For as long as I can remember, I've avoided using hand cream. Don't get me wrong—I've definitely needed it. My skin is notoriously dry year-round, and my cuticles are always flaky and a bit jagged. Frankly, I thought it was the price I had to pay for not prioritizing regular manicures and taking on one too many house projects sans gloves.
Still, I could never quite get behind slathering on hand cream, whether it was expensive, perfumed options that promised to add a bit of luxury to my day, or utilitarian mainstays that could be picked up at the drugstore. I was pretty skeptical that any formula could erase the years of neglect—and the slowly emerging wrist wrinkles I've spotted since turning 35—until I encountered Soft Service's revolutionary Theraplush formula.
Soft Services Theraplush Overnight Repair Treatment
About the Formula
Made with reparative ingredients like colloidal oatmeal and vitamin B5, Theraplush also adds a bit of retinol into the equation for a luxurious and impactful formula that promises to improve texture, minimize skin blemishes, and reduce wrinkles. It's ideal for use year-round, but particularly helpful coming out of the winter season to repair some of the cold-weather-induced dryness.
The cream is designed to be applied each night, and I pretty much stuck to that cadence, with a few morning applications when I happened to forget the evening before. That said, I'd recommend applying the formula before bed whenever possible. It also doesn't feel gunky or sticky on your hands (which is amazing, as that's one of my main gripes with most hand creams), but it definitely leaves a velvety coating, which I was reminded up as I was slipping and sliding around my morning yoga class after a rare a.m. application.
The Packaging
Proven results are always the main thing I prioritize with skincare products, but I'd be lying if I said aesthetics didn't factor into the equation—and Theraplush truly does have that down to a science. The hand cream is housed in a reusable ribbed case (in a very on-trend butter yellow hue), with an airless pump top that keeps the formula stable and makes dispensing the ideal amount of cream a cinch each evening.
My Review
It's safe to say Theraplush made a believer out of me. This impressive formula changed the game when it comes to caring for my hands and helped me visually measure the difference between a healthy, effective routine and, well, no routine at all. I'm also not exaggerating when I say this hand cream felt like nothing I'd ever tried before. It's dense and silky, with a weighty feel that blanketed my hands each evening with a glove-like effect. The colloidal oatmeal and panthenol proved to be a dynamic duo in tackling my dryness, plumping my skin, and pampering my skin barrier, which felt especially dry and crepe-y coming off the heels of a cold New England winter.
Like with all retinol products, it will take a bit to see full-blown results from this cream in that department, but after consistent use for over two and a half weeks, I spotted a noticeable improvement in the texture and appearance of my skin.
Coating on the cream every evening felt like an indulgent little moment of self-care, and I love how the formula delivered visible results—and fast. I've since turned several friends onto this little luxury. While it's definitely a splurge ($62 for the regular size, and $36 for the refills), I love that the exterior canister can be used over and over again and looks as beautiful as it functions. If you're looking to invest in a hand cream that will help with lines, tame your cuticles, and spoil one of the hardest-working parts of your body, Soft Service's Theraplush hand cream is a very worthy buy.
Alyssa Longobucco
Contributing Writer
Alyssa Longobucco is a freelance writer, editor, and stylist with a background in interior and lifestyle content. Her work helps readers digest design trends and provides actionable expert advice for creating a home they love. She has over a decade of experience in the media industry, and her work has appeared in Real Simple, Good Housekeeping, SELF, Apartment Therapy, The Knot, Domino, HGTV Magazine, Country Living, and more. Alyssa holds a BA in Journalism and Public Relations from Marist College and interior design certifications from NYIAD and RIDQC.
