L'Occitane Shea Cleansing Face Milk

Today we will be looking at my second try with the L'Occitane Shea facial skincare line, many of you will remember the disaster that I had last year with one of the skin creams and may be surprised that I have decided to give this line a second go around.  I had very high hopes for the hydrating face cream that I tried from this line and still have very clear memories of the redness and swelling that it caused my face and neck and I went back to using all Clinique products for a few weeks after this issue.  At this time, I decided that I would never use any other product from this line even though I have loved many of the body products for years beforehand.  Obviously, I have decided to give a product from this line a second try and the results are much better this time around.

I decided several weeks ago that I really wanted to give the Shea face line another try and starting thinking about what product I would like to try this time and how I was going to go about it.  My initial thoughts were to chose a product that I do not leave on my face this time around and I settled on a face cleanser from the line and obtained several samples from the L'Occitane store before I decided to order the full size.  We will look at the product that I chose and then we will get into how I patch-tested it and a full review.

The product that I decided to try out is the Face Cleansing Milk from the Shea line, I had used a cream cleanser from another line produced by this company when I was in college and I loved it.  I think my love of that product and the matching face lotion and cream are the reasons that I bought the L'Occitane face cream and never properly tested it before rubbing it all over my face.  "This cleansing milk, with its creamy texture, gently cleanses and removes makeup.  Enriched with softening shea and soothing licorice extract, it preserves skin's natural hydration and leaves it clean, supple, and comfortable.", states the company's website.  

The manager at my local L'Occitane store was very generous with the samples of this product while I was deciding if I could use this all over my face.  I started with testing it on my forearm; the skin in this area is much less sensitive than my face, neck, or hands.  I tested this face wash in the shower for three days on my forearm area and experienced no irritation.  I then moved on to testing it on my hands, my hands are much more sensitive than my forearm and irritation develops easily on them.  Obviously, I had no irritation after three days worth of testing in this area and then I repeated the test on the back of my neck.  After three days of testing on my neck with no irritation, I decided that I would use my last sample to wash my face and then purchase the full size bottle.

I am very happy that this face wash worked out for me, I have been using it for about three weeks now and I have been very much enjoying it.  I use one and a half pumps of this product to cleanse my entire face, I do not use this product to take my eye makeup off and always go in with a separate remover in this area.  I have tried quite a few milk cleansers over the years and I have found that they often need a separate toner to remove every trace of makeup that I put on my face in the morning, this holds true for this product and I have been purchasing the huge bottles of the Clinique Toner designed for dry to very dry skin to use every other day.

This cleanser does not foam up and rinses cleanly with water.  I like that this product doesn't dry my skin out or leave it with the "tight" feeling that most gel cleansers would at this time of the year.  I would recommend this cleanser to anyone with skin that is dry and I could not see anyone with normal or oily skin liking this product.  The Shea Cleansing Face Milk is a very good choice for my dry winter skin and I will continue to use it throughout the spring months.  I do not yet know if this might be too heavy for my skin once the warm weather hits.

I have had one hit and one huge miss from the L'Occitane Shea face line, I am still trying to decide if I will be trying any other products from this line.  I am still hesitant to try other moisturizers from this line and I would be even less comfortable using any product from this line around my eyes.  I would only consider trying other products from this line if I could obtain a few samples and repeat the extensive patch-testing, I am so happy that the manager of my store was willing to help me with all the samples and I would go back to her if I decide to try another products from this skincare line.

photo courtesy of Sephora

L'Occitane Cleansing and Softening Shower Oil with Almond Oil

The whole time that I worked at Bath and Body Works in college, we were always getting customers requesting body products with almond in them.  We never carried anything like this so I have always been curious as to what the obsession with almond is.  I have only ever found one brand that carried almond body products and I recently purchased a shower gel to try and understand what the magic of almond is.  The brand that I purchased the almond cleanser from is the French brand L'Occitane and this is the first body product that I have used from them. 

L'Occitane has an entire line of almond products and I decided to start with the cleansing body wash, multiple associates from Sephora suggested this as a great winter body wash for dry skin.  It is not technically a "body wash" as a "cleansing oil".  The Cleansing and Softening Shower Oil with Almond Oil is going to be my morning body wash for the middle of the winter, this is a hydrating product that will help my skin to retain moisture in the worst of the cold weather months.

"A decadent body cleanser that is rich in almond oil and features a foaming oil-to-milk texture that leaves skin satiny-smooth.  Start moisturizing in the shower with this indulgent cleanser. The shower oil contains almond oil, naturally rich in omega 6 fatty acids to help soften the skin. The unique formula transforms into a milky foam upon contact with water, leaving a mouthwatering scent of fresh almonds for a true moment of delight. This oil also makes a great base for shaving.  Almonds are an incredibly delicate fruit to grow: the best almonds require cool air without ever freezing. L'Occitane almonds are sourced from a very special region in Haute Provence, where some of the most delicious and nutritious almonds grow. L'Occitane supports the sustainability of almond trees in the region, as these trees, while difficult to grow, are a staple to the beauty of the Provencal landscape.", states the Sephora website.

I first tried using this like a traditional body wash and used it with a shower pouf.  This was a big mistake as it doesn't foam up and it covered my pouf but never really transferred to my skin.  The second time that I used this was much better.  I poured a bit out into my hands and then rubbed my wet hands together to heat up and distribute the product.  I then used my hands to apply it right to my wet skin.  Once the product had contact with water, it turned into a rich, milky lather on my skin.  It rinses clean and left a slight almond fragrance on my skin. 

I was able to skip the lotion after this product, it didn't strip my skin like traditional body washes and helped to jump start the hydration process right in the shower.  This product will be amazing when my skin gets very dry in the winter months and tends to dry out by the time that I am getting out of the shower in the morning. 

After using this product, I can understand why people love almond oil and the almond fragrance.  I would like to add more products from this line into my body product collection throughout this winter and I look forward to trying more body products from the company to my line up.

photo courtesy of Sephora

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

French Week Day 5 - L'Occitane en Provence Fleur Cherie EDT

Provence is the farming region in the South of France, the South of France is divided into the farming region of Provence and the beach region of Nice.  I have heard fronm many who visited this area that it is their favorite region in this country.  Provence was one of the "free" areas in of France during the Second World War and therefore this area is very different than the rest of the country.  The pace is much slower and the economy is completely different from the Northern, metropolitan areas of France.  One of the best known product lines from this area is L'Occitane, a natural-based body and skincare line that uses the natural ingredients from this region in order to create a high quality line product line.

"Inspired by his childhood in Provence, the 23 year old Oliver Baussan decided to recreate the traditions of his region.  After purchasing a steam distiller, a relic from the past, Oliver harvest wild rosemary and produced Rosemary essential oil.  He sold this essential oil at local markets, this all-natural product was quickly embraced by villagers and L'Occitane was born.  L'Occitane products represent the traditions and valus of the Mediterranean region.  Every year, Oliver seeks out traditional techniques and ingredients once used in the region to ensure the well-bring of the body, mind, and spirit.  The results of these efforts are embodied in L'Occitane's annual Harvest collections, Shea Butter range, Aromachologie range and Immortelle skincare.  L'Occitane is true to itself and its founding principles.  Authenticity and effective natural products designed to procure true well-being."

One of the traditional ingredients from the Provencal region of France is the orange blossom.  This ingredient is used in a line of fragrance and matching body products.  "Light yet sophisticated, fresh yet sensual.  Fleur Cherie brings you a warm and elegant fragrant touch in the heart of Winter.  The fresh aromas of Orange Blossom and sweet black currant notes envelop the sensuous woody scents of cedar and musk.  Fleur Cherie is an ode to the most cherished flower in the Mediterranean, the exquisitely delicate Orange Blossom.  The Orange Blossom aroma has also been known to relieve tension, improve circulation, and fight stress!"
"Orange Blossom is am emblem of the Mediterranean region and truly cherished by perfumers, in the same way as rose and jasmine.  An important perfume ingredient, it still grows in Grasse and is a legendary flower that has inspired beauty rituals throughout the Mediterranean, which still exist today.  Fleur Cherie introduces a new interpretation of orange blossom in our fragrance and body care that emphasizes the magical, delicate, and soft facets of this ingredient.  It is an exquisite, airy, luminous scent with a woody trail.  This flower of feminity is the Cherished Flower - the Fleur Cherie - of the Mediterranean people."

The star product of this Orange Blossom range is the Fleur Cherie Eau de Toilette.  This is one of the products that is only available at the L'Occitane stores or on their website, it is not one of the best selling products but it is one of the prettiest fragrances in their line up.  "All the fragrant magic of an orange blossom captured in a rich, sparkling, floral scent and enhanced by a soft woody trail.  A vibrant carefree fragrance that leaves your skin nicely perfumed all day long."

The top notes of this fragrance are: Neroli, Cassis, and Fresh Notes.  The heart notes are: Jasmine, Orange Blossom Absolute, and Orange Blossom Water Absolute.  The base notes are: Soft Woods, Patchouli, and Cedar Musk. 

This fragrance is a light floral that is best in the spring and summer months.  The Provencal region is a warm farming climate, among the warmest in Western Europe.  Light, natural fragrances are best in this region due to the climate and pace of the region.  This line is available in a full fragrance of fragrance and body products, including a fragranced lip balm.  The bar soap would be lovely in a guest bathroom along with the rest of the lotions.

L'Occitane is one of the only product lines that remains true to the ingredients and culture of this region.  All of their product blends are from the natural ingredients grown in the region and all are wonderful fragrances and products.  The Lavender is my favorite of the blends however the Orange Blossom is very pretty too. 

photo courtesy of L'Occitane

French Week 2011 Day 4 - L'Occitane Verbena

The South of France doesn't just contain the sophisticated crowd at Monaco and the lovely regions of Nice.  One of the somewhat lesser know areas of this region is Provence, the major farming and agricultural area of France.  Provence is a region in the South of France adjacent to Italy, making it a perfect region for year-round farming.  The climate is the typical Meditterranean climate, hot and dry in the summertime with a mild winter and little to no rain or snow.  Verbena is a herb that is grown in this region.  It is used in beauty and medical compounds.  This plant oil has a citrus scent with slight floral accents and L'Occitane creates the line of body products that it is most associated with.  L'Occitane is a South of France-based company that uses essential oils and plants from this region of France.  Their products contain the natural essential oils and the company limits the amount of chemicals in their formulations. 

Verbena is one of the best-selling lines from L'Occitance and has been covered in many magazines over the years.  "L'Occitane Verbena is formulated from a premium quality Verbena extract from Corsica, which is particularly fine and pure.  The lemon fragrance energizes and revives the senses, thereby helping to banish tiredness and stress.  Products include fragrances, shampoos, conditioners, shower gels, and soaps.", states the L'Occitane website when describing the usage of the ingredient and the line of products that it inspired. 

L'Occitane goes further in their description of verbena to examine all the benefits that come from use of this plant.  "Harvested twice a year, the certified organic Verbena extract used in our L'Occitane bath, body, and home products offers refreshing scents of lemon and citrus found in the Verbena plant to help revitalize the body and the mind.  Verbena leaf extract is used for its toning, refreshing attributes, and its invigorating citrus fragrance.  Our L'Occitane Verbena bath and body care products can also be very soothing, helping to evoke an atmosphere of calm and peacefulness.  Originally indigenous to Chile, verbena (Verbena Officinalis) has been cultivated for centuries in Provence and throughout the Mediterranean.  The fresh scent of Verbena actually comes from its leaves, and crushing a few leaves in the hand is all it takes to release a wonderful, clean fragrance.  Verbena is cherished for its naturally soothing properties as well as it's zesty citrus scent.  It is a paradox of the senses: while cool and refreshing, it is also found to be warm, soothing, and inviting.  Its paradoxical nature makes it wonderful as a fragrance, and well-suited to skincare and haircare uses."
The shower gel in this fragrance is one of the best-sellers and is the best known product from this line.  This is known in the beauty industry as one of the freshest products to use in the warm weather.  "Fresh, clean body shampoo loved equally by men and women.  Each squeeze of the non-breakable plastic bottle releases the crisp, citrus scent of L'Occitance Verbena.  Essential oils of verbena, orange, geranium, and lemon tree smooth and nuture even the most sensitive skin, and permeate the room with a winning aroma."  To match this shower gel, the company released a lightweight body lotion that can be used in even the most humid conditions.  "Prized for its fresh, citrus aroma by women and men.  A lightweight lotion that easily absorbs to comfort skin.  Will eliminate the "tight" or itchy feeling skin often has after showering.  Organic extract of verbena helps to calm skin; orange, geranium, and lemon tree oils contribute to uplifting aroma."

To match the wash and lotion, this fragrance is also available in a salt scrub, an excellent product to help skin that has been exposed to the sun and the ocean waters.  "Salts from the Mediterranean Sea combine with the refreshing fragrance of pure extracts of verbena, orange, geranium, and lemon tree in a luxurious exfoliating body scrub.  Essential oils of grapeseed, aprict, and sweet almond nourish and moisturize.  Anti-oxidizing Vitamin A helps to tone and maintain healthy appearance.  Skin turns sliky smooth as dead skin cells are massaged away.  Body and mood feel revived."  This fragrance is also available in a hand and body soap and a hand cream to finish out the rest of the Verbean experience. 

For those of you that would want to take this fragrance to the highest degree, an Eau de Toilette is offered.  This fragrance is very strong on the citrus so this is confined only to those who really love citrus, sadly I am not included in this category.  "A perennial favorite.  Extroverted notes of Mediterranean verbena mingle with a rosy base of geraniumand lemon tree.  Elegantly presented in a small glass spray bottle engraved with a verbena leaf."  This fragrance is much too citrusy for me to pull off but would smell lovely on someone else in the heat of the summer.

It is easy to see why these products are among the top-sellers from L'Occitance; they can be used by either gender, make you feel great, and are light enough to use all summer long.  Sometimes a light fragrance just hits the perfect note in the summertime and this is a great choice from the Provence region...

photo courtesy of L'Occitane

L'Occitane Summer 2011 Collection - Pivoine Flora

Pivoine Flora is the newest color collection from the French beauty company, L'Occitance.  I have known this brand mostly for skincare and body products but I have never worked with the makeup since it is much harder to find than the other products.  I wish that Sephora carried the whole makeup line from this company in their stores since then I wouldn't have to go to the L'Occitane store to get everything (it about an hour away).  I can only hope...

This collection is based on the blooming of the peony plant that always occurs in late spring and continues into the beginning of the summer months.  I have a peony plant in my yard and I always look forward to when all the pink flowers bloom and make my entire yard very fragrant.  This collection is named Pivoine Flora and is series of pinks for a look that is naturally beautiful.  The L'Occitane website gives the following description of the new makeup collection, "Every year in May, as the spring breeze caresses the peonies, they seem to come to life, dance and spin like graceful ballerinas..."

Here is the collection...

Pivoine Flora Lip Shine - This glistening lip gloss coats the lips with a natural shimmering sheen.  Its light, non-sticky, delicately scented syrup texture contains softening Peony extract to protect and pamper the lips, leaving them looking fabulous!
- Rose - natural rose shimmer
- Brun - warm bronze shimmer
- Peche - warm coral shimmer
- Grenadine - bright red shimmer

Pivoine Flora Color Cream - This duet of colored creams can be used according to your desires, to illuminate amd warm up the face.  Enriched with softening Peony extract and delicately scented, this smooth texture glides on with fingertips and blends easily. 
- Rose - pure rose shade accents the cheekbones while the pearly rose can be used to highlight your look
- Abricot - apricot shade accents the cheekbones while the golden beige can be used to highlight your look
- Beige - chocolate blush accents the cheekbones while the pearly beige shade can be used to highlight your look

Pivoine Flora Healthy Glow Face Powder - Enriched with softening Peony extract and delicately scented, this Healthy Glow Face Powder warsm up the complexion while leaving the skin soft and velvety.  the beautifully transparent texture is perfect to enhance and highlight all complexions.  Can be easily applied with a powder brush.  Simply dab onto key areas of the face (cheekbones, forehead, chin, nose) or over the entire face for a perfectly matte and even complexion.

Pivoine Flora Eye Duo - Enriched with softening Peony extract, these two satiny eye shadows can be used to create your desired look with touches of radiant and contrasting colors.  The lighter shade highlights the eyelid, while the darker shade gives definition and intensity for a more dramatic look.  When you mix the two shades on the back of your hand, a third unexpected color appears, enlarging the palette of colors!
- Blanche Etoile - pale white shimmer/deep navy
- Lilas - pale beige gold shimmer/medium cool lilac

Pivoine Flora Eye Quartet - Enriched with softening Peony extract, the eye shadows of this Petals Quartet, featuring rose, beige, and purplish shades, gracefully and beautifully highlight the eyes.  These satiny powder shadows glide on the eyelid with ease.  The four colors can be used separately for a natural look or combined for a more dramatic result - apply to your heart's desire.
- pale beige shimmer/pink bronze shimmer/medium rose shimmer/plum shimmer

Pivoine Flora Lipstick - This lipstick coats the lips with shimmering color veil.  The rich texture, delicately perfumed and enriched with softening Peony extract, gives an instant feeling of comfort and leaves a light, non-tacky feel on the lips.
- Cuivre - shimmering golden beige
- Rose - shimmering pink with gold reflections
- Fuschia - shimmering pure pink
- Cerise - shimmering crimson red

My favorites pieces of this collection are the lip products and the eye shadow quartet.  The eye shadow quartet will be perfect to create a more subtle lilac eye, I don't know much about the pigmentation from this company but I doubt that it will be as impactful as that of MAC or Urban Decay.  I am a bit afraid to order this product from the website since I can't try them out so I will either have to drive out to a store or find dupes of them.  I love shades from both the Lipstick and the Lip Glosses.  The Lipstick choice for me will be the Rose shade, this one will be an easy rose for me to pull off, both with a tan and in the winter months.  I also love the Cerise on first glance, but I would order the Rose shade first to see how this formula works and if I would like it in a more dramatic red.  Lip Gloss-wise, I need that Rose shade, I bet this one will be perfect for a naturally pretty look.

I will be conservative in ordering the makeup the first time, the Rose shades will be easy for me to pull off whatever the pigmentation ends up looking like on.  I really wish that Sephora would carry this color line in their store...

photo courtesy of L'Occitane

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

Some Picks for Mother's Day - L'Occitane

Mother's Day is just around the corner and so the malls will be full of people this weekend trying to decide on the perfect gift to give their wonderful mothers. I am lucky enough to get a double whammy every year, my mom's birthday is May 8th so I end buying several gifts at the same time. This year, she is getting a full English tea set as one of her gifts and something from the three following items. I did some browsing on the C.O. Bigelow website (ilovebigelow.com) and found several items to chose from.

The first group of items that we are going to look at is the newest line from L'Occitane, a line of products based on both one of mine and her favorite flowers, the peony. We always had a giant peony plant in the yard when I was a child growing up, so this is a very appropriate gift for her. For starters, I would get the perfume from this collection. This fragrance starts off with a burst of light citrus with the bergamot and grapefruit notes. The heart of the fragrance is the peony and rose notes and then the base of musk and sandalwood emerges.

After I would buy the perfume, I would decide which of the ancillary products that she would like the best. A matching line of color is offered with the Peony fragrance however I know my mother would get little use from it so it is safer for me to stick with body products and any type of home fragrance items. The first item that I pick for her is the Peony Petal Soap, she loves to set fragrant soaps all around the bathrooms and this one is especially note-worthy since it is shade of pale pink and is shaped like a blooming peony.

If my budget is not exhausted at this point, I would pick up two more items for her; the Peony Shower Cream and Beauty Milk. The Shower Cream has a rich, creamy texture and produces a light foam when mixed with water. It is a perfect base for the perfume. To add another layer of fragrance, I would get her the matching hydrator, the Beauty Milk. This is a light lotion that helps to hydrate and fragrance the skin throughout the day.

This is gift one. Next post is gift two.

photo courtesy of C.O. Bigelow Apothecaries

L'Occitane En Provence - French Week Day 1

The Provencal region of the France is in the Southern part of the country, this is the area that is nearest to the Mediterranean and is part of the more farm based parts of France. The company that comes to mind when most people hear of this region is the Provencal based line, L'Occitane. This region of France has large areas of farmland and this company uses the natural ingredients to create high quality body and skincare products based on a few of the core crops and products of this region. This company enforces rigorous standards for all of its product formulations so the user knows that he or she will be purchasing only the highest quality products with high quality essential oils contained in it.

My favorite line of products from this company is the line that is formulated with French Lavender. L'Occitane uses organic Butterfly Lavender harvested in the region in the late spring and early summer of each year. Lavender essential oil is key ingredient in most products that are used to destress and to aid people who are experiencing sleep issues.

I have several favorite products from the Lavender Collection. My favorite is the Lavender Foaming Bath. This product creates mountains of lovely, fluffy bubbles and is my favorite way to soothe away stress and get ready for a full night of sleep. I follow this up with the matching shower gel and body lotion. I will admit that I get much more use out of the shower products since I don't get to relax in a bath near as much as I would like to. Let me tell you from first hand experience, these product (when all used together) will put you to sleep. I first tried using Lavender when I was a junior in college and was going through a period where I had slept more than a couple fitful hours per night in well over a month. I gave these a shot and the next morning, I woke up to realize that I had slept for well over 12 hours and I felt sluggish from all that sleep and felt as though I had used sleep meds and forgotten about them.

While browsing the L'Occitane website to find the foam bath, I noticed that they make this fragrance in small butterfly shaped soaps, which would be a lovely hostess gift along with some bath products and the room perfume.

L'Occitance also carries many other products that are very popular. The two best known are by far the Shea Butter collection and the Citrus Verbena collection. The Almond products also get rave reviews. I think I will be trying more of the products from this company when I am feeling like a bit of simple South of France beauty.

photo courtesy of L'Occitane