Self-heating hand cream and eye mask from Hakugen

The deeper we get into winter, the more innovative products designed to keep us warm get. Last month we mentioned Kiribai’s “Foot Steam Bath” kits, next up is this cream from Hakugen that promises to warm cold hands and feet, called “Nuru Hokkairo.”

Nuru is Japanese for “to paint” or “to spread” while the word Hokkairo, which originally referred to the pocket hand warmers (like you use when skiing), now generally means any self-warming personal use product.

The heating element is a synthetic mica powder and the moisturizing qualities are courtesy of a combination of hyaluronic acid and ceramide. While the brilliance of this innovation is undeniable, the caution to avoid contact with manicured nails and leather products is a little alarming.

Also, new from Hakugen is this “Hokkairo Eye Pillow.” The pillow, which looks like a typical eye-mask, heats up to an average temperature of 48°C and lasts for about an hour. There is also a small sachet of lavender that slips into a pouch over the bridge of the nose for enhanced relaxation.

Though we prefer the trend towards making re-usable warming products, like Soukai’s microwaveable foot pillow that we covered in the past, it is hard to deny how pleasant an afternoon nap the Hokkairo Eye Pillow seems to provide.

UPDATE: Of course, we don’t recommend the no-hands, eye-covered, relaxing Sunday drive as shown below…(thanks Zainab!)

Nuru Hokkairo hand warming cream: ¥520 for 30g
Hokkairo Eye Pillow: ¥420 for a pack of 3