Moisturizing to "Correct" Dry Leather or "Remove" Veins

hipnycmom · Dec 28th, 2007, 08:47 PM

Happy Holidays everyone!

I had a few heart-stopping moments yesterday and thought I should share them with you.
As some of you know, I got an 05 caramel twiggy last month. It has always been a big color on my wishlist and I felt really lucky to have found it. There were some areas of the bag that were pretty dry though and it was faded in some spots. I've treated it a few times with Apple Care lotion, particularly on the top panels surrounding the main zipper, but wasn't happy with the effect at all. Yesterday I decided to bite the bullet and try Lubriderm

I know there's been talk of using lubriderm on b-bags in this forum, but I am not one to apply things on my bags just because.
Anyway, I must say the results are a very pleasant shock

HOWEVER I am not recommending that you try this on your own B-bags as the procedure isn't risk-free and it would be sad to lose a B-bag to an experiment.

Ufortunately, I don't have good "before" pictures because I didn't want to document my stupidity and have something to cry over later on... I do have the original pics I took though, and some "after" shots.

Step 1: Bought some Lubriderm. Hard to find here - I could only get Lubriderm Skin Nourishing Lotion with Shea and Cocoa Butters, so that's what I used.

Step 2: I applied Lubriderm on my hands, warmed/spread it out, then massaged it into my B-bag (while holding my breath and cursing myself at the same time). I did this ALL OVER

Step 3: Registered SHOCK as my bag turned DARK AND DULL everywhere. Took a deep breath and decided to even out the color with more Lubriderm (what can I say? I'm nuts)

Step 4: Waited and prayed. I put the bag away to dry (Where I would't see it - I was experiencing some real regret at this point)

Step 5: Checked on the bag after a couple of hours and VOILA! The color had evened out nicely!

Step 6: Took the bag outside and sprayed Apple Gard ALL OVER. Left the bag to dry overnight.

Step 7:

when I realized that my bag now has the perfect Caramel color all over, and is a lot smooshier than when I first got her!! The AG seemed to have restored the shine as well.

Step 8: Breathe a sigh of relief and promise to NEVER EVER try this again!!!

hipnycmom · Dec 28th, 2007, 09:11 PM

1) Before
2) After

hipnycmom · Dec 28th, 2007, 09:23 PM

first 2 are Before pics, next 2 are After.
The color didn't really change - it just evened out nicely so that all the pale areas are now gone. The distressing still shows through but the leather now feels thicker and softer.

hipnycmom · Dec 28th, 2007, 09:31 PM

More AFTER Pics:)

am2882 · Dec 28th, 2007, 09:35 PM

Beautiful! What a scary experience! Great thread, thanks for posting the info

Antonia · Dec 28th, 2007, 09:41 PM

Boy, there are some brave women on this forum!! Glad that it worked out for you! :)

JadeLeaves · Dec 28th, 2007, 09:50 PM

OOohh you're brave! It's great that the lubriderm didn't take away the shine!

hipnycmom · Dec 28th, 2007, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by am2882

Beautiful! What a scary experience! Great thread, thanks for posting the info

You have no idea how crazy I felt doing this. And to my HG bag! Well, now I am really happy so I can say the fear was totally worth it!

And I have softer hands to boot:)

ladybugfreckle · Dec 28th, 2007, 10:11 PM

You definitely have guts! I probably would have panicked half way through and would have decided a half and half bag is okay. Your bag is 100% gorgeous!

girlygirl3 · Dec 28th, 2007, 10:22 PM

Great job! Thanks for sharing your experiment! I use lubriderm with good results but my bags are darker. Your bags are positively yummy!

sunny07 · Dec 28th, 2007, 10:50 PM

Oh great job! You're a brave one too!

I have a bottle of lubriderm that I purchased specifically for bbags sitting on my shelf, but haven't used it yet. I find these before and after threads so helpful- thanks for sharing.

hipnycmom · Dec 28th, 2007, 11:05 PM

^^ For the most part I leave my bags untreated but this was one I just had to try it on. And I really am just sharing this for those who want the infformation. It comes with a huge DISCLAIMER

DO NOT TRY THIS UNLESS YOU'RE WILLING AND READY TO ACCEPT UNSATISFACTORY RESULTS

I would be a little too terrified to slather body lotion an already perfect B-bag

lovemyangels · Dec 28th, 2007, 11:37 PM

What a great result! I admire your bravery! Now the twiggy is such a beauty!

jo_ee · Dec 29th, 2007, 12:44 AM

Phew, am glad it turned out well!

amcf58 · Dec 29th, 2007, 01:21 AM

What was it about the apple care lotion that you didn't like? And, did you clean it before jumping into the lubriderm experiment? I've got a bag in need of tlc and am trying to decide what I want to do. Thanks -

Dec 28th, 2007, 09:50 PM	#7
JadeLeaves apathetic solipsist Joined: Jan 2006 Location: Singapore --> Melbourne, Australia Posts: 1,318	OOohh you're brave! It's great that the lubriderm didn't take away the shine! __________________ .:. If time were a series of events subjected to cause and effect that span out into a myriad of possibilities could we — should we — still begin anywhere? .:.

Dec 28th, 2007, 10:11 PM	#9
ladybugfreckle one is never enough Joined: Jul 2007 Location: denver bound Posts: 1,495	You definitely have guts! I probably would have panicked half way through and would have decided a half and half bag is okay. Your bag is 100% gorgeous! __________________ on the lookout for: blue india first plomb day

Dec 28th, 2007, 10:22 PM	#10
girlygirl3 Member Joined: Apr 2007 Location: NYC Posts: 759	Great job! Thanks for sharing your experiment! I use lubriderm with good results but my bags are darker. Your bags are positively yummy! __________________ In my collection: Andrea Brueckner, Balenciaga, Cole Haan, Fendi, Ferragamo, Gryson, Gucci, Longchamps, Miu Miu, Prada, Tod's, Tracy Reese, YSL

Dec 28th, 2007, 08:47 PM	#1
hipnycmom Member Joined: Feb 2007 Location: Asia Posts: 1,623	Happy Holidays everyone! I had a few heart-stopping moments yesterday and thought I should share them with you. As some of you know, I got an 05 caramel twiggy last month. It has always been a big color on my wishlist and I felt really lucky to have found it. There were some areas of the bag that were pretty dry though and it was faded in some spots. I've treated it a few times with Apple Care lotion, particularly on the top panels surrounding the main zipper, but wasn't happy with the effect at all. Yesterday I decided to bite the bullet and try Lubriderm I know there's been talk of using lubriderm on b-bags in this forum, but I am not one to apply things on my bags just because. Anyway, I must say the results are a very pleasant shock HOWEVER I am not recommending that you try this on your own B-bags as the procedure isn't risk-free and it would be sad to lose a B-bag to an experiment. Ufortunately, I don't have good "before" pictures because I didn't want to document my stupidity and have something to cry over later on... I do have the original pics I took though, and some "after" shots. Step 1: Bought some Lubriderm. Hard to find here - I could only get Lubriderm Skin Nourishing Lotion with Shea and Cocoa Butters, so that's what I used. Step 2: I applied Lubriderm on my hands, warmed/spread it out, then massaged it into my B-bag (while holding my breath and cursing myself at the same time). I did this ALL OVER Step 3: Registered SHOCK as my bag turned DARK AND DULL everywhere. Took a deep breath and decided to even out the color with more Lubriderm (what can I say? I'm nuts) Step 4: Waited and prayed. I put the bag away to dry (Where I would't see it - I was experiencing some real regret at this point) Step 5: Checked on the bag after a couple of hours and VOILA! The color had evened out nicely! Step 6: Took the bag outside and sprayed Apple Gard ALL OVER. Left the bag to dry overnight. Step 7: when I realized that my bag now has the perfect Caramel color all over, and is a lot smooshier than when I first got her!! The AG seemed to have restored the shine as well. Step 8: Breathe a sigh of relief and promise to NEVER EVER try this again!!!

Dec 28th, 2007, 09:35 PM	#5
am2882 Member Joined: May 2007 Location: Warwick, RI Posts: 185	Beautiful! What a scary experience! Great thread, thanks for posting the info

Dec 28th, 2007, 09:41 PM	#6
Antonia Member Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 2,674	Boy, there are some brave women on this forum!! Glad that it worked out for you! :)

Dec 28th, 2007, 10:50 PM	#11
sunny07 Member Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 1,263	Oh great job! You're a brave one too! I have a bottle of lubriderm that I purchased specifically for bbags sitting on my shelf, but haven't used it yet. I find these before and after threads so helpful- thanks for sharing.

Dec 28th, 2007, 11:05 PM	#12
hipnycmom Member Joined: Feb 2007 Location: Asia Posts: 1,623	^^ For the most part I leave my bags untreated but this was one I just had to try it on. And I really am just sharing this for those who want the infformation. It comes with a huge DISCLAIMER DO NOT TRY THIS UNLESS YOU'RE WILLING AND READY TO ACCEPT UNSATISFACTORY RESULTS I would be a little too terrified to slather body lotion an already perfect B-bag

Dec 28th, 2007, 11:37 PM	#13
lovemyangels Member Joined: May 2007 Posts: 556	What a great result! I admire your bravery! Now the twiggy is such a beauty!

Dec 29th, 2007, 12:44 AM	#14
jo_ee Member Joined: Sep 2007 Location: Perth/SG Posts: 1,760	Phew, am glad it turned out well!

Dec 29th, 2007, 01:21 AM	#15
amcf58 Member Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 225	What was it about the apple care lotion that you didn't like? And, did you clean it before jumping into the lubriderm experiment? I've got a bag in need of tlc and am trying to decide what I want to do. Thanks -