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To The Test:
L'Occitane...
Spring is in the air and now is the best time to start prepping for the warm weather. The grrls at L'Occitane sent us a few things to get the happygrrls showing off our radiant skin for the next season. And believe me, we were more than happy to try them out because nothing says decadence like the products from L'Occitane. Even their website is beautiful.Hand Cream
L'Occitane's famous Hand Cream is our number-one selling product... and for very good reason. Enriched with 20% Shea Butter, this super-creamy balm in a take-it-everywhere tube quickly penetrates to protect, nourish and regenerate the skin. Blending ingredients such as Sweet Almond oil, Honey extract and Coconut oil, this is the ultimate for soft, supple, moisturized hands.
For months my hands were taking a beating by the harsh wind-chilled temperatures. My skin was dry, cracked-basically not very feminine looking. And by some great miracle, I received a scrumptious box of goodies from L'Occitane.
I ripped open the box and jumped for joy when I saw that big silver tube of hand cream that would solve my yucky hand problem. I squeezed some of the ultra-thick cream into my hands and kissed my ugly hands goodbye.
For anyone like me who has really, really dry hands, this is the hand cream for you. It smells nice (a faint scent of shea butter), but most of all, it gives you the hydration that your skin is lacking. The beauty of Shea Butter is that it nourishes the skin while softening it as well.
This product is a lifesaver. If your hands need some pampering, I suggest you pick this up. Michelle
Natural Shea Butter
This buttery-emollient appears here in its purest form. A tiny but powerful ingredient, it is retrieved from the fruit of the Shea tree found exclusively in Africa. Its earthly benefits include protecting, nourishing, moisturizing and replenishing dry and sensitive skin. This container is ideal for heavy-duty jobs such as pampering deprived feet, knees and elbows.
Since I didn't want to hog all the goodies that were sent to us, I let my sister try the 100% Shea butter that I unfortunately told her I received. Just kidding, Shari!!
It comes in a tiny, cute silver tin and has the consistency of a lip balm. When you rub it in the palm of your hands it will warm it up, and you can place it on any area that needs special attention - elbows, knees, and hands.
My sister loved that it wasn't greasy, and that it had virtually no scent at all. She told me that this product has yet to leave her purse.
If your skin needs some moisture, try a few products from L'Occitane. Michelle
Foot Cream
A must-have L'Occitane favorite, this soft, silky cream, formulated with 15% Shea Butter, deeply penetrates to moisturize the skin. Lavender essential oil soothes and deodorizes, while the anti-inflammatory properties of Arnica bring relief to tired, achy feet.
As someone who would list "feet" as the least desirable body part on a human body, it is no wonder that they are probably the most neglected part of my body. I know there are people who would disagree with my aversion to feet, and even those who have a weird fetish for them, but we will just leave that debate for another time. My neurosis with feet runs so rampant that I would rather not type the word "feet" so many times in one article.
The other day Michelle, who I seriously think is starting to worry about my neglect for all things "girly," plopped a nondescript brown box in front of me. "It's for your feet," she explained as I sniffed the box. "Oh," I replied.
At home, I perused the outside of the box looking for instructions, and ready to bolt had they involved anything beyond "rinse and repeat." Using both hands, apply cream with circular-massaging motions to the feet, the box told me. Ah. That, I could do. The box also told me that the foot cream was made in France. Ooh, fancy.
After a couple of weeks of more neglect, I looked down to realize that I hadn't seen my feet in days. What was going on down there? I decided to whip out the brown box and finally take care of something that had been supporting me for decades, for better or for worse. So, on an average Wednesday night, I plopped myself down on the couch and whipped out the L'Occitane foot cream for dry skin. The packaging - a silver container with a screw-on cap - was really pretty. As you can probably surmise, I like shiny things.
The first thing you might notice about the foot cream is its invigorating peppermint smell, which lingers on the nose but doesn't overwhelm. The cream itself is comprised of Shea butter, arnica, and lavender oils. (Arnica, if you're wondering, is a plant extract that is often used to reduce the pain and inflammation of bruises and sprains.) The cream itself glides on quite effortlessly, and is water-based so there are no oily globs to contend with.
My biggest concern with any leave-in foot cream is its absorption rate; specifically, how long do I have to wait before I'm not slipping and sliding around in my bare feet? Although I was plan-free for the night, I still would have rather spent my time doing something more productive than elevating my feet, waiting for the cream to evaporate. I was a little skeptical with L'Occitane, but I applied a healthy helping of cream to my hands and began rubbing and massaging.
The cream pleasantly tingled as I applied more, as if my feet were weeping with relief. The fragrant peppermint smell wafted through my living room as I pampered my feet. And yes, even after weeks of wear and tear, my feet felt rejuvenated and refreshed. I waited for the balm to set in, and after five minutes, my feet were as dry as toast. After an hour, I gingerly touched my feet, and they were still soft and smooth. The L'Occitane foot cream definitely has staying power.
I was very pleased with the results of L'Occitane's foot cream. The ointment has such a great, revitalizing smell, and the ingredients really work well together to relieve dry, tired feet. L'Occitane is currently selling this amazing ointment for $28.00 CDN a pop, but for 150 ml of magic (and trust me, that's a lot of magic), it's worth it. Whether you're a looking for some sporadic pampering, or want a good, solid foot cream for every day use, look to L'Occitane for some respite. C.Ho.