“The hand is the epitome of care. It is our partner, our eye, our identity. It is both powerful and delicate. The hand makes, creates, gives life. It is also symbolic of our relationship with others,” shares Hermès‘ artistic director, Pierre-Alexis Dumas, on the inspiration behind the house’s new collection of nail polishes and hand care items: Les Mains Hermès.
“We are the house of hands. The hand is a supremely civilising influence that transforms us and connects us to each other,” says Dumas.
Featuring a set of nail files, a complete hand care cream, nourishing oil for cuticles and nails, protective base and top coats alongside a veritable rainbow of nail enamels, Les Mains Hermès comes as a follow up to the successful lipstick and blush collections, known as Rouge Hermès and Rose Hermès, respectively.
Zooming in on what we’re most excited about: Hermès’ nail enamel, which comes in 24 shades is inspired by the colours, nuances, intensity, and radiance of enamel. Twenty-four of course, takes after the emblematic 24 Faubourg Saint-Honoré, Hermès’ address in Paris since 1880. With a formula composed of 71 per cent of ingredients of natural origin, these pops of pure colour bring nails to life.
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The Hermès touch: Meet Pantone 16-1448 aka Hermès Orange Boîte
Care and beauty, handicraft and workmanship: Codes of the house shine through when it comes to the launch of this quintessentially Hermès line. At Hermès, craftsmen caress with their eyes and perceive with their hands. Known for their expertise in a range of métiers or skills—from enamelling to silk printing to leathergoods—they are guided by the sense of touch, running their fingertips over their work to detect imperfections to ensure that Hermès leathers are smooth and soft as silk.
Other heritage hues include Rouge H, more on that below, and Brun Bistre, the deep earthy brown that forms the finesse of each orange box.
Les Mains Hermès Nail Polish in Orange Boîte, $74, available at Hermès
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Hermès Nail Files
Shape your nails to perfection with these nail files made in sustainably sourced poplar wood. Use the beige side to file the nail to its desired shape and size, and the orange side, with a finer grain, to smooth and perfect the manicure.
Les Mains Hermès Nail Files, $58 for 12 per box, available at Hermès
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Les Mains Hermès Complete Hand Care Cream
The Complete Hand Care Cream is the first care product by Hermès. Rich in skin rejuvenating actives, this pampering daily use cream envelopes parched skin in a balm-like texture. Formulated with aeroponically-grown white mulberry extract and shea butter, it penetrates quickly into the skin leaving no greasy residue. To make this pampering treat extra sensorial, Hermès called on its in-house perfumer, maestro of fragrance, Christine Nagel to compose its therapeutic scent. Notes of elegant sandalwood, arnica, fresh rosewater and sensual notes of patchouli captivate and soothe the senses.
Les Mains Hermès Complete Hand Care Cream, $185 for 100ml, available at Hermès
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Les Mains Hermès Nail and Cuticle Oil
Frequent hand washing and sanitisation, dirt, pollution and UV exposure accelerate skin ageing—yes, even right to the cuticles which may find themselves cracked, split or extra dehydrated. Les Mains Hermès Nail and Cuticle Oil helps to protect the cuticles, nail beds and nails from such aggressors through the combined action of five oils. The formula blends the mastic resin with white mulberry extract and vitamin E to nourish, hydrate and strengthen the nails and surrounding skin. It penetrates to soften and moisturise the cuticles, priming them for the next step of your hand ritual: the nail polish, if you wish.
Les Mains Hermès Nail and Cuticle Oil, $79, available at Hermès
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Les Mains Hermès Enamel Base Coat
Base and top coats draw from the Hermès’ expertise in enamelling, a métier in which glazing and the art of colour and radiance result from true alchemy. On a more practical note, the base coat primes the nail to receive and hold the nail polish for a flawless finish every time. The top coat, the long-lasting, high-gloss finale to the manicure, enhances the colour of the nail polish and lends dimensionality to the nail.
Les Mains Hermès Enamel Base Coat, $74, available at Hermès. The Top Coat sold separately, at $74.
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Les Mains Hermès Nail Enamel in Rouge H
As any insider of the house knows, aside from the instantly iconic orange hue, there’s Rouge H, a specific shade of burnished red that’s been used on Hermès leathers since 1925.
Les Mains Hermès Nail Enamel in Rouge H, $74, available at Hermès
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Les Mains Hermès Nail Enamel in Vert Ecossais
Les Mains Hermès Nail Enamel in Vert Ecossais, $74, available at Hermès
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Les Mains Hermès Nail Enamel in Bleu Encre
Les Mains Hermès Nail Enamel in Bleu Encre, $74, available at Hermès
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Les Mains Hermès Nail Enamel in Rose Tamise
Les Mains Hermès Nail Enamel in Rose Tamise, $74, available at Hermès
Les Mains Hermès is available at Hermès Liat Towers, Hermès Marina Bay Sands, Hermès Takashimaya, Takashimaya Department Store, Tangs Department Store and Hermes.com.
