My new favorite wintertime hand cream: Herbacin Kamille Paraben-Free Glycerin Hand Cream

Herbacin Kamille is one of those hand creams that's been around forever, and you just can't mistake its green tube with the flower on the front. I'm sure you've seen it around and, if you're like me, you may have wondered if it was any good. Well I'm here to tell you that I finally bought a tube and that this oldie is indeed a goodie. It's the one hand cream I've been reaching for over and over since the weather actually turned cold here in Sunny San Diego.

 Herbacin Kamille Paraben-Free Glycerin Hand Cream

(retail: around $5, 2.5 oz)

Not to be confused with the original Herbacin Kamille, this is a newer version that's paraben-free. I have never tried the original, but you can see the difference in the ingredients by clicking the links above. This hand cream contains no animal products, it's not tested on animals and it's made in Germany.

This hand cream is in the same vein as Avon Silicone Glove (but without the mineral oil and parabens) . If you do not like a silicone-ish texture to your hand creams, then this is sadly not for you. It has that slick, almost waxy (but not greasy) silicone feel to it, but unlike other hand creams of this nature that I've tried over the years, it doesn't eventually turn sticky or gritty. I'm super picky about the texture of hand creams (which is probably why I've recommended so few over the years) and I'm telling you, this one is something special.

When you squeeze it out of the tube, it seems pretty thick at first:

But once you get it going and it reacts to the warmth of your skin, it softens up and becomes very easy to apply:

What I love about this product is that a little goes a very long way, and several hours after I use it, I can still feel that protective coating on my hands. My hands just feel soft and the best part is that they look soft (and not like their usual wintertime lizard-skin). I think it's ideal for someone like me who types a lot throughout the day, handles paper, and has to endure frequent hand-washings. In fact, I'd say that if you do things during the day that constantly make your hands feel dry, you might fall in love with this product because, even after hand-washings, I can still feel that protective coating on my hands.

The fragrance of this product is light and pleasant. Sort of clean and herbal with a hint of a floral note. The fragrance is not strong during application, and it fades rather quickly (if you work in a cubicle, you won't make your co-workers walk over to ask what's going on whenever you use it).

I'd also like to add that I know there's some criticism in regard to glycerin-based hand products and their actual effectiveness. Some say that products of this nature don't provide any lasting effects when it comes to moisturization, and that the benefits simply go away when you wash your hands. Well I can't speak to that claim since I've only been using this product off and on for three weeks, but I can say that I'm not using this product for the promise of long-term effects. I need a hand cream that's going to keep my hands feeling soft throughout the day, despite all the anti-bac applications, hand-washings and other things I put my poor hands through. So a hand cream that doesn't stick around for long is not one that I reach for during the day. I can't think of another product I love so much when it comes to a hand cream for my particular daily needs, especially in the wintertime. There are plenty of products on the market that can help you improve the texture of your skin in the long-run, and I'm not saying, in any way, shape or form, that you shouldn't use a product like that (in fact, I love products like that, but I reserve them for nighttime). I'm just offering a suggestion for a hand cream that lasts throughout the day and manages to keep my hands feeling soft (and looking soft) without the need for multiple applications throughout the day. So if that sounds like something that you'd be interested in, I say give this one a shot!

You can find Herbacin Kamille Paraben-Free Glycerin Hand Cream at many drugstores, pharmacies, gift shops and beauty supply stores throughout the world. You can also purchase it at Drugstore.com. If you're not sure where to get it in your area,  try the Herbacin Kamille store locator here. International readers, click here.

Have you tried Herbacin Kamille? Thoughts?