Posted by Kristen Hinrichsen
on June 20, 2025
The Art of Gentle Handcare
At the heart of Japanese skincare lies a timeless philosophy: that truly radiant skin comes from working with the skin, not against it. This approach favours gentle yet effective ingredients—those that nourish, hydrate, and protect without overwhelming the skin’s natural balance. Kristen Hinrichsen’s creation of SILKY PAWS is a seamless extension of this ethos, where centuries-old Japanese skincare traditions meet the precision of modern handcare rituals. The result is a formula that honours both science and sensibility, delivering visible results through thoughtful, skin-respecting innovation.
THE BEAUTY NOTES
SILKY PAWS Advanced Age-Defying Hand Cream
While facial skincare often leads the innovation conversation, our hands—constantly exposed and biologically thinner—are one of the earliest places to show visible signs of ageing. SILKY PAWS Advanced Age-Defying Hand Cream is formulated to address this gap with a sophisticated blend of clinically backed actives and time-honored Japanese botanicals. At its core: Kojic Acid from fermented black rice water to visibly brighten and even skin tone, and Resveratrol from Japanese Knotweed to combat oxidative stress and reduce fine lines. Supporting ingredients like Matcha Green Tea, Bakuchi Seed, and Cherry Blossom Extract helps to deliver antioxidant protection, cellular renewal, and barrier restoration for hands that look and feel noticeably smoother, firmer, and more radiant.
In this article, we explore the scientific thinking and skin physiology behind each ingredient—and how they work in synergy to restore youthful resilience to your hands. Plus, we speak directly with Kristen, who shares the inspiration and formulation philosophy behind SILKY PAWS—and why hand care deserves the same scientific rigour and respect as your facial skincare routine.
BEHIND THE STORY
About the Founder
Kristen Hinrichsen is the Founder and driving force behind the brand. With a rich background in skincare marketing management, Kristen’s passion for the industry runs deep. Her creative communications expertise has shaped her career, allowing her to blend innovation with strategy to deliver powerful results.
Outside of her professional achievements, Kristen is a wife and mother to two boys, balancing family life with her career. Originally from Melbourne, she has called Sydney’s lower north shore home for the past 23 years. It is here where Kristen continues to be inspired by the vibrant community and the beauty of her surroundings.
THAT MAGIC MOMENT
What inspired you to begin your skincare journey?
I have an extensive background in skincare marketing and was aware of how much time and money women spend on their face care routine but tend to neglect their hands, which are always exposed to the elements and reveal the true age (after all the hands don’t lie). I want to help women look and feel their best and enable them to elevate their hand care with a noticeably—effective and beautiful to use product.
The inspiration to create the brand SILKY PAWS emerged when I was on maternity leave and found myself constantly washing my hand and noticed how quickly they became dry and distressed and in need of some extra TLC. Fast forward 15 years and the idea incubation has become a reality.
MORE THAN A CREME
What insights about the beauty industry did you already have, and what were you eager to learn as you began building your brand?
I searched everywhere to find a team of PhD Cosmetic Chemist that didn’t try to sell me an off the shelf formulation and were as excited as I was to create an innovative age-defying hand cream that meets the needs of the modern consumer. I wanted to take hand cream beyond a pretty scent in a nice feeling cream to an exceptional and elevated hand care experience that would address the visible signs of ageing – pigmentation, age spots, thinning skin, fine lines and wrinkles, dry, dehydrated skin.
I was aware that the skin’s microbiome (the surface bacteria that keep the skin barrier healthy) naturally declines with age, resulting in the skin losing moisture and becoming more sensitised to environmental stressors, such as UV exposure and extreme weather. My goal was to develop an age-defying hand cream that supported the microbiome, and to explore how this could be achieved with fermented botanical ingredients, and the addition of prebiotics and postbiotics.
I was extremely interested to learn more about the fermentation process, which enhances the bioavailability of nutrients, making them more potent and easily absorbed.
THE PERFORMANCE FACTOR
What does beauty mean to you at its core?
Skincare should be as much about performance as it is about the sensorial experience and enjoyment in applying and wearing the product. It is a form of selfcare and boosts self-esteem, looking after oneself pays dividends beyond just the aesthetics.
Choosing skincare that works for your skin and makes you feel good is an investment in your overall wellbeing and should be encouraged at any age.
A JAPANESE BEAUTY TECHNIQUE
Can you share some of your personal beauty techniques that you include in your daily routine?
Never rub, always pat! I have thin, fine skin and must be gentle with my face care routine. I have always loved gently patting and pressing in my serums and moisturising creams and noticed that it makes my face look more relaxed and radiant afterwards. I have recently discovered that it is a skincare technique traditionally used by the Japanese to avoid pulling or dragging the skin. It also helps to increase the blood circulation and helps the product absorb more deeply into the skin.
TRADITION MEETS INNOVATION
Inspired by the wisdom of Japanese skincare, which ingredients first sparked your interest in creating formulations that enhance the skin’s natural beauty?
I have long been fascinated by the ancient tradition of sake making in Japan, and the observation that the sake-masters who regularly handled the fermented rice, had soft and youthful looking hands, because of the kojic acid and other skin caring properties created by the fermentation process.
I really love the fusion of tradition and innovation in skincare formulating and what can be created using fermented botanicals to achieve the optimal product experience. The Japanese holistic approach to skincare that integrates wellness, mindfulness and natural ingredients strongly resonates with me, and seems like a panacea for a busy lifestyle and popular culture.
CAPTURING THE ESSENCE
If you had to describe your hand crème in just a few sentences, how would you capture its essence?
SILKY PAWS is a luxurious age-defying hand cream to address the visible sign of ageing, similar to active face care but especially for your hands.
Inspired by ancient Japanese skincare traditions, it is expertly formulated with a potent blend of active and fermented botanicals and antioxidants, ceramides and prebiotics to revitalise and visibly diminish age spots and pigmentation, and strengthen the skins natural barrier, for silky smooth, younger-looking hands.
With a gently uplifting tangelo, lavender, rosemary and cedarwood scent, and an elegant airless pump bottle for easy application.
BEAUTY INDUSTRY INSIGHTS
What insights did you gain from working with PhD cosmetic chemists while developing your products?
I gained a greater appreciation of the synergistic benefit of combining ingredients and at different concentrations to reach the desired outcome. I was interested to learn just how expensive active ingredients are, and that they usually have a natural colour.
What have been the biggest challenges you’ve faced as a start-up in the beauty space?
It is an incredibly busy and prolific market with very high levels of investment from the major players, cutting through the clutter is the greatest challenge.
What advice would you give someone looking to bring a beauty idea to life?
Take time to creating a unique product offering that you 100% believe in, find a memorable brand name and trademark it, and market it with an authentic and enthusiastic energy. Keep your circle of supporters close and add in all the brand fans that you meet along the way, they will buoy you for the bumps along the journey.
BEAUTIFUL BEAUTY TECHNIQUES
Can you share some of your personal beauty techniques that you include in your daily routine? Never rub, always pat! I have thin, fine skin and must be gentle with my face care routine. I have always loved gently patting and pressing in my serums and moisturising creams and noticed that it makes my face look more relaxed and radiant afterwards. I have recently discovered that it is a skincare technique traditionally used by the Japanese to avoid pulling or dragging the skin. It also helps to increase the blood circulation and helps the product absorb more deeply into the skin.
Your go-to beauty routine at home? When I can find a spare 20-30 minutes, my favourite beauty routine is to put on an anti-ageing face mask, listen to a meditation and lie on my infrared mat (and hope to not be interrupted). Of course, my hands are slathered in SILKY PAWS.
Your must-have beauty treatment? I have been using YSL Touche Eclat Concealer every day for as long as I can remember.
Your signature Fragrance? My everyday fragrance is Issey Miyake original. I discovered my special occasion fragrance, when I spent hours in the Patagonia (Est 1833) store in Ginza, Tokyo and found the most divine scent called ‘Fueguia – Aqua Magnoliana’, it is made in limited edition batches of 400 bottles, and is a delicate blend of Jasmine, Magnolia and Sandalwood.
When you travel how do you approach beauty and wellbeing?
Honestly, I pack too much! I try to pack multi-purpose products in light packaging and always include sunscreen and SILKY PAWS.
Who do you admire in the industry and why?
I’m impressed with Trinny Woodall for taking the lead in innovating skin caring cosmetics for women over 40 with an ecommerce platform before it was an established market segment. Her little stackable connecting eye creams and concealer are fabulous and very travel friendly.
This innovative hand creme embodies Japanese tradtion—while at the same time reflects modern skincare needs. To discover more about SILKY PAWS and to purchase their Advanced Age-Defying Hand Cream, visit their official website: silkypaws.com.au