Posted by: Victoria Renee
Where I would start: your hands
If your hands have started giving your age away before the rest of you does, I want to point you somewhere gentle. Restoring Hand Treatment is the hand cream I reach for when the concern is aging hands. It works on three things at once: it brightens, smooths, and hydrates for a younger look. It targets the look of wrinkles, crepey skin, and dark spots on your hands. The formula lasts all day.
Why your hands show age first
Your hands work harder than almost any other part of your body, and they show it. The skin on the backs of your hands is thin, and it takes more sun and more washing than most of your skin ever does. As the Cleveland Clinic explains, hands lose fat and elasticity as you age, so the skin loses volume and starts to wrinkle and spot. Frequent washing in hot water strips away the natural oils that keep that skin soft, which is how dryness and a crepey look set in. That mix of thin skin, sun, and constant washing is why aging hands often look older than you feel.
What is in the formula?
| Ingredient | What it does for the look of your hands |
|---|---|
| Prickly Pear Stem Extract | Soothes and hydrates so hands look firmer, with antioxidants and water-binding compounds that keep skin feeling hydrated |
| Green and Brown Microalgae | Locks in hydration and gives crepey skin a firmer look and feel |
| Licorice Root and Marine Extract Blend | Camouflages the look of dark spots for a younger-looking, more even tone, with microspheres that smooth it onto the skin |
Prickly Pear Stem Extract
Prickly Pear Stem Extract leads the formula. This succulent extract soothes and hydrates your skin to promote a firmer appearance, and it carries antioxidants and water-binding compounds that leave skin feeling hydrated. On the label you will see it written as Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract. It is the piece that makes your hands feel comfortable and quenched rather than tight.
Green and Brown Microalgae
Green and Brown Microalgae comes next, and it is the part aimed at crepey skin. It helps lock in hydration and gives crepey skin on your hands a firmer look and feel. Micro-algae is also what helps smooth the look of wrinkles, so the surface reads smoother with time.
Licorice Root and Marine Extract Blend
Licorice Root and Marine Extract Blend is the brightening piece. Its botanical extracts camouflage the look of dark spots for a younger-looking skin tone, so your hands look more even. Microspheres help it go on smoothly for more radiant-looking hands. On the label, the licorice root appears as Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract. A few familiar comfort ingredients like shea butter, sweet almond oil, and sodium hyaluronate round things out.
How to use it
Using it is simple. Take a dime-sized amount and work it into the tops of your hands, then massage until it is fully absorbed. Apply it at least twice a day, or any time your hands feel dry. The formula is built to last all day, so a morning application keeps working while you go. In a full routine, hand and body care come toward the end, which the regimen guide walks through step by step. In a 12-week study, 25 users ages 55 to 84 used it at least twice a day. 96% said their hands felt more hydrated, 92% said the skin looked more elastic, and 88% said their hands looked less crepey.
Which product for which concern
Restoring Hand Treatment is made for your hands, so that is where it fits in your routine. When the crepey look runs up your arms, legs, or chest, a body formula suits those larger areas better. Our InvisiCrepe Body Balm is built for them. If you are unsure which texture works for you, the body cream guide walks you through the choice. And when the dark spots you most want to soften are on your face rather than your hands, the dark spot corrector guide points to the serum made for facial skin.
What it cannot do
I want to be honest about the edges here. This cream works on the look of your skin, not on a medical condition underneath it, and it will not change what is happening below the surface. If you notice rough, scaly patches on the backs of your hands, those can be more than ordinary dryness. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends having a dermatologist take a look. A dermatologist is also the person to ask about procedures like fillers, lasers, or peels, which go beyond what any cream can do. And keep an eye on your spots. The Mayo Clinic advises getting a doctor to look at any spot that changes in size, border, or color. The same is true of a spot that bleeds. A cream can brighten the look of an age spot, but a spot that is changing belongs with a professional, not a product.
Frequently asked questions
Is it fragrance free?
Yes, it is fragrance free. You get the hydration and the brightening without any added perfume.
Can I use it on the backs of my hands only?
Yes, and using it only on the backs of your hands is completely fine. That is the area the formula targets, so you are not missing anything by skipping your palms.
How often should I apply it?
At least twice a day is the sweet spot, morning and night. If your hands take a lot of washing during the day, an extra application after you dry them helps the most.
Will it fade age spots on my hands?
Yes, in the way that matters for a cosmetic: it brightens how dark spots look and helps even your tone. It softens the appearance rather than erasing the spot.
Does it work on crepey hands?
Yes, crepey hands are one of the concerns it is built for, and you will feel the hydration first. The firming look from the microalgae builds on top of that.
The bottom line
If aging hands are what is bothering you, this is the hand cream I would hand you first. It brings the brightening, the smoothing, and the daily hydration together. City Beauty product orders are covered by a 60 day money-back guarantee, so you can try it and see how your hands respond. You can read more about the company and that promise on the facts page.