We spend hundreds of dollars on serums, peels, and LED red-light masks for our faces, but for most of us, our skincare routine stops abruptly at the jawline. While I felt good about the skincare routine I had for my face (full-routine here), at 35, I realized I was neglecting the areas that actually show age the fastest: my neck and my hands.
I found Soft Services the way I find most of my favorite high-performance brands: through a deep-dive search. I was specifically searching for high percentage retinol for the body and comparing brands by their active ingredient concentrations.
My philosophy is that even if you don’t go with Soft Services, if you’re looking for value for your money, you have to look at the potency. If a brand doesn’t disclose the percentage of retinol, it’s likely too low to make a clinical difference. I wanted the biggest bang for my buck, and Soft Services stood out because they are incredibly transparent about their formulas. I’ve been using their products since March 2024, and here is how they fit into my preventative anti-aging routine.
Everything We’re Covering
The Strategy: Why I Switched to a Retinol Hand Treatment
It’s a common skincare hack to drag your leftovers from your face routine down to your neck. While that’s better than nothing, the skin on our hands and neck is actually thinner and has fewer oil glands than our face, making it more prone to “creping” and sun spots.
I started this journey because I wanted to be proactive, I wanted a brand that treated body care with the same clinical intensity as facial skincare.
My hands in March 2024 (Left) vs. today (Right). While I’m 35 and in the preventative stage, the biggest difference I’ve noticed is in the hydration levels and the smoothness of my cuticles.
Soft Services Software Update: The 0.25% Retinol Powerhouse
The standout for me was the Software Update Performance Retinol Serum. At 0.25% pure retinol, this is a very high concentration for a body product.
I’ve been using this primarily on my neck and my knees, areas I’ve noticed are more prone to showing signs of aging. Interestingly, even though I use a strong retinol on my face every night, I did experience some slight irritation on my neck and knees with this formula. It’s a good reminder that the skin on our body reacts differently and you should ease into it. While I’m not seeing a massive change in my skin’s appearance yet, the texture feels significantly smoother.
Theraplush Overnight Repair: My Review of the Cult-Favorite Hand Cream
Then there is the Theraplush hand cream. I’ll be honest, the packaging is what catches your eye first. When I started in March 2024, they only had the signature yellow case, but they’ve since expanded to other colors like teal and blue.
This is a dedicated retinol hand treatment containing 0.05% retinol, designed specifically for the thinner skin on your hands. I apply this once a night before bed as part of my overnight repair ritual. I’ve noticed a significant improvement in my cuticles, which usually get very dry.
- The Price Breakdown: The initial investment is $62 for the case and the product, but the refills are only $36. For a high-potency treatment you only use once a day, I find the refill price to be a pretty good deal. It lasts about 6 weeks.
- The Scent: I opted for the unscented version. I find that heavily scented lotions can be too overpowering when you’re trying to go to sleep, so I appreciate that they offer an effective fragrance-free option.
Carea Cream: My Thoughts on the Daily Toning Lotion
I also tried the Carea Cream, which is their daily softening lotion. This one was just okay for me. While it uses 10% Urea to help chemically exfoliate and soften the skin, I didn’t love the texture. At night, it felt like it left a bit of a residue on my skin, almost a “tackiness” that I could feel against my sheets or when wearing shorts. If you have extremely dry skin or keratosis pilaris (KP), you might love this, but for me, it didn’t have that soak-in feel I prefer. To be honest though, I’d found it really hard to find a body lotion that doesn’t leave a residue-like feeling.
A Note on SPF: Protecting Your Progress
If you are going to invest in body retinol, you must be diligent about SPF. Retinol makes your skin more sensitive to the sun, and you don’t want to undo all your hard work.
I’ve learned this the hard way on ski trips. I’ll be on the lift, take my gloves off when it’s sunny and warm, and end up with a hand sunburn by the end of the day. Now, I make sure to carry a dedicated hand SPF. The Supergoop Hand Screen is a popular choice, but any high-quality SPF works. Even if you aren’t using a retinol hand cream, I strongly suggest putting SPF on the tops of your hands every morning to prevent premature aging.
Final Verdict: Is Soft Services Worth It?
If you’re someone like me who is focused on the “long game” of anti-aging, Soft Services is a brand worth looking into. For a non-retinol alternative, I still love Revision Skincare Lumiquin. My dermatologist actually first recommended the Revision brand to me (I swear by their D.E.J Eye Cream), and while Lumiquin is a great brightening, antioxidant-based hand cream, it is definitely greasier than Theraplush.
For my current routine, Soft Services wins for the high-potency retinol and the “clean,” non-greasy feel of the hand treatment. It’s an easy way to close the “skincare gap” and make sure your body is getting the same attention as your face.
