The Battle For Youth: Hand Heroes with Organii!

When you think of anti-aging skincare what comes to mind?

Cleanse-tone-moisturize.
Serums and nightcreams.
Exfoliation.

When there are so many aspects to consider just for one area of your body, it is easy to forget those less talked about areas.  But that doesn't mean they don't need just as much care!

Your hands are one of the hardest working parts of your body -- they are always moving around, picking up, grasping, turning.. And they are constantly exposed to the elements.  Sunshine, wind, damp, heat, and air pollution don't just skip over your hands, and if you neglect them for too long it can lead to damage and premature signs of aging.  This is why it is so important to establish a solid routine that addresses the daily wear and tear, and to choose effective but gentle hand-care products that you can easily incorporate into your lifestyle.

Organii, available online and in select stores, offers a range of natural and organic products that carry a number of certifications, including EcoCert, ICEA, EcoGarantie, Soil Association, and GOTS.  The brand promises to deliver not only effective formulas that are free from nasties, but to always offer a great value for money that is suitable for the whole family. 

I have actually tested a number of Organii products in the past, including their patches and liquid soap, and I have always been impressed by both the price and the quality.  What I did not know was that they offer pretty much everything you need to keep your hands hydrated and healthy!


Thanks to the kindness of Organii*, I now have everything I need to take proper care of my hands.  But what exactly do I need to think about or do to keep my skin healthy, radiant, and shielded from environmental damages?


1] Hand Soap
Think about how many times a day you wash your hands.  After you use the toilet, before you eat, when you get home from a long day out in the city, secondhand when doing the dishes... That is a lot of contact time with your hand soap, so what you want to avoid is anything that dries out your hands or has sensitizing ingredients.  That means avoid alcohols as much as possible, and skip the sulphates.

By choosing a gentle and moisturizing hand soap you help your hands stay supple and smooth and keep the cells strong.  Nothing leads to fine lines and dullness faster than dry and cracked skin! 


Organii's certified organic cream soaps have the perfect blend of oils, making for a rich formula that doesn't leave your hands feeling slick nor parched.  If you are out for a naturally fragrant option, you can choose from lavender, wild rose, almond, or lime blossom, all of which give off a delicate aroma, or, if you want a pure and simple soap that is incredibly gentle, you can opt for their 83.3% organic Neutral bar

This cream soap is mild and unscented, making it ideal for those with allergies, sensitivities, or skin conditions such as eczema.   Packed with plant oils, this handy little bar soothes skin and works to slowly heal hands in need of extra moisture.  It lathers up nicely, can be used to wash hands, body, or extended to other household purposes, and is one of the most affordable all natural bar soaps I have found in a long time. 

One of my favourite parts of this product?  No plastic packaging in sight!!

Ingredients: Sodium Palmate***, Sodium Palm Kernelate***, Aqua, Glycerin**, Elaeis Guineensis Kernel Oil*, Sodium Chloride, Citric Acid *ingredients from organic farming **as component of essential oils ***made using organic ingredients

Note- while I do avoid palm oil, this soap uses certified sustainably sourced palm.  This means the palm oil is sourced ethically and sustainably, and must meet the eight criteria set by the RSPO (found here).  While still not ideal, I applaud any company who has an ethical backbone and says no to non-sustainable palm oil which, while cheaper, is catastrophic for the environment.


2] Exfoliate
I talk a lot about the benefits of exfoliation in my mini-series, but what I have not mentioned much is how crucial it is to buff away dead skin cells on your hands as well as your face and limbs!  A weekly or bi-weekly scrub will work to keep your skin looking bright and beautiful, but it will also help your serum or moisturizer sink in more deeply and work more effectively.  The more you know!

While Organii do not offer a hand exfoliation treatment (yet!), you could easily incorporate a mini-exfoliation using one of your facial or body scrubs/chemical peels in your cupboard.  Or for a cheap and cheerful gentle DIY treatment, you can enjoy a simple addition after using the bar cream soap.  Simply take a pinch of sugar and sprinkle on damp skin.  Using the same motion you do to wash your hands, lightly buff the skin cells with the sugar crystals for about 30 seconds.  Then just rinse off, and voila -- fresh and glowing hands!


3] Moisture Boost
Your hands need regular pampering in order to remain fighting fit, especially after all the exposure to environmental stresses and pollutants.  What better way to replenish against daily damages than with a rich, skin protecting moisturizer (or serum)?  When choosing a formula, look for one that is high in antioxidants and moisture-restoring lipids.  You also want to be sure there are no drying alcohols (like denatured or benzyl), as this can actually lead to further issues with repeated use. 


Again, Organii comes to the rescue with their Gentle Care Hand Cream for sensitive skin.  Not only is it full of moisture-rich ingredients like sweet almond oil and sunflower seed oil, but also contains skin softening and soothing extracts like black elderberry, calendula, and burdock. 

While the cream does not have much of a smell, it does leave your hands feeling ready to take on another day.  The texture is super smooth and is surprisingly light for a formula that contains such rich oils.  Your hands will feel a little sticky for the first 30 seconds or so after applying, but it quickly dries and you are not left with any remaining residue.  I was really happy with how this hand cream faired, and while I may need to pair up with an additional oil in the coldest winter months, this is the perfect product for me at the moment.

Ingredients: Aqua, Helianthus Annuus Hybrid Oil*, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Glyceryl Stearate, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil*, Parfum**, Xanthan Gum, Sorbitan Caprylate, Sodium Salicylate, Tocopherol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil*, Glycerin*, Arctium Lappa Fruit Extract*, Tilia Cordata Flower Extract*, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract*, Sambucus Nigra Fruit Extract*,Hypericum Perforatum Flower Extract*, Urtica Dioica Root Extract*, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract*, Sodium Phytate. * certified organic ** natural fragrance


4] SPF
Sun screen for you hands??  Yes, your hands should get a good dose of sun protection as well as your face, chest, shoulders, and anywhere else that may be exposed to the sun's damaging rays!  While you may not get an obvious sunburn on your hands (or feet), they are still exposed to the UV light which can lead to sun spots, wrinkles, or even cancer.

Organii offer three different SPF sun creams: 15, 20, 30, and 50, and all protect against UVB and UVA without compromising your health or drying out your skin.  I particularly like the SPF 20, as it offers everyday protection and shields my pasty white skin perfectly.  It does not leave the signature sheen that the majority of other higher level SPFs leave behind, plus, it lasts ages!

Handy tip -- every time you wash your hands, a bit of sun protection also washes off.  Be sure to reapply throughout the day if you are in direct sunlight!

Ingredients: aqua (water), dicaprylyl ether, pongamia glabra seed oil, zinc oxide, caprylic/capric triglyceride, polyglyceryl-3 polyricinoleate, glycerin, alcohol*, olea euro­paea fruit oil, titanium dioxide, oryza sativa bran oil, cocos nucifera oil*, linum usitatissimum oil*, argania spinosa kernel oil*, simmondsia chinensis oil*, mag­nesium sulphate eptahydrate, magnesium stearate, hydrated silica, pongamol, alumina, tocopherol, helianthus annuus seed oil*, daucus carota root extract*, stearic acid, bisabolol, oryzanol, parfum**, benzyl salicylate, limonene, linalool   *from organic farming    **natural origin


Four steps is all it takes to help your hands -- four simple acts that take two minutes or less and protect against premature aging and lasting damage.  I will definitely be taking better care of my hands from now on, and will be incorporating them into my skincare routine on a daily basis now!

How do you take care of your hands?  Do you have a different routine for summer and winter, or do you keep things steady all year long?  I would love to know your thoughts!

And if you are interested in grabbing your own Organii hand care products, you can find them over on their website or on Love Lula.



* Organii kindly provided both the Neutral Cream Soap and the Gentle Care Hand Cream for this review.  All opinions expressed in this post, however, are my honest thoughts and have not been influenced in any way.

16 comments

  1. My hands are always so dry and I've noticed that they are starting to look older than the rest of me. I could do with some nice hand cream like this.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oooh that hand cream sounds lovely. I often have issues with hand soap as my hands are so sensitive, so this sounds like it would be great for me!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. have you tried a fragrance free one before? they're great for sensitive skin or anyone with allergies! x

      Delete
  3. I don't do enough for my hands especially as they're used so much x

    ReplyDelete
  4. They do say you can tell someone's age by looking at their hands, so I need to take better care of mine! I like that there is no plastic packaging too- brilliant x

    ReplyDelete
  5. I've tried Organii soap bars before and I found them ok, they are quite affordable. I also have their SPF15 sunscreen at home which I won in one of the giveaways. I would really like to try their hand cream now but I am just starting to test hand creams from Alteya now. Maybe once I finish those I will move on to Organii..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. how did you get on with the spf 15? I love their 20 and 50 :) ooh let me know how the Alteya ones are!

      Delete
  6. This sounds fab and how good that there's no plastic packaging?!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I always forget about my hands in the summer. In the winter I moisturise.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was definitely guilty of that as well - now I try to remember to apply spf every day :) x

      Delete
  8. I only look after my hands in winter when my skin dries out. These look great and I love the packaging!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Always after a good hand cream, as I can not stand them being dry at all x

    ReplyDelete
  10. I really need to invest in some good skin/hand creams. I will check this out next time I'm out.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Sounds like a super brand! I keep my routine quite simple and only use a moisturiser every day. I'll have to check this one out!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I've never really thought about anti-aging items just yet but I have to admit this range sounds nice and I love the packaging too! x

    ReplyDelete
  13. I work in a pre-school so over wash my hands making them dry - this sounds brilliant

    ReplyDelete

Share your thoughts!
(No links please!)