YB Loves: An Absinthe-Inspired Hand Cream
Each day the editors of Yahoo Beauty are sharing one noteworthy product we feel should be on your radar. From the latest and greatest items that land on our desks to indie products with a cool backstory to the old standbys that have earned a permanent place on our vanities, trust us: you’ll want to check them out.
More than 150 years after the peak of its popularity, the allure of absinthe remains as intriguing and mysterious as ever. Known as la fée verte—the green fairy—the anise-infused spirit was the drink of choice for writers and artists in 19th-century Paris. Absinthe inspired paintings by Manet and Degas; it gave birth to poetry by Rimbaud and Baudelaire. It also was rumored to create hallucinations and even drive people mad, which is why it was banned by 1915.
Related: The beauty benefits of booze
Modern-day distillers revived absinthe a few years ago—turns out it was alcohol itself, not absinthe in particular, that caused problems—and it’s proven popular in craft cocktails. Now, a small brand from Savannah, Georgia, has translated absinthe into a hand and body cream, of all things. Prospector Co.’s Wormwood Absinthium Cream ($10-$16) is a non-greasy blend of shea butter, natural oils, marjoram, patchouli, and wormwood absinthium itself.
It’s soothing and softening, but most importantly, this stuff smells phenomenal. Prospector Co. deems it an “odd aroma,” and the subtle, earthy scent is certainly unusual. It’s herbal and strangely compelling, neither stereotypically masculine nor feminine but surprisingly alluring. Consider it an utterly addictive, indulgent—and affordable—treat for the absinthe-minded.
Available at Barneys New York.
