The Standing Ovation: A Deep Dive into Lagom's Hand Cream Trilogy**

Hello, everyone! I'm absolutely buzzing with excitement today! I'm trying out a new standing setup for my blog, and honestly, I'm loving it. Sitting down always makes me feel a bit stiff and formal, but standing? It's like a whole new level of energy and connection. I feel so much more natural, more me. So, yeah, this might be a permanent change. We'll see how it goes!

But enough about my little studio experiment. We're here to talk about something far more important: hand creams! Specifically, three hand creams from the ever-innovative Korean skincare brand, Lagom. They've sent me their entire hand cream line to review, and I'm ready to share all my thoughts and feelings with you. These three creams share the same base formula, the same core ingredients, with one key difference: the fragrance. Two are scented, one is unscented, and each offers a unique sensory experience. So, without further ado, let's dive into the world of Lagom hand creams!

For those who are new here, hi! I'm Ray, and you can find me on all the usual social media platforms. My skin type is a bit of a rollercoaster – oily, sensitive, reactive, dehydrated, and sometimes even combination, depending on the season. It's a wild ride, but it's taught me a lot about skincare, and I'm always eager to share my knowledge.

I recently reviewed Lagom's latest skincare releases (definitely check those out if you haven't already!), and earlier this year, I reached out to them about trying something a little different: their hand cream line. I bet many of you didn't even know Lagom made hand creams, did you? Well, they do! And they generously sent me all three to try. They also threw in their new Airy Velvet Sun Stick, which I'll be reviewing separately soon. But for now, let's focus on these luxurious hand creams.

My goal here is to provide honest, in-depth reviews so you can shop with confidence. Everything I share comes from my personal experience using these products. So, let's get started!

Let's begin with the Lagom Marine Breeze Hand Cream. This cream boasts a blend of nourishing ingredients, including three different types of vegetable oils, third-generation fermented sugarcane squalane (how fancy is that?!), niacinamide (a skincare superstar), shea butter (a classic for a reason), and panthenol (a soothing and hydrating wonder). These ingredients promise a hydrating and protective experience, and I was eager to see how they performed.

Now, let's talk scent. Lagom describes the top note as "marine and green." Honestly, I was a little confused by this. What exactly does "marine" smell like? And "green"? Come on, Lagom, be a little more specific! Thankfully, the middle note is listed as iris aromatic, which is a bit more descriptive. But the base notes are where my interest truly piqued. Sandalwood, vetiver, and cedarwood – these are some of my absolute favorite fragrance notes, and I was excited to see how they played out in this hand cream.

The hand cream comes in a 30ml twist-off cap tube, similar to a sunscreen bottle. I have to admit, 30ml feels a bit stingy. Most hand creams these days are at least 40 or 50ml, so this felt a little small.

Texture-wise, the Marine Breeze cream is opaque and creamy, not gel-like. It spreads easily and absorbs quickly, leaving no greasy residue. The initial scent is definitely…marine. It reminds me a bit of Nautica cologne, if you're looking for a Western comparison. I personally love marine scents in the summer, so this is something I'd definitely carry around during the warmer months.

While it feels moisturizing, I don't think this cream would be enough for truly dry or dehydrated hands. My hands tend to be quite dry, the opposite of my oily face, and this didn't feel as intensely nourishing as some other hand creams I've tried. However, the scent? Chef's kiss.

The marine top note lingers for about five minutes before the middle note of iris starts to emerge. To be honest, I didn't really detect the iris. But the base notes? They are dominant and divine. The combination of sandalwood, cedarwood, and vetiver is absolutely captivating. While I initially thought this was a summer scent because of the marine top note, the warm base notes make it surprisingly suitable for autumn and winter as well.

Overall, my first impression of the Marine Breeze Hand Cream is positive. It's nourishing, non-greasy, and not overpowering. It's definitely a lighter cream, so if you prefer something thicker, this might not be for you. But the scent? I absolutely adore it. I'd give it an A-. It loses points for not being quite hydrating enough for my dry hands. If this were purely a fragrance hand cream, it would be an A+, but as a functional hand cream, it's more like a B+. The incredible fragrance is what bumps it up to an A-. Even after washing my hands, the scent lingered, which is a testament to its lasting power.

Next up is the Lagom Dark Mist Hand Cream. It shares the same key ingredients as Marine Breeze, so let's skip straight to the scent. I had peeked at the fragrance notes earlier, and I was very intrigued by this one.

The top notes are bergamot, fig, and cassis. They had me at bergamot! The middle notes are clary sage and lavender. This is where they lost me a little. Lavender isn't really my thing. But it's a middle note, so I hoped it wouldn't be too overpowering. The base notes are amber, musk, and patchouli. Lagom, were you reading my mind? This combination is right up my alley!

The packaging and texture are identical to Marine Breeze – a 30ml tube with a creamy, non-greasy formula that absorbs nicely. The bergamot and fig definitely come through first. Thankfully, I didn't really smell the lavender. Then, the clary sage emerged. However, the base notes were much more subtle than in Marine Breeze, and not as masculine. Marine Breeze has a definite cologne-like quality, while Dark Mist is more neutral, neither distinctly feminine nor masculine.

Unfortunately, the base notes didn't really jump out at me. I wasn't getting much amber, musk, or patchouli, mostly just the top notes, which was a bit strange. After a while, the patchouli and amber finally made an appearance, but the musk remained elusive, which was disappointing.

Overall, Dark Mist was a bit of a letdown. The fragrance isn't as strong or memorable as Marine Breeze. The functionality is the same, of course, since it's the same formula. But the scent just didn't wow me. While Marine Breeze still lingered in the air, Dark Mist had already faded. It felt like a missed opportunity. "Dark Mist" is such a cool, evocative name, so much more intriguing than "Marine Breeze." Marine Breeze gives "Sandra at the beach in July" vibes. Dark Mist gives "Stella at the club" vibes. But the actual fragrance is more like "Sandra's cousin visiting but not making it to the beach." Lagom, please revisit this one! It has so much potential, but the fragrance just isn't memorable. I'd give it a C-, maybe a D+. It's just not for me.

Finally, we have the Lagom Egosphere Hand Cream. This one is significant because Lagom prides itself on its fragrances, which, as I've mentioned, aren't always my cup of tea. They often feel a bit "too much." But Egosphere is different. It's scentless, unscented, fragrance-free. I was excited to experience the hand cream for what it is, without any fragrance interference.

It has the same key ingredients as the other two creams. Lagom's website describes it as "harmonizing effortlessly anywhere, allowing you to fully focus on yourself, embodying your own charm, blending seamlessly with seasons, places, and spaces." Basically, they chose not to add a fragrance, allowing the user to experience the cream in its purest form.

And the packaging? Black. So chic, so sophisticated. Compared to the white tubes of the other two, this one exudes class, demureness, and mindfulness. I love it! Lagom should definitely explore more black packaging. It catches the light beautifully.

As expected, it's completely scentless. Just a regular hand cream. Nothing extraordinary. Without a fragrance, I wondered who the target audience for this cream would be. People who don't like fragrance, I suppose. People who are sensitive to scents, or who work with babies, pets, or in environments where fragrance isn't allowed. I understand that there's definitely a market for unscented hand creams.

I appreciate the lightweight finish, especially compared to some balmier unscented hand creams I've tried. Egosphere is a great option for those who can't or prefer not to use fragrance. But personally? I'd go for Marine Breeze. I love a good scent in my hand creams. Face products are debatable, but hand creams? It's a chance to have fun, to play with scents without worrying about irritating my eyes.

I see Lagom's vision, though. They're trying to offer variety, options for everyone. If you don't like fragrance, Egosphere is your safe bet. If you want a subtle scent, Dark Mist (though I wasn't personally impressed). And if you want a scent that projects, a scent that people will notice, Marine Breeze is the clear winner. The scent strength goes Egosphere, Dark Mist, Marine Breeze.

So, there you have it! My in-depth review of Lagom's hand cream trilogy. I hope this helps you decide which one might be right for you. Let me know in the comments which hand cream you're currently using, and which of these Lagom hand creams you think would suit you best! I'd love to hear your thoughts. Until next time, stay hydrated, be kind to yourself, and keep your hands happy!