Liz Earle Orange Flower Handwash Review: For Fancy Hands

We all know that frequent washing wreaks havoc on hands, so you might think that a nail nut like myself would be very particular about the type of suds she uses for her fingertip ablutions. Up until very recently, though, I was happy enough using whatever decent smelling liquid soap was on offer when we were doing the weekly shop (and if it was a pretty colour that would look good in a glass soap dispenser, it was pretty much guaranteed a place in the trolley.)

That's all changed now that winter has bitten in earnest. When the frosty nights and freezy days arrived and I noticed that my paws felt desiccated after every rinse, I decided that it was time to upgrade our handwashing unctions.

I wanted something free from SLS (sodium laurel sulfate) and SLES (sodium laureth sulfate), the foaming agents that can strip skin of moisture, and that immediately put me in mind of Liz Earle. In keeping with the brand's commitment to using ingredients, their Orange Flower Handwash, from €12, contains corn- and coconut-derived lathering agents together with a veritable orchard of skin-friendly active botanical ingredients. Organic oats and yarrow soothe hands as natural vitamin E and betaine, derived from sugar molasses, moisturise; geranium, lavandin and sweet orange essential oils, meanwhile, ensure that it smells just as good as it treats the skin.

Although it's nicely scented, I found the fragrance a little obvious at first - I can't even say overpowering, but just very there - but I stopped noticing it after a couple of uses. What I haven't stopped noticing is how different my hands feel after using Liz Earle Orange Flower Handwash compared to the supermarket sweep stuff I'd usually use. My hands are noticeably softer and my skin feels far more comfortable Himself has gotten over his initial "wot, no antibacterial handwash?!" freak out and has started quietly using it instead of his lab-grade surfactant.

I'm surprised and delighted at the difference that just switching out my handwash has made to my hands, and while it's several times more expensive than what I was using previously I think it's worth every penny.

Turns out that hands that do dishes can be soft as your face - who knew!