excess, but through what’s consciously left out - a quiet rebellion against overconsumption. [paywalled]

• People are getting more laser and filler on their hands

• About my favourite skincare products: Face mists!

  What's Everyone Spraying on Their Face?

• On the upcoming wellness trend: how wellness is becoming the new marker of luxury, with consumers prioritising transformational experiences over material goods. Alex Hawkins of The Future Laboratory notes this shift as part of the transformation economy, where brands must offer “transformational luxury”: products and services that contribute meaningfully to personal growth and well-being.

• While wellness is growing, make-up sales are dropping - Vogue Business [paywalled]

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Monthly Debunk:

The latest offender in the wild world of beauty marketing: an article on so-called "clean beauty" that left me deeply irritated. I'm sure the brands, editors, and maybe even the chemist spreading misinformation (while quoting the EWG - a US-based organic farming lobby notorious for wild, fear-mongering claims) mean well. But instead of clarity, this kind of messaging only adds confusion, promotes unsustainable choices, and fuels consumer anxiety.

One sentence in particular made my blood boil: "Another key benefit to buying clean makeup is that many of the ingredients are ethically sourced and cruelty-free. As consumers, prioritising what we want in our makeup and our money talks has never been more critical."

Let's break it down: CLEAN BEAUTY = MOST OFTEN GREENWASHING

No, the ingredients are not magically more "ethically sourced," until brands come with real receipts, but they never do. and yes, they're cruelty-free - but so is basically every brand in 2025. Don't be misled by marketing that's more about vibes than facts. If your money talks, let it say no to confusion and yes to brands that are transparent, science-first, and genuinely committed to sustainability, not just the appearance of it.

AND: Rosemary oil, does it actually work for hair? many beauty professionals seem to say so? But what does science say?

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Fresh Soft Glow approved beauty launches worth exploring

all product links can be found here

• The Ordinary Multi-Active Delivery Essence: Launched at the end of February, this essence combines multiple active ingredients to enhance skin hydration and overall appearance.

• K18 Astrolift Reparative Volume Spray: This product aims to provide volume while repairing hair damage, offering a dual benefit for hair health and styling.

• Supergoop! Glowscreen Soft-Radiance Drops Mineral SPF 40: Combining sun protection with a radiant finish, these drops offer a mineral-based SPF 40 while imparting a soft glow to the skin.

• Pixi HandHero Hand Cream: Designed to nourish and protect hands, this cream offers hydration without a greasy feel, making it ideal for daily use.

• Haus Labs by Lady Gaga Bio-Radiant Glassy Highlighter Balm: This hydrating, multi-use highlighting balm can be applied to cheeks, eyes, lips, and body for a glass-like glow. Enriched with skin-care ingredients like hyaluronic acid, bio-retinoid sea fennel extract, and wakame extract, it provides both aesthetic and nourishing benefits.

• Isamaya Sculpting Stick Precision Cream Contour Stick with Ceramides: A cool-toned (!) makeup contour stick infused with ceramides, offering precise application and skin-nourishing benefits.

• Saie SuperSuede Baked Powder Blush: This blush provides a soft, suede-like finish with buildable color, enhancing the cheeks with a natural flush.

• Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Contour: This innovative liquid contour offers a natural, buildable finish, allowing for seamless blending and a soft, sculpted look.

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Thanks for reading and indulging in a little hand-care reverie with me. As always, I love hearing your thoughts! reply, forward, or simply whisper your skincare secrets into the void (aka my inbox).

NEXT UP: We’ll be having a cute “What’s In Their Bag” moment with none other than Substack muse and brilliant writer

Valerie

of Club Reticent. Expect the kind of beauty takes only Valerie could deliver.

Until then, stay glowing - and don’t forget your hands.

Xoxo Soft Glow

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