The $27 Hand Cream I Bought for Its Instagrammable Packaging

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I won’t lie, I initially wanted what is now my favorite hand cream — excuse me, hand balm — just to Instagram it. I had no idea what its claims were, if it would be good for my skin type, or even how much it cost.

All I knew was that the pink metal tube of Aesop’s Resurrection Aromatique Hand Balm was cute, and that it would look great artfully placed alongside a cup of coffee in an obnoxious Instagram still life.

When I went into the shop to test it out IRL, I was immediately greeted by a sales associate who offered me a sample of exactly what I was looking for. It only took a few laps around the store (read: 20 seconds, because the store is very small), for me to be pleasantly surprised that this silly based-on-aesthetics-only purchase I was about to make actually worked. The balm that had gone on a bit oily had become completely matte, and my palms were seemingly cured of all their winter wear. My hands felt amazing.

(I’d also like to note that the label includes the following: “This luxurious formulation will transform even the most abused and life-weary hands,” which is dramatic, but not wrong.)

The scent is a mix of mandarin rind, lavender, and cedarwood; bold enough to appreciate, but subtle enough as to not be overwhelming. Though intended as a hand cream, it also works wonders on my tired feet and dry cuticles, too. Plus, it’s the only product that my boyfriend and I both use.

At $27, it isn’t cheap, but considering one tube lasts me about three to four months (when I’m not insisting everyone I know give it a try), it’s an easily justifiable purchase that I intend to continue making until the end of time.