Issue 09 – Hand Cream

Innovative form factors are coming for the traditional tubes

Unbox Inbox is a weekly newsletter packed with packaging inspiration and observations

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A Hand Cream Deep Dive

Maybe I’m rabbit-holing about hand cream this week because it’s cold out and my hands are dry. Or perhaps it’s because I’m in my 30s and the internet keeps telling me I should be caring for my hands as well as I care for my face. Or maybe it’s because I was short on time this week and thought this would be a quick one to research. The truth is it was the latter (although all are actually true), but the reality is I was wrong–there is so much hand cream out there! And I don’t even own any! I’ve been putting off buying Soft Service’s Theraplush (purely because of the exceptional packaging, duh) ever since I heard about it a few months ago, but I haven’t quite justified spending $62 on hand cream. And then

Emily

wrote about it in her letter last week and it’s been on the brain since. It’s not not the best packaging design I found in the hand cream game, but I found a lot of other good stuff too. But before we take a look, if you’re reading this newsletter and aren’t subscribed yet, it would mean the world if you did. Your support helps me continue to make time for this inspiring side project week after week! Ok, let’s get to it.

1. Hand cream for the person who begged their parents for an Apple computer growing up because they thought PCs were ugly

Like I said, I’ve never bought hand cream for myself. But if/when I do, it’s probably going to be one of these. We don’t *need* hand cream. You can just put the lotion you use for your body or face on your hands and I’m fairly sure you’ll be fine (sorry marketing teams at hand cream brands). But based on the stories these brands are telling, elevated vessels elevate the experience of the hand cream ritual. And I’m all for taking small moments for yourself throughout the day (and buying things because you like the packaging). I can also see why you wouldn’t want a squeeze tube filled with expensive cream. Those aluminum ones always crack and leak, and nobody wants to waste half a tube of the expensive stuff.

Soft Services, HAAN, Glossier, Paume, Susanne Kaufmann, Dior, Chanel, Rare Beauty, TOUN28

2. Hand cream for the person who puts generic soap in their Aesop hand soap bottle

As we all know, you can’t put toothpaste back in the tube, and the same applies here. You’ve got to buy the real deal if you want that Aesop Clout™. Many of the brands here took cues from the legacy brand–sans serif black type, muted tonal colors, black cap, you get the gist. I’m a fan of 3rd Ritual’s tubes, which kept that trusty formula in mind while playing into the concepts of their various SKUs and making it more own-able for their brand.

Grown Alchemist, Salt + Stone, Aesop, KOBA, Lumin, MARMAR;D, 3rd Ritual, Lux Unfiltered, neubiome, Björk and Berries, Hanyul

3. Hand cream for the person doesn’t really care about packaging design but these tubes make it look like they do

Maybe I’ve been down this rabbit hole for too long, but hand cream almost seems like some sort of status accessory. Whipping out a tube of hand cream in a meeting and rubbing your hands together while intently listening to your coworker does have a sort of “I’ve got my shit together and I know what I like” effect, doesn’t it? Nothing about these designs is particularly creative or groundbreaking, but they’re still good. You could know nothing about design, and if I saw you with one of these I’d think you have good taste–whether you do or not. White space and a restrained use of color go a long way in conveying smart luxury (think all-black uniforms, the entire Apple brand, etc.).

Nécessaire, L:A Brucket, Pai, Malin + Goetz, Olio E Osso, Typology, Hawthorne, Henné, Sidia

4. Hand cream for the person who has a drawer full of the hand creams their grandma gives them every year around the holidays

I said I’ve never bought hand cream, but I didn’t say I’ve never been gifted any. There was a period of time in high school when my grandma regularly gave me L'Occitane hand cream and I didn’t use it (or *get* it). What I love about the tubes here is they feel timeless in a way where I could be the generous grandma years from now, and these designs would stand the test of time. They have that forever cool I-picked-this-up-on-a-trip-to-Paris vibe that I always appreciate (as you may remember from the butter or bar soap issues of this newsletter).

Kiehl’s, L'Occitane, LOiViE, Ranavat, Santa Maria Novella, Bienaimé, Claus Porto, V&A Beauty, Murphy & Daughters

5. Hand cream for the person who wishes they were on Harry Style’s creative team

Is it obvious that most of these made-up, out-there archetypes are inspired by myself? Of course Pleasing has an original tube that feels a bit Gucci-adjacent (bold pattern, a touch of whimsy, pop of red in the cap). Speaking of caps, if you aren’t going to leave the tube behind, elevating the cap to something a bit more interesting goes a long way. Look at Amuse and Feev’s designs below. I also find Duft and Dot’s nod towards tubes of paint to be so clever. We love a wink in these parts.

Maison Matine, Amuse, Pleasing, FEEV, Lanolips, Fenty Skin, Duft & Dot, Haruharu wonder, Chasin’Rabbit

Chatterbox

This week I am jazzed to be speaking with Anna and Garret of

coolstuff.nyc

. Their newsletter is one of the first I began reading religiously when they launched it back in February 2020, and if you live in NYC or plan to visit, it’s a must. Every Friday they share the latest and greatest that’s happening in NYC, showcase independent creators, designers, and businesses, and highlight different neighborhoods with the most thoughtful and well-curated guides telling you where to eat, drink, shop and get cultured. If you want to be inspired by their colorful and adventurous lives, do yourself a favor and subscribe. Don’t blame me if you end up wanting to move to NYC because of it!

What are 3-5 items that are always stocked in your home?
Keap Wood Cabin candles, Campari, Caswell Massey Sandalwood bar soap, Maille Whole Grain Old Style Mustard, and Bathing Culture body wash.

Why are you loyal to those brands or products?
We first discovered the Keap Wood Cabin candle while it was burning in the bathroom at June Wine Bar during our first date. We now always have it on hand because it's the aroma of our first date, our wedding, and our home. There's a real soft spot in our house for legacy brands like Maille, Casell and Massey, and Campari. Sometimes you don't mess the classics–as much as we love the label of Brooklyn-based Campari imitators. With that being said, Bathing Culture is one exception to a newer brand that does things right. The castille-base soap lasts way longer than you think and the natural scent goes well with any other fragrance you may wear. 

What was the last thing you bought because it stood out to you on the shelf?
We recently picked up a bottle of Engine Gin. It's an Italian-made dry gin that comes in a tin oil can. That may sound gimicky but the gin is legitimately great. In fact...we're using the last of this bottle to bring a cocktail to a dinner party mere hours after this sentence was written! 

What was the last thing you bought because someone you know recommended it?
Our friend Kaitlin who co-owns Dreamers Supply Co recommended the BEST watercolor paints: the Gansai Tambi watercolors by Kuretake. We love them because the palette is so modern, and the colors are really rich and opaque. 

What was the last thing you bought because of an algorithm?  
We're both pretty good about impulse control and can't seem to think of one! A major factor here is probably that neither one of us use the TikTok app...an Instagram ad is easier to avoid!

Favorite place to shop irl?
Union Market in Park Slope–somehow a seemingly 300-square-foot grocery store has anything you'd ever need. They're always making room on the shelves for new and local brands too. There's also a really great vibe here between the loud free Jazz they play and our favorite cashier, Shakur. 

Favorite place to shop online?
Etsy! There's so much more to Etsy than startup craft businesses these days. We've purchased a handful of good-quality vintage rugs direct from Morocco and Turkey as well as a refurbished typewriter from Amsterdam. The best part about it is that there is a real person on the other end, and sometimes you can even negotiate the price over messages. 

Someone is visiting where you live for a day, what are 3 musts?
• JG Melon 
• The Metropolitan Museum of Art
• A Picnic at either Brooklyn Bridge Park or Prospect Park

Thank you Anna and Garrett!

Packing Peanuts

(Those loose leftover pieces at the bottom of the box)

Naturally Supergoop makes sunscreen specifically for your hands. If hand creams got yearbook superlatives. Hand fillers are a thing (can’t say I’m surprised things have gone this far). Red light therapy gloves seem a bit silly, but probably feel great and are a good tool for people with hand pain. Vogue agrees with my thinking above, hand creams are a status symbol. The internet is mean, don’t come for Kyle’s hands.

If you made it this far, thanks for reading, I love you. If you’re feeling generous or inspired, please forward this newsletter to a friend and encourage them to subscribe too <3

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