French Week 2010 Day 7 - L'Occitane Shea Body Products

Today is the last day of French Week. So far, we have looked at fine French fragrances and skincare, now today we are finishing by checking out the L'Occitane Shea body products especially their famous hand cream. L'Occitane has long been a Provencal staple and uses many ingredients and formulas that are native to that region. The climate of this region is warm and sunny but also has strong winds (called mistral winds) that blow for a decent amount of the day. This region is based very heavily on agriculture and farming so products needed to be invented that could be used when working outside. The ingredient that proved the most successful against this is shea butter, a fantastic hydrator and skin protector.

The L'Occitane website talks about the fruit's origins in Africa and how it is used all over the world. "The landscape of Burkina Faso is interspersed with majestic karite trees - the source of shea butter. In this region, the hot winds carry dust and fine sand, and can be very drying for your skin. The women of Burkina Faso traditionally protect their skin - and that of their children - against harsh environmental by applying shea butter daily. Organized into cooperatives, they use traditional methods to harvest the fruit of the sacred tree. They extract and dry the nuts, grind them to make a fine paste, and transform the paste into shea butter - a universal and irreplaceable beauty product. This explains why their skin remains so beautiful, supple, and elastic..."

The best selling product in this collection is the Shea Butter Hand Cream. Hands are one of the most affected body products by harsh conditions so it would make sense that if there is one area that needs to be treated the most, this is it. "A super-smoothing - and best selling - synergy of 20% Shea Butter, honey, and sweet almond extract, blended with the light and alluring aromas of jasmine and ylang-ylang essences. Texturally pleasing balm glides on and absorbs to help heal and protect dry or dehydrated skin. Anti-oxidizing Vitamin E helps nourish. Invites the even the most hard-working hands to a fresh beginning."

In addition to the high concentration of Shea Butter in this product, it also contains Marshmellow and Rosemary to aid in the healing and protecting properties of the cream. Marshmellow in used in skin care products to help heal internal and external inflammations. It helps to hydrate and draw the moisture from the air and bring it into the skin. The ingredient also protect the skin from the external elements. Rosemary adds a slightly herbal scent to this product, making it ideal for either gender.

I have tried this product out at Sephora. The texture is thick and creamy. It initially takes a bit of time to work it into the hands but it is well worth the effort. It hydrates very quickly and helped my hands to stay moisturized for the rest of the day. Even after I washed my hands to take off some of the makeup that I was playing with, my hands retained the hydration for the next few hours.

The Shea Butter body product are available in several different forms. I personally want to get the hand cream and the shower cream. I would also get the body lotion and cream for when my skin dries out in the wintertime. The bar soaps are another most wanted items, both for myself and as little gifts around the holidays.

I hope that you all enjoyed this little foray into French beauty and culture. It is now time to get moving on all the new fall collections that are being released as I type this!

photo courtesy of L'Occitance

French Week 2010 Day 6 - Cle de Peau

Today we are going to look at the Cle de Peau skincare line. I have not had the luxury of trying this brand since it is the ultimate in luxury skincare and therefore available nowhere near me. However, I have never read a bad review of any item from this line so I feel confident using it in my latest theme week. My first stop when looking at these products was the Bergdorf Goodman website and their rewrite of the brand.

"As a fusion of the most sophisticated technology and exquisitely refined aesthetics, Cle de Peau Beaute is not just the key to flawless skin - it is transforming experience. First introduced by Shiseido in 1982 and considered the world's first haute couture cosmetics collection, Cle de Peau Beaute is unique in its ability to translate scientific research on skin functionality into products of such pure perfection that they are the very essence of luxury and French refinement". Pure Parisian beauty...

The product that I have decided to look at is La Creme Face Cream, one of the premier products in their line of skincare products. This is one of the best skin creams available on the market today and is one of my most lusted after products.

"La Creme is an exceptionally luxurious revitalizing cream that brings unparalleled age-defying benefits to your complexion overnight. For beauty that endures time, Cle de Peau Beaute has always been committed to scientific advancements that optimize skin's very nature. Three major forces create a superior La Creme: Powerful anti-aging benefits: La Creme is newly formulated with scientifically advanced ingredients that comprehensively diminish the appearance of wrinkles, dark spots, and sagging. Overnight results: Texture, elasticity, and dullness are visibly improved overnight. Skin awakens to remarkable clarity and smoothness. Cutting-edge emulsification technology: A special emulsification technology creates the ultimate texture that not only delivers ingredients more deeply , quickly and effectively, but also enhances tangible benefits.

The Bergdorf website lists the key ingredients of this product. This skin cream is a mixture of some of the best anti-aging ingredients that are know to the skincare community. The first ingredient listed is one that is exclusive to Cle de Peau, 4MSK, which is a superior brightening ingredient that works to inhibit melanin activation. Retinol ACE improves skin's ability to counteract wrinkles. W-TC Complex is able to improve skin's epidermal cell metabolism. Cornflower (Centaurea Cyanus) Extract promotes the production of the protein that is the main component of the basement membrance. Wintergreen (Pyrola Incarnate) Extracts prevents damage to the basement membrane. Chai Hu Extract is known to increase the production of collagen and hyaluronic acid. Lastly, Saxifraga Extract is known to stabilize free radicals and inhibit the activation of enzymes that cause melanin formation.

The composition of this product seems like it would be too heavy for me to use right now and would be better in cooler weather. This does offer lighter weight hydrators so I can find one that will over the next two months. I am very hopeful that this face cream and also this company's cosmetics will give me the perfect French women skin.

photo courtesy of Bergdorf Goodman

French Week 2010 Day 5 - Hermes

Hermes is one of the French design houses that has been around for years and just the name itself brings to mind luxury and a feeling of exclusivity. Their top selling Birkin bag requires at least a two year wait and the list to get them gets longer and longer all the time. I feel that this line is one that is ingrained in Fremch culture so well that wearing a Hermes scarf brings the wearer to a whole new level of elegance. A Birkin or a scarf is not in my immediate future at this moment so we are going to check out their perfumes that allows my to spray myself with a bit of elegance.

This company was founded in 1837 and has delivered top quality product in over 10 lines ever since. The 1930s was the biggest decade for this brand, it first produced the now iconic Kelly bag and the first scarves were in production. This brand continues to grow and product goods at a rate much slower than the Hermes hungry public can get their hands on them.

The perfume that I liked most from this line is actually unisex. It is called Un Jardin en Mediterranee. For those of you who do not speak French, it translates out to "garden in the Mediterranean". This area of France is in the Riveria region and it has a climate that is warm and sunny throughout the year. This region grows huge fragrant gardens and this fragrance is both fruity and woody, drawing on the fragrances of this region. Hermes describes it as "a waslk through a Mediterranean garden".

This fragrance is a great warm weather fragrance. It is light and not overbearing. The fruit notes come out first and then the fragrance settles down into the wood notes. This fragrance is very unique and you will not smell it on anyone else when you wear it. This fragrance is one of the ones that I really want to purchase once I get some of my current bottles used up. At the moment, this is one of the few products that I can get from Hermes to boost my French style.

photo courtesy of Hermes

French Week 2010 Day 4 - Caudalie Vinoperfect Serum

Last year, I talked about the Caudalie skincare line and how their patented active ingredients work to help repair and protect skin. I will not repeat all of that information here again. Today, we are going to look at my favorite product from Caudalie and the one that I have repurchased the highest amount of times since I was initially given one from the Caudalie rep about 4 years about. The product that I am referring to today is the Vinoperfect Radiance Serum, a product that contains a high amount of anti-oxidants to improve the clarity and overall radiance of the face.

Vinoperfect is one of the few brightening serums that doesn't contain bleaching agents and therefore can be used by everyone, even expectant mothers. The Caudalie website states, "This satiny serum is a remarkable formula for smoother, brighter-looking skin. Vinoperfect boosts the complexion's radiance and appearance. Your skin is moisturized and luminous. Your complexion looks even and beautifully radiant".

This product is ideal for all skin types and is formulated for those who wish to enhance their skin's radiance, tone, and clarity. This product was recommended to me from the Caudalie rep to help even out my skin tone and reduce the appearence of the redness in my cheek area. This product is able to do all that effectively while not irritating my sensitive skin or drying any areas of my face out.

This product really was able to reduce the redness in my cheek area and made my skin look much better overall. The clarity was much improved and I was getting compliments on my fantastic skin, even when I didn't put makeup on.

This product contains a very high amount of viniferine, 1000 ppm, to improve the tone and clarity. it also contains olive squalene, mint, caraway, and galbanum. The product smells like wild mint leaves so using it is a pleasure. It is recommended for use morning and night on freshly cleansed skin. however, if you are also using another Caudalie serum (anti-aging), then this product is to be used at night and the other serum used in the morning.

This product is unique to the areas in France that can support vineyards and wine production. The French have long know the benefits of grapes and wine before it became popular in the United States. I have nothing but amazing things to say about how this product affected my skin. Caudalie has enhanced the results of this product and had made it into an entire line of skincare for normal skin. With or without the whole line of skincare, this product is a stand alone star.

photo courtesy of Caudalie

French Week 2010 Day 3 - Creed Love In White

Happy Bastille Day! Yesterday, we talked about an iconic fragrance house and today we are going to talk about another. My last perfume purchase was about a month ago and it was a bottle of Love In White. This was another fragrance that has sniffed months before I had finally given in to the urge to buy it. This may be the pinnacle of my perfume collection so far...

The House of Creed has been around since the year 1760. I went on the Creed website to find a full background on this perfume house. "Creed is the world's only privately held luxury fragrance dynasty. Founded in 1760 and passed from father to son since then, Creed has served more than 10 royal house and the discerning public for 250 years. Indeed, Creed is one of the 100 oldest family businesses in the world. Based in Paris, Creed today is led by the legendary Oliver Creed, sixth generation master perfumer and company chief. Working alongside is his son, Erwin, 29, rising seventh generation and future head of house. A house of tradition, Creed adheres to unrelenting high standards in fragrance creation and client service. Creed uses methods of hand production, including maceration and filtration, instituted at the company's founding. Creed is the industry's strongest proponent of natural ingredients in fragrance. For these reasons, Creed has a loyal clientele that includes royalty, political leaders, legends in business, sports, music, and the fine arts as well as discerning members of the public who value beauty and quality in scent".

Just trying and purchasing fragrances from this brand made me feel smart and stylish. I tried Love In White on one wrist and Spring Flower on the other. Needless to say, I was swarmed by the sales associate fawning over me and reassuring me that I made a great choice in trying Creed fragrances. It was close, but in the end, I eventually decided that Love In White was more unique and would be my first fragrance purchase from this company.

I went to Bergdorf Goodman's website to obtain a detailed description of the fragrance itself. "Blended with ingredients of rare quality from five continents, Love In White includes orange zest from Spain, rice husk from Tonkin, white jasmine from Italy, daffodils from France, magnolia from Guatemala, Bulgarian Rose, sandalwood from India, and ambergris. On the evening of Love In White's debut, the exterior lights of the Empire State Building radiated pure white. Love In White was the first Creed fragrance to debut in the USA as opposed to France. The fragrance has become a favorite of First Ladies of the United States."

This is one of the most unique fragrances that I have ever owned, the combination of the florals and the orange gives it a twist that sets it apart from all the other floral fragrances. This fragrance to me is much more than a perfume, it symbolizes the day that I decided that I wanted to fall in love with an a wonderful, caring man. Love In White is pure love that isn't corrupted or shadowed.

photo courtesy of Bergdorf Goodman

French Week 2010 Day 2 - Chanel Coco Mademoiselle

The iconic Chanel brand needs no real introduction, indeed there is little that I could say right now that I have not already said at some point in this blog. To me, Chanel in Paris and Paris is Chanel. For many girls, when they first understand the concept of perfume and have the ability to remember brand names, Chanel is what they come to think of when they think of fragrance. Last year, I talked about my history with Chanel No. 5 but this year, we are going to look at my favorite fragrance from Chanel and one of my favorite fragrances overall.

I first tried this fragrance out one day when I was in college. However, being a semi-broke college student meant that this perfume was going to have to wait for another day even though it was love at first sniff. I obsessed over it for a month then was able to pick up some extra hours at my part time job and purchase a bottle of the fragrance. I still have that bottle and it still smells wonderful. It remains the fragrance that I get the most compliments on. And not compliments about my perfume, compliments about how beautiful I smell. This fragrance was perfect for me from the day that I first tried and it remains so every single time that I use it.

Sephora classifies this fragrance in the family of the orientals. The fragrance is described on their website as follows, "You might want to call her Miss - but she prefers Coco Mademoiselle. With the creation of Coco Mademoiselle in 2001, Jacques Polge reaffirms the modernity of the young Coco Chanel, who overturned convention with the pure and simple lines of her inimitable style. Coco Mademoiselle is the fragrance Coco Chanel would have worn wear if she were 21 at the dawn of the 21st century."

The top notes of the fragrance are: orange, bergamot. The heart notes are: jasmine petals, morning rose. The base notes are: patchouli, vetiver. Of course there is a rose note to this fragrance, how else would I fall madly in love with it?!

I have the EDT spray in this fragrance, I originally wanted the EDP but I had to be somewhat practical and it was either the EDT or nothing at all. I really like the EDT but I prefer the EDP and when I finish up my current bottle, I will invest in the EDP. Through the Chanel website, this fragrance is also available in a pure parfum and a variety of body products and giftsets.

This fragrance is for the younger Chanel girl, one who is embarking on the beginning of adulthood and has her life in front of her. A young Coco is how I would love to think of myself...

photo courtesy of Sephora

French Week Day 1 - Biotherm Source Therapie

The first day of French Week is going to be devoted to Biotherm skincare and their hero product, their Source Therapie serum. Biotherm is a company that produces a wide range of skincare that is available only in the European Union and online for Americans. Several years ago, it was available in the United States and that is when I got hooked on many of their products. It is no longer sold in the United States but this doesn't stop me for ordering pieces of their unique, high quality skincare items.

First a bit of background on Biotherm since I don't know how many people have heard very much about them. Here is the background story from the company's website. "Fifty years ago in the mountains of France, a biologist discovered a unique element in the mineral-rich thermal spring waters that soothes, balances, and rejuvenates the skin, so it looks and feels healthier. Today, this purified and patented ingredient - Vitreoscilla Ferment - is the scientific key to the effectiveness of our products. It enables each formula - skin and body care, color and men's treatments - to work in sync with skin's own nature, bringing it back to its optimal state so it can better resist stress and damage. That's the basis of healthy skin."

Biotherm's hero product and the product with one of the highest concentrations of Vitreoscilla Ferment is the Source Therapie Superactiv Concentracted Skin Perfecting Serum. This serum is suitable for all skin types and it takes the Biotherm skincare system that you have chosen for your skin type and kicks all the products up a notch. This serum is light enough that it can be used with the oily skin and acne regimes and won't make the existing conditions worse.

Biotherm gives the following as the description of the product, "A healthy dose of perfection! This super charged perfector helps skin feel stronger, balanced, and more refined. In just 5 days, you'll see radiant results. Over time, your skin will look healthier and be more resistant to the signs of premature aging". This product can be used alone on bare skin or under any moisturizer if the user needs an added dose of moisture. I love using this product to make my skin look clearer and more radiant. I have used this product with both the normal skin and dry skin regimes from Biotherm and it really does work with every skincare product for every skin type.

photo courtesy of Biotherm

Le Commencement...

It is the time of the year for my second annual French Week. I am going to do the same premise as last year, seven French companies, all of which are different in origin and product lines. Bastille Day is this week so this is the ideal week to examine French culture and lifestyle.

To start...a photo of the French First Lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy.

photo courtesy of Google