S.W. Basics Cream $32.00 formerly Sprout

I had a lingering love for S.W. Basics of Brooklyn formerly Sprout Skincare for a long time. I wanted to try all of their skincare stuff, but was hesitant because I was using products (and still am) that are working.  Then I had a coupon, and there was a package of all three basic skincare products for sale on Abes, so then I knew I had to go for it.  I had already tried the creme at work and was totally in love.

I love pure shea butter, like no other. I get terribly terribly dry skin all over my body in the winter. It turns into blisters its not pretty, in middle school about 15 years ago, the only thing that would cure it was L’Occitane’s Shea Butter Hand Creme that I would slather on that cured my very dry skin, this started my love affair of shea pretty hard core.

The S.W. Basics Cream is wonderful and a very welcome natural upgrade to my old standby. With only three ingredients including fair trade shea butter, organic coconut oil and organic olive oil, this stuff is super moisturizing. I can’t get over it, and the natural earthy smell , with undertones of coconut (without being summery) is just my favorite. When its very warm (read: my very new HOT apartment) it looses its hard quality and gets more emollient and its a bit greasy on my hands. But it does really sink in, and I mean sink in, not sit on the surface. It actually moisturizes my hands.  But when it is in its more solid state, it is my most favorite creme ever! I love working the harder paste into my hands, for me that is when the creme is at its best.

I have yet to use it on my face or body. My skin is super clear right now so I don’t want to rock the boat, but after moving to a much colder city last week, I feel like my face might get super chapped and I’ll whip this out for sure. I’ll update when I do.

In the package from Abes, I also received the toner and the cleanser. I have yet to use the cleanser as I am waiting to finish my Cleansing Nectar by Fig&Yarrow. But the toner, did not agree with my skin, maybe it was because I was PMSing or because of the stress of moving, but it did not do what I love toners to do which is that “magical enhancement that you can’t put your finger on, but can tell its working thing.” I think its a me thing because my good friend Zoe swears by apple cider vinegar which is one of the only five ingredients in the S.W. Toner, and apple cider vinegar is also in the Fig&Yarrow Cleansing Nectar too, which my skin loves, therefore if you have less sensitive skin I would recommend it for sure.

But the cream, my goodness. A winter staple for sure, this stuff has resurrected my dry peeling hands like no other, even the other hand creams I have reviewed on the Blog. For very dry, deep winter hands, this creme by S.W. Basics totally out performs all other creams.