Reviews · Elizabeth Arden · Skincare
Is Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream worth it? Who it suits, and who should skip it
Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant is a thick, amber-coloured balm that has been on beauty shelves since 1930. People use it for dry patches, chapped lips, rough elbows and cuticles, and make-up artists use it for a glossy finish. This is a research-based guide rather than a hands-on test. It covers what's in it, how to use it and who it's worth it for, using Elizabeth Arden's own product information and retailers' listings.
Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant 30ml
What works
- A multi-purpose balm for dry patches, chapped lips, rough elbows and cuticles
- Made with petrolatum, its main skin-protecting ingredient, plus castor oil and vitamin E
- A little goes a long way, so a small tube lasts
- Make-up artists use it for a glossy sheen on cheekbones, eyelids and lips, and to tame brows
- Around since 1930, and still one of the brand's best-known products
Worth knowing
- The original has a strong herbal scent that some people dislike; Elizabeth Arden also makes a Lightly Scented version
- Contains lanolin and fragrance, so it isn't for anyone allergic to either
- Very rich and occlusive, so it can feel heavy and greasy on oily or blemish-prone skin
- It's a protectant, not an everyday moisturiser: most people use it on specific dry spots rather than all over
Who it's for
It's worth it if you want one balm that handles dry lips, cuticles, elbows and winter dry patches, and if you like a slightly old-school, multi-purpose classic. Skip it if you're sensitive to fragrance or lanolin, or if you want a lightweight cream for your whole face.
Elizabeth Arden created Eight Hour Cream in 1930, and the brand says it was an instant success. The brand's story is that a client gave it its name after using it on her child's grazed knee; it's a good tale, but treat it as brand history rather than evidence.
Its main active ingredient is petrolatum, which the label lists as a skin protectant: it forms a barrier that stops moisture escaping. The ingredient list also includes lanolin, mineral oil, castor oil, vitamin E, a small amount of salicylic acid and fragrance.
It's a multi-tasker. Use a thin layer on dry patches, chapped lips, rough elbows, heels and cuticles. Make-up artists use a touch on cheekbones, eyelids and lips for a glossy finish, or to keep brows in place.
The scent divides people: the original has a distinctive herbal, medicinal smell. If that puts you off, Elizabeth Arden sells a Lightly Scented version. The standard tube is 50ml; the link on this page is for a smaller tube, which makes a good stocking filler and is in my luxury beauty stocking fillers guide.
How this page was written: I haven't tested this cream myself. Everything here comes from Elizabeth Arden's product information and retailers' listings. If I test it, I'll update this page with a hands-on verdict.
The verdict
As a do-everything balm for lips, cuticles, elbows and winter dry patches, it's worth it, and a small tube goes a long way. Choose the Lightly Scented version if the original's herbal scent puts you off, and skip it altogether if you react to fragrance or lanolin or want an everyday face cream.
Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant 30ml
