L'Occitance Ultra Rich Face Cream

The last heat wave of the late summer is finally over and I am moving my skincare over to many of the items that I had bought for fall.  I had actually started buying fall skin care early last month but had to go back to summer skin care items with the extended heat wave that occurred.  My skin has definitely realized that the heat and humidity are over and has become much drier than it has been in weeks.  I am slowly switching over to my fall skincare arsenal and decided that I needed to change my night cream before anything else.  I opened up my newest face cream from L'Occitance several nights ago.

The Ultra Rich Face Cream is the first skincare product that I have purchased from this company and so far it is working out quite well.  This face cream is only for dry skin and I would never recommend it for anyone that has any other skin type.  I don't even think that I would be able to use this cream during the day and be able to use makeup over it.  This product hydrates very well but doesn't fully absorb and wouldn't be the best to use during the day.

I ordered this face cream from Sephora.  Sephora gives the following product description, "A luxurious face cream that deeply nourishes and intensely protects dry to very dry skin types.  The Ultra Rich Face Cream is the perfect moisturizer for skin in need of intensive hydration. The formula is exceedingly dense and creamy, although rapidly absorbed without leaving an oily film, and is specially formulated to hydrate, nourish, and protect dry and damaged skin. It has been proven to increase skin hydration for up to 24 hours.  In addition to 25 percent shea butter, the formula is made with wheat and chestnut extracts to strengthen the skin. These extracts are rich in vitamins and minerals, which help to replenish the skin's hydrolipidic film and restore balance to the skin's barrier, defending it against harsh environmental conditions."

The texture of this cream is very rich and creamy, it is more of a balm than an actual cream.  I have to run my finger over the top of this product and pick up the smallest amount possible.  I first tried scooping it out like I would my other face creams but so much product came out that it didn't absorb at all.  Less is definitely more with this face cream and only the smallest bit will absorb in the skin.  This product does not fully absorb into the skin and leaves a bit of a film on the skin, the main reason that I would only use this as a night cream. 

The 25 percent shea butter in this formula hydrates very well but does have a bit of a heavy feeling on the skin.  Again this product is only for dry to very dry skin types.  It reduces some of the redness that is in my skin and helps to keep the moisture in even after I shower in the morning.  The hydrating benefits are great and this is a very good product for those with tight and dry skin.  The more natural ingredients did not irritate my skin and I was very happy with this face cream.

The only way that this face cream could be improved would be to have it absorb better into the skin, I would never be able to use this as a day cream and put primer and foundation on top of it.  As a night cream, it hydrates well and helps to reduce redness due to dry skin.  I am looking forward to trying more face products from this company and more from the shea butter line.

photo courtesy of Sephora