One has to think that if something costs that much, it has to be a good product. Well, I’m feeling so lucky this week because for Mother’s Day (and I am a mother of two) I get to sample and review a bunch of L’Occitane best-sellers from Rustan’s Essenses.
I Start With L’occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream (P1,395). I’m already loving the package, of a giant tube that reminds me of the big tubes of white oil paint we used in art school.
Reviewed by a magazine as one of three best hand creams in the market, I am not disappointed.
I used it on my hands and it’s easily absorbed, leaving hands smooth and nicely scented. It smells delicious!
I also have the itchiest legs in the world, enough to wake me up in the early morning to scratch and grab for the moisturizer.
So I put this on at night and wake up without having to scratch at all. Having tried all sorts of lotions and anti-itch sprays, I’m sold.
This is supposed to be the best, richest hand cream out there. A little bit goes a long way, so I would say the price is definitely worth the big tube. It has such a luxurious feeling, it’s addicting. It would be hard to go back to normal lotion again.
Angelica Shampoo And Conditioner (P995 Each) The bottles have raised dots on its surface. At first I think they are water drops, but it turns out most L’Occitane products are labeled in Braille (and none are tested on animals) – how socially friendly!
I’m excited to use these because they’re recommended for damaged hair, like mine.
Its essential oils promise to restore shine, radiance and softness to dry, damaged, color-treated or permed hair. And they’re mild enough for daily use.
The shampoo doesn’t smell like your regular run-of-the-mill supermarket shampoo; in fact, it smells medicinal. The conditioner smells slightly medicinal, too, but leaves the hair tangle-free.
The end result afterward is a light, salon-like feeling.
And I love whoever wrote the text on the bottle:
"Legend has it that the Archangel Raphael revealed through a dream to a 10th-century monk the useful properties of angelica in combating epidemics, and it is to this legend that the plant owes its name."
Angelica is a sweet almond oil that softens and smoothens, while conditioning antioxidant vitamins E and B5 help repair and protect dry and damaged hair.
Shea Butter Extra Gentle Soap In the early ’80s, Olivier Baussan took over an old soap factory and learned soap-making. Then he heard about shea, an African tree of a "thousand benefits." He traveled to Burkina Faso and found the village women who harvest shea nuts and produce the butter which they use for cooking and lamp fuel, as well as an essential skincare ingredient.
Baussan develops a soap out of shea butter, and a few years later, a complete range of shea products for L’Occitane.
The soap looks and smells delicious and leaves my shower stall with a lovely scent. The big bar is a little bit difficult to hold, but feels luxurious nonetheless.
It promises to moisturize, nourish and make up for skin deficiencies.
The effect is soothing, softening and protecting, leaving an invisible film on skin, protecting against harsh climates and pollution. Its regenerating ingredients promote rapid renewal of epidermal cells by stimulating cellular activity.
Green Tea With Mint Eau De Toilette (P2,675) My mom tried this on an airplane and got hooked, and my friend Jen loves it, too. So I try it, and at first there is this strong, almost masculine citrus scent that quickly softens into a subtle green-tea aroma.
I’m not a big fan of most fragrances but I’m really liking this one.
L’Occitane recommends it for use during the hottest hours of the day, with its fresh and invigorating mist.
Aromachologie Bath And Massage Oil (P995) Use this to fight tension, de-stress, unwind, and prepare your body for a peaceful night’s rest. My masseuse recommends this warm oil for use if you want to sleep.
Aromachologie preparations are designed to relax and revitalize.
A combination of essential oils help calm and relax body and mind:
Lavender has calming properties to prepare body for sleep. As an added plus, its mild, herbaceous scent wards off pesky mosquitoes.
Tea tree restores balance and promotes a positive state of mind. Its floral, rosy aroma calms symptoms of stress like irritation and trembling.
Geranium, with a rosy, sweet and refined scent, serves as a powerful decongestant with uplifting properties, promoting a sense of well-being.
And Basil, with its fresh, aniseed scent has soothing and relaxing properties and a stress-reducing effect.