On the Cheap: Jack Black Hand and Lip Duo

Have you ever been standing in line at Sephora and taken a look in the cute little bins they have lining the queue? Yes, I'm talking about those cubbies full of smaller products you may never have heard of, as well as special travel sizes of many of your faves. It's marketing genius...I can't tell you how many of my truly impulse purchases have taken place due to those bins and a 5-minute wait in line. Well, that's what happened to me recently, and I hit the jackpot when I chose the Jack Black Hand and Lip Duo. For only $12, I solved my hand and lip problems within days. 

Jack Black is a men's skin care line introduced in 2000. The line was developed as a response to what at that time was a void in the marketplace...men's skin care. Jack Black has no association whatsoever with the portly comic--according to the web site, the name was chosen because it "embodies the comfort and approachability of a good friend". So, there you have it: high-quality skin care targeted at men, with no intentional reference to a scraggly actor. Good to know. 

Anyhow, I'd been marginally aware of the Jack Black line for some time, but had honestly given it no real thought. My husband wouldn't be caught dead using skin care, and obviously, being a woman, I felt no need to delve into a men's line. I have plenty on my plate just exploring the 8, 757, 222 women's lines out there. However, I'd heard some rumblings that the lip balm couldn't be beat and I'm always on the lookout for a good hand cream, so when I saw the Hand and Lip Duo I couldn't resist. Are you shocked? 

The Hand and Lip Duo consists of a 2-oz tube of Industrial Strength Hand Healer and a 0.25-oz tube of Intense Therapy Lip Balm. Both are packaged in the trademark blue, black, white and red tubes, which I assume are meant to evoke a feeling of masculinity. The packaging is pleasing to me...colorful, sleek, with clean lines. These are products I have no problem leaving out for others to see, or pulling out of my purse to apply in public if need be. No, they don't give me the satisfaction that, say, my Dior and Chanel lipsticks give me, but they are still aesthetically pleasing. 

As for the products themselves, they're amazing. The Industrial Strength Hand Healer is the absolute bomb. I have horrible hands due to the fact that I work in a kitchen and have to scrub my mitts 30-40 times a day with harsh antibacterial soap. They look old and crepey, and most definitely give away my age. I've been searching forever for something that will soothe and moisturize them and take away that leathery appearance, and this is it. It's a thick cream, but it sinks right in with no greasy feel. It leaves an almost matte finish...it doesn't look as if lotion has just been applied. However, despite the finish, it leaves the backs of my hands soft, supple and plumped. Bye-bye, crepe paper!!! It's also done wonders for my cuticles, which are a mess. 

The Intense Therapy Lip Balm (SPF 25) is a similar feat. It's a fairly thick, mostly petroleum-based product, so if that bothers you...don't go there. However, if you're like me and would be willing to try just about anything to achieve soft, chap-free lips, this one is definitely worth a try. It includes lanolin to soften and sunscreen to protect. It lasts for hours and hours and hours. Even with a balm, I tend to wake up to dry, flaky lips. Not with Jack Black! For the first time in forever, I wake up with soft, smooth, plump lips and don't have to exfoliate before applying lipstick. Score!!

Bottom line: Men be damned, I'm a convert. As soon as I can get to Sephora or Ulta, I plan to stock up for the winter. And for only $12, the Hand and Lip Duo is a great place to start.