Daydreaming about being in Provence involves quite a number of things. Children frolicking in fields of calming lavender come to mind and visions of blue and yellow pulsate in my thoughts. Feasting on delicious bouillabaisse and grilled seafood sprinkled with herbs de Provence while sipping Chateauneuf-du-Pape on long tables covered in Pierre Deux tablecloths in shaded gardens are another. Oh, how I could go on. Browsing for antiques in the quaint towns that encompass the region is a favorite activity, but for beauty buffs, a trip to Grasse for fragrance overload or swathing oneself silly with L’Occitane products is the way to go. So utterly French and Provencal at the core, L’Occitane en Provence is a beauty brand that has been keeping us smelling lovely and looking our finest.
Founded in 1976 by Olivier Baussan when he was just 23 years old, L’Occitane started out as an essential oil business sold at local markets before expanding into a whole product line. Inspired by his early years in Provence, Baussan’s aim was to celebrate Mediterranean well-being, and he subsequently chose to name his company after the ancient name of Provence, Occitanie. L’Occitane literally means “the women of Occitanie” since women and nature played leading roles in the Occitanie society. By never testing on animals or using child labor, converting recycled algae into shopping bags and supporting traditional production methods, L’Occitane is au naturel. It also doesn’t discriminate: packaging is in Braille for those not fortunate enough to see so that they can still make informed decisions. How equal opportunity! There’s something for everyone. Targeting clients 40 years and above, L’Occitane has developed a full range of anti-wrinkle products that work in tandem to promote the effects of the Immortelle flower.
Immortelle Very Precious Cream (P 3,950)
While the Immortelle Precious Cream was originally launched a few years back, on shelves now is a pumped-up, stimulating and regenerating version called Immortelle Very Precious Cream formulated to smoothen and firm skin and wrinkles, lighten pigmentation marks and make the complexion luminous.
The main ingredient is rare Immortelle essential oil, derived from golden Immortelle flowers that grow along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. These flowers have an exceptionally long life. This oil acts as a booster for the skin by stimulating microcirculation, neutralizing free radicals, increasing collagen production and also inhibiting the breakdown of collagen by neutralizing collagenase, which unfortunately destroys collagen. The benefits of the oil are continuously released 24/7 through a microcapsule timed-release delivery system. This organic Immortelle essential oil, coupled with new additional ingredients, explains why this cream is called Very Precious and not just Precious. Evening primrose, echium, borage and cameline vegetable oils, rich in omega fatty acids, increase cellular production and the repair of tissues. Magnesium, zinc and copper enhance cellular metabolism and boost the actions of the combined ingredients. Vitamin C prevents and corrects age spots, inhibits production of new melanin and reduces the existing melanin in our skin.
These effective ingredients pave the way for a highly concentrated cream that works overtime when we sleep. First off, while we are tucked away in our cozy beds, we are not exposed to any environmental aggressors like UV rays, smoke and pollution, so we are on safe ground. While we catch our Z’s, we are asleep but our skin is active. Cellular renewal occurs twice as much through blood circulation and oxygen consumption. Our temperature rises by half a degree creating a mini sauna effect, allowing absorption of products we apply on our skin. Ideal for all skin types, results are visible after only four weeks.
Immortelle Brightening Cleansing Foam (P1,450)
A gentle foaming cleanser enriched with Immortelle floral water, this foam smells citrus-fresh and paves the way for an anti-aging regimen. Massaging this over your face in the morning is like almost like waking up in Provence. Suitable for all skin types, it leaves the face radiant and bright.
Immortelle Essential Water For Face
Like any proper skincare brand, L’Occitane encourages at least a three-step regimen to take care of our skin. Applying toner with a swipe across the face after cleansing primes the skin to absorb serum and cream that is applied, maximizing the efficacy of the Very Precious Cream. The Essential Water toner is alcohol-free, enriched with Immortelle floral water, light moisturizing agents, green tea extract to tone and firming Centella asiatica.
Immortelle Eye Balm (P 1,995)
A staple in my skincare regimen, I slather on the eye cream as I’m paranoid about crow’s feet. This eye balm trumps many others. Like the cream, it releases the essential oil continuously as the oil is concentrated in microcapsules, consistently hydrating the delicate eye area. Loaded with wheat peptides, ivy and ruscus extract and patented moisturizing agents, the velvety balm is a jack of all trades. It reduces dark circles, puffiness and signs of late nights. Who could ask for anything more?
Immortelle Brightening Serum (P3,145)
This serum is laden with almost the same ingredients as the Very Precious Cream to smoothen out the skin’s surface and even out skin tone. This also works as a wonderful makeup primer. It absorbs easily and makes the skin matte so that makeup stays put, especially in this humid weather.
Immortelle Very Precious Fluid (P 2,450)
For day care comes a fabulous fluid pumped up with SPF 40 to ward off the nasty effects of the sun, which is a silent killer of youth. Not only does it protect against UVA rays (the ones that cause sunburn), it guards against UVB rays (the ones that cause skin to age prematurely) with the highest level of protection called PA. This petite silver pump prevents pigmentation marks with mulberry extract so we don’t walk away looking like Raggedy Ann. All that plus it moisturizes, says adios to wrinkles and firms skin. This can be slathered on top of the serum or cream to ward off sunspots for a Snow White complexion.
Immortelle Fresh Powder Foundation (P 1,750)
Packaged in a sapphire-blue jewel-toned compact, this powder foundation with SPF 27 is specially formulated for Asian skin, available in four shades to suit our skin tones. I love applying it straight after the fluid with its dry sponge as the coverage is quite heavy-duty. It covers everything I want to hide — my pores, lines and blemishes without caking up — plus I can reapply it throughout the day to mattify.
The epitome of Provence is found in L’Occitane, available at Rustan’s Essenses.
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