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Shower Gel

Nordstrom Skincare

Body Care Staples for Soft and Smooth Skin

October 18, 2016
The Beauty Look Book - Body Care Routine for Soft Skin

As the weather has started to shift to cooler and dryer temperatures I’ve felt the need for some extra skincare boosts when it comes to body care. I have extremely sensitive skin so I usually stick to a few select brands for body lotions, scrubs and shower gels. There are some lines that cause an allergic reaction for me (scent or fragrance isn’t always the issue) so I always try to do a patch test first. Today I’ve teamed up with Nordstrom to share some tried-and-true body care staples I use to keep my skin smooth, itch-free, and hydrated.

I usually prefer light weight lotions or dry oils because I don’t like things that feel thick or heavy. Three I swear by include the L’Occitane Shea Butter Extra-Gentle Lotion for Hands and Body, Kate Somerville Dry Skin Saver, and L’Occitane Foot Cream. You can click on the icons in the images below to shop the products directly from Nordstrom.

My most repurchased lotion is the L’Occitane Shea Butter Extra-Gentle Lotion for Hands and Body because it’s truly gentle but still effective. I love the Shea Butter line from L’Occitane for the soft soothing scent it has that’s truly comforting. It absorbs into the skin well, leaves skin feeling soft, and I can wear this at night while I sleep without sticking to my sheets or blankets.

Kate Somerville previously had their Eczema Cream which has been renamed Dry Skin Saver. This has a slightly thicker texture compared to the L’Occitane Lotion but is unscented and helps give instant relief for dry skin. It’s suitable for face, body and lips. I gave one of these to my brother who is in his early 20’s, has dry skin that is probably more sensitive than mine and he really likes this one.

I tend to neglect my feet as I find that my 2x a month pedicures are usually enough to keep them looking decent. There are a number of foot creams I’ve tried but they usually feel greasy or smell horrible. I tried the L’Occitane Shea Butter Foot Cream from a small travel size I received from a gift with purchase years ago and was immediately hooked because it’s not thick, it absorbs quickly, instantly soothes any dry spots and has a slight lavender oil scent which is really relaxing.

Next are a few bath products and scrubs. I almost could say that I’m one who lives for bubble baths. There are few things that I enjoy as much as a long bath. It really does help melt away stress and helps me relax.

Fresh Bath and Shower Gels are one of the few shower gels where the scent actually lasts bath the shower or bath. There are a wide range of options and my current favorite is the Fresh Life which is a bright sweet citrus kind of scent. It lathers up really well with a wash cloth or loofa and leaves the skin clean.

In one of my previous shower gel posts a few of you told me to try the Le Labo Santal 33 Shower Gel. I’m all for trying new luxury products but the $50 price tag prevented me from buying for a long time. I eventually did and was instantly hooked. This is a truly luxurious splurge – but I’m one who loves sandalwood scents that aren’t too woody or earthy and this one is just perfect. I’m on my third bottle and the price is indeed very steep so I will be using this sparingly.

For scrubs, my favorite body scrub formulas have all been discontinued (from Clinique, Estee Lauder, Kiehl’s). They’ve either brought new formulas out or discontinued the items completely which has made me very sad. The one favorite that I’ve found hasn’t changed is the Aesop Geranium Leaf Body Scrub which leaves the skin revitalized and super smooth. It has an emollient base which makes it easy to move over areas of the body in the shower but doesn’t leave the skin with a greasy film.

Bath and shower oils are items I try every now and then. I know many of my readers love them because they leave the skin feeling super hydrated and soft. I’m still more of a shower gel kind of person but the ones from Jo Malone are very good. They come in a number of scent options and they have both bath oils and shower oil options. I bought the Blackberry and Bay Bath Oil and it’s amazing. It also comes in the smaller travel size and also the shower gel format.

One more shower gel that deserves a mention is the Diptyque Revitalizing Shower Gel for Body and Hair. This is probably my favorite one of all time but I go through it so quickly I’ve tried to find cheaper alternatives because it gets spendy. I have yet to find one I like as much as I like this one though.

Last but not least two items I think we usually associate with summer beauty routines but I still find suitable for year round use.

The Soleil de La Mer Face and Body Gradual Tan Lotion is the only one I’ve liked enough to use on a regular basis. The formula is gentle so it doesn’t cause an allergic reaction on my skin (many other formulas do). The scent is pleasant and doesn’t have that strong chemical odor you find in self tanners. It also doesn’t turn my skin orangey or yellow which is a huge plus. I see a tan start to develop by the second day of use. There’s no streaking or transfer to clothing. It’s expensive but worth the splurge.

I alternate between body oils and find I gravitate towards different ones depending on season. The Moroccanoil Dry Body Oil is one I found too heavy during the summer but I love it for right now. It has that signature Moroccanoil scent which I find natural, earthy and soothing all at the same time. I love that this comes with a spray dispenser – I think all body oils should come with one. It absorbs quickly into the skin. The scent has a warm and cozy feel which was probably why I didn’t really use it a lot over the summer time but now that it’s cooler, it’s perfect.

For those who like body care products I hope you found this post helpful in case you’re looking for items to soothe dry skin that are also suitable for sensitive skin (and noses). As always I’d love to hear your favorites! Many of you have asked for a roundup on face moisturizers and serums I use since I have sensitive skin. I’m in the process of testing a few brands but will have a post up in the next few weeks.

Many thanks to Nordstrom for partnering to sponsor this post. As always all opinions my own.
Fragrance

L’Occitane x Pierre Hermé Jasmin-Immortelle Neroli and Pamplemousse Rhubarbe for Holiday 2015

December 5, 2015

This holiday L’Occitane and Pierre Hermé teamed up to launch an exquisite collection of the most delicious smelling products for lips, hands and body. Both brands have a special place in my heart. I’ve been a long-time L’Occitane fan and this past summer I was able to try Pierre Hermé macarons for the first time when I visited Paris (they are truly out of this world). A partnership between the two brands is heaven sent and I have fallen head over heels in love with both fragrances launched for holiday in Jasmin-Immortelle Neroli and Pamplemousse Rhubarbe. Today I have a review on both fragrances along with a few of the gift set options. Do note some of the online sets are online exclusives, also different countries have slight variations in the options and packaging.

Out of the two it’s hard to pick a favorite. I initially thought I would
favor the Pamplemousse Rhubarbe because I love grapefruit scents. The
Pamplemousse Rhubarbe is a sweet grapefruit but there’s some cedar mixed
in to balance it and round it out so it’s not quite as sharp as a
regular citrus. The rhubarb adds more warmth to it. Everything is so beautifully packaged and colorful.

According to L’Occitane: “When Pierre Hermé places Grapefruit at the heart of a creation, he means to celebrate all its facets. And that includes the slightly bitter, white inner skin – its character underlined by the green and crisp aromas of Rhubarb. This beautifully balanced note is soon ruffled at its heart by sensual, piquant spices. In this original composition, woody notes of Cedar conjure up the sensation of mischievous Grapefruit cutting through the tartness of Rhubarb stalks.”

The items in the Pamplemousse Rhubarbe collection include:

The perfume is really pretty. It’s sweet but not too sweet.  Lasting power is pretty good on me. With three spritzes I find it lasts from early morning until around 3:00 pm before it’s completely faded. Layering the lotion helps extend the scent. The lotions are lightweight and absorb quickly into the skin and hydrate the skin nicely. The shower gel lathers up well in the bath or shower although I find the shower gels aren’t quite as strong in scent as the lotion/perfume. All the body and hand items are identical in scent. The Pamplemousse Rhubarbe Lip Balm is clear and lightweight. It hydrates the lips nicely. Online it’s only available in a couple of sets. I haven’t checked to see if it’s available alone in stores (if you’ve spotted it please share in the comments). The hand creams of course are incredible and not to be missed.

The Jasmin-Immortelle Neroli is actually my favorite of the two options which surprised me because Jasmin is one of those scents I like for the home but don’t usually like to wear. The mix of jasmin, immortelle flower, citrus of neroli make for me the most interesting combination. The scent is very soothing and feminine. According to L’occitane this one is described as “luminous, angelic, sensual…” and I couldn’t agree more. It’s so beautiful I am doing something I have only done once before, I am backing up the perfume.

Per L’Occitane, “Floral and absolutely feminine, the jasmine scented fragrance of pastry chef Pierre Hermé balances the white notes of gardens at dawn with the gold of a flower that still flourishes throughout the Corsican maquis. Sparkling head notes bring an unexpected sensation. In one deep breath, Lemon and Petit grain tantalize the palate as they come into contact with Pink Pepper and offer up a breeze of fresh air. The exhilarating heart of this bouquet blends the floral note of Jasmine and the softness of Orange Blossom with the wild, honeyed and aromatic scents of an armful of Immortelle from Corsica. This is a floral fragrance that captures the scent of the Island of Beauty, swept up in woody and musky notes.” 

Options in the Jasmin-Immortelle Neroli are the same as for the other fragrance with one slight variation for the lips:
The lip product for this collection is a tinted lip gloss. It is scented just like the other items in the line and goes on a sheer glossy pink (almost clear). It tastes surprisingly good – surprising to me because the scent doesn’t seem like something that would taste good, but it does. At the same time it should be expected that Pierre Hermé and L’Occitane would take extra care to make sure the lip products taste just as good as they look and smell.

Swatches of the lip balm and lip gloss that we received in the US:

A quick look at a few of the other sets that launched this holiday. There was a Pierre Hermé hand cream trio available online but appears to be sold out right now. I didn’t see it in stores a month ago but you may want to check to see if it popped up. It has the Mandarin Miel (warm citrus honey) as well which is still available for purchase separately online and in stores. The set offered a slight price break compared to purchasing the hand creams separately. Since everything is limited-edition I don’t think this one will be coming back online.

Also available are these cute Hugs and Kisses Duos that have a lip product with a hand cream packaged together. The sets are $20 each ($24 value) and come in a variety of options. I didn’t see these in store either – but if you’ve spotted them please share in the comments. I ordered the Pierre Hermé ones online.
Above: the Hugs and Kisses Hand and Lip Duos ($20 each) in Pamplemousse Rhubarbe, Jasmin-Immortelle Neroli, Shea Butter*, Delightful Rose*, also available in Zesty Lime.

There are lots of different gift sets at L’Occitane. My favorites are the Pierre Hermé ones. One more item I wanted to highlight because it’s so cute are the Holiday Baubles. These are only $14 each and make the perfect stocking stuffer. The Shea Butter Holiday Bauble comes with minis of the Shea Butter Hand Cream, Extra Gentle Milk Soap, Ultra Rich Body Lotion, Ultra Rich Shower Cream all packed into a cute ornament. There’s also a Shea Verbena Holiday Bauble option (also $14), or both in a Duo Pack Set for $28.

Bottom line: so much to love. The only downside is that a lot of the holiday items are limited-edition and some sets have already sold out online, my hope is that they restock, but I don’t suspect the popular items like the sets. If you have anything on your wishlist I suggest you visit your store sooner than later.

Out of all the items in the Pierre Hermé collection, I think the stand outs are the Eau de Toilettes and Hand Creams. The Jasmin-Immortelle Neroli Lip Gloss is special because it’s a surprisingly pretty pink shimmer even though it goes on pretty clear on my lips, it smells amazing and makes the lips feel smooth and glossy without any tacky feel.

This is perhaps my favorite holiday launch this year (or at least in my top three). You can find the collection online at L’Occitane and most items in stores as well. Some sets are online exclusives.

Did you check out anything from L’Occitane this holiday? My husband has some of the men’s skincare sets on his wishlist for Christmas and I just ordered a few today.

Some items featured include press samples indicated with a *. Press samples include the Body Lotions, Shower Gels, Eau de Toilettes, Shea and Rose Hugs and Kisses. All other items and sets featured purchased by me.
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L’Occitane Shea Melting Honey Collection Launches

November 3, 2015

Earlier this fall L’Occitane launched their Shea Honey Body Collection which combines the rich smoothness of Shea butter and the soft gentle scent of Provençal honey. The collection is exclusive to L’Occitane stores and online. I was a huge fan of some of the older honey items that they discontinued and was sad when it was pulled, but the items in the new collection are just as divine. There are six pieces in this collection covering bath, body, lip and hand care. I have four pieces to share a review of today.

The Shea Honey items smell like a soft sweet soothing honey. It’s a warm and well-rounded kind of scent that is amazing. There is a very slight hint of floral to the scent, it’s not overpowering like some honey scents can be. If you have an ultra sensitive nose and don’t want any fragrance in your body products, I highly recommend the Shea Butter line. The Extra Gentle Lotion for Body and Hands has been a staple for years. I’ve repurchased so many times I’ve lost count. It’s lightweight but super hydrating and good for sensitive skin.

There are two bath items in this collection. The Shea Melting Honey Soft Shower Gel ($20 for 8.4 fl oz) is a gentle body cleanser that lathers up nicely in the bath or shower. It has a thick consistency but foams up well to leave the skin feeling super smooth and well hydrated. I’ve had some dry patches on my legs this past week and this has really helped hydrate my skin. A little goes a long way.

There is also a Melting Honey Solidarity Soap ($3 for 1.7 oz, sold out online, but I did spot this available in stores still). I’m not a bar soap kind of girl, but L’Occitane is the one of the few lines I actually like and use for bar soaps. They have the best lather and are moisturizing but don’t leave any film on the skin.

My favorite item in the collection is the Melting Honey Ultra Soft Cream ($36 for 3.4 fl oz). This is a super lush and soft cream that melts into the skin. It’s like a body cream or body butter but with a much softer texture. It feels super emollient without any greasy feel. I’m completely obsessed with the formula. I hope L’Occitane expands this formula into other lines like the Almond and Shea Butter (they currently have it in the Rose Heart, Vanilla Bouquet and Zesty Lime). The Melting Honey Ultra Soft Cream has 10% shea butter.

Last but not is the Shea Melting Honey Whipped Hand Cream ($12 for .59 fl oz). I’m a sucker for hand creams that come in cute packaging and L’Occitane launches are always among my favorite. (Have you seen the packaging for the new Pierre Herme x L’Occitane launch? The hand cream trio to die for!!) The whipped hand creams come in an airy whipped formula that feels lightweight but is still super hydrating and creamy. The texture has just the right consistency where you feel moisturized but not greasy. It absorbs nicely into the hand and smells really good. The Melting Honey Whipped Hand Cream is made with 25% shea butter. The honey is very softening on the skin.

I’m thrilled with each item in the new collection. Everything is super hydrating which is perfect for this time of year but lightweight enough so it doesn’t have any heavy feel. The best part about L’Occitane is that they have a wide range of body products to suit everyone’s tastes. I buy the gift sets every holiday as Christmas gifts because they are beautifully packaged and never fail to make friends and family happy (even for the super picky ones that are so hard to shop for). I’m looking forward to seeing this year’s holiday collection and sets in person. The Advent Calendar is the cutest set I’ve ever seen.

Have you checked out anything from the Shea Melting Honey Collection yet? If not, what are your L’occitane favorites? All the Shea Melting Honey items are exclusive to L’Occitane Boutiques and online. Also all pieces are limited-edition.

The Shea Melting Honey items were sent courtesy of L’Occitane for review consideration. All opinions my own.
Giveaway

Molton Brown Ylang Ylang Collection + Giveaway

September 17, 2015

I’ve been a huge fan of Molton Brown for many years going back to the days of their Coco de Mer (now reformulated into their Coco and Sandalwood). Their shower gels have been a long-time luxurious splurge for me – a few years back they changed some of the items in their line. They renamed and revamped a number of their scents. A regular go-to is the Gingerlily Body Wash for a super brightening uplifting scent. The Molton Brown recently sent me samples of the Ylang Ylang Collection to try featuring the one of the new Body Polishers, Body Lotion and Body Wash.

The items featured from the Ylang Ylang Collection:

Body Polisher $50 for 9.7 oz
Body Wash $30 for 10 fl oz
Body Lotion $42 for 10 fl oz

This is the first time I’ve tried their body scrubs. There are four options inspired by world destinations. Ylang Ylang is inspired by Madgascar with Magadascan black vanilla grains inside. It’s like a super relaxing spa in a tub the texture is emollient in a thick gel base with micro-fine grains suspended inside. It’s a hard scent for me to describe – it has notes of ylang-ylang and cedarwood with a tiny bit of vanilla.

Here’s a close up of the scrub below, it’s the best scrub I’ve tried. It exfoliates really well and is super hydrating. It makes your legs glow and look well nourished and smooth. I hope they expand the line to other scents in their lineup – it’s truly incredible.

The shower gel and body lotion are really nice layering products. The scent is very strong – not as strong as perfume but lingers on the skin for quite a while which is nice. I love the shower gels because they lather up really nicely and double as a good bubble bath. The skin is left feeling ultra clean but not dried out. The lotions have a thin texture which makes it feel weightless on the skin. It absorbs quickly. The body products in the Ylang Ylang line are very floral – but I don’t find it overly so. The items have a calming relaxing effect – it really does make me feel like I’ve been to a spa after I use the scrub and shower gel.

The Molton Brown team sent an extra set for me to giveaway to one lucky winner. There are several ways to enter via the Rafflecopter widget below. See Terms and Conditions for details. The giveaway is open to residents of the US and Canada who are 18 years or older. You must enter via the widget to qualify for the drawing.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Do you have any Molton Brown favorites? I love that the look of their hand creams – the packaging looks ultra sleek and pretty with the different colors. If you have any recommendations I’m all ears. It’s been a while since I’ve visited a boutique but I think a trip is in order very soon.

You can find Molton Brown at a number of retailers. Online at Molton Brown, Nordstrom, Birchbox and Neiman Marcus.

Many thanks to Molton Brown for sending a set for review and a set for a giveaway.

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NUXE Loves

July 14, 2015

I’ve been a long time fan of the NUXE Huile Prodigieuse Dry Oil. It’s a really good dry body oil that absorbs quickly into the skin and smells amazing. I was excited to see all the products in French Pharmacies in Paris (a few snapshots here). There are a number of things you can buy in Paris that aren’t offered in the US (like the sun line and a number of body products). I really wish I had stocked up on items while I was in France, but there’s always next time. One of the places we stayed at, Hotel Brighton stocked NUXE Toiletries and I was in heaven. The first thing I did when I got back to the US was place an order for some shower gels, hand creams and lip balms. The new Huile Prodigieux® Shower Oil just launched and it’s amazing. It leaves the skin super soft and smells just like the dry oil. It’s sulfate-free and scented with sweet almond oil, orange blossom, magnolia and vanilla. I really love it.

Today NUXE is offering 30% off on their US site https://us.nuxe.com/ in celebration of Bastille Day. No code needed – prices are reduced, they also offer free shipping with any $50 purchase. According to the e-mail I received this morning, the offer expires on July 14th, 2015, at 11:59pm EST.

Quick shot of NUXE in Paris:

Some of my favorites include items from the Rêve de Miel line. They released a few limited-edition pots of their lip balm to celebrate their 20th anniversary (now sold out). I bought one of the yellow pots but haven’t had a chance to try it. I have tried the Lip Moisturizing Stick Rêve de Miel and like it for a soft lightweight sheer lip balm treatment. The Rêve de Miel Gentle Shampoo is a staple for me, it’s ultra hydrating and smells like honey. I don’t have super dry hair so I reserve this for once a week use and use other shampoos on a daily basis. The Cleansing Gel is designed for dry skin and is multi purpose for both face and body. It’s good for sensitive skin and cleans nicely without leaving a film but still leaves the skin feeling moisturized.
Two other shower gels I bought include the Men’s Shower Gel and the Fondant Shower Gel (smells like orange blossom and almond). Both are thick in texture but lather up gently. My husband is a loyal user of Jack Black’s Turbo Wash and prefers it over all others, but likes the way the NUXE smells.

Last but not least, NUXE has a new limited-edition summer bottle of the classic Huile Prodigieuse for summer out. It’s not yet available online at NUXE (so far I’ve only seen it at Beautyhabit).

I’m happy to see the line available at more places now. If you miss the sale today and are curious about where else to find it, you can find NUXE online at at their US website, Beautyhabit, Space NK, Beauty.com, Urban Outfitters, Target and Birchbox.

Do you have any NUXE favorites? If yes, what are your favs and where do you usually buy NUXE? I’ve seen a number of places stock the Dry Oil, but have never seen the full line in stores near me (Paris was a first!).

The NUXE Rêve de Miel Shampoo, Rêve de Miel Shower Gel and Summer Huile Prodigieuse were provided courtesy of NUXE for review consideration. All other items purchased by me.

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Favorite Bath and Shower Gel Splurges

April 6, 2015

For most of my life, I’ve been a bath and shower gel kind of person versus the bar soap kind mainly because I find shower gels do a better job at making the skin feel clean without leaving any film or making the skin feel dry. My favorite go-to shower gel has been the Neutrogena Rainbath Refreshing Shower Gel in the Original Scent. It’s one of the classic staples that is gentle enough for my super sensitive skin. I like it because it lathers up really well and leaves the skin feeling super clean and it’s also unisex. For scented shower gels I’ve tested quite a few over the years. There is nothing like a beautifully scented shower gel to wake you up in the morning or to help you relax at the end of a day. I have a roundup of my favorites that I’ve purchased numerous times along with a few new discoveries.

Diptyque has a few of their fragrances available in shower gel form including the Tam Dao, Do Son, and L’Ombre Dans L’Eau to name a few. These are quite spendy but if you’re a fan of the fragrances this is another nice way to experience it. I’ve tried a couple – Tam Dao is very lightly fragranced with a thicker gel-like texture. It doesn’t lather up like some others but makes for a nice bubble bath. L’Ombre Dans L’Eau has a stronger scent to it (it’s the fragrance version of their Baies candle) and a better lather. A little goes a very long way. Out of all the shower gels from Diptyque my favorite is the Revitalizing Shower Gel for Hair and Body. I can’t count the number of times I’ve bought this one, it’s worth every penny in my opinion because it lathers up really nicely and smells refreshingly clean and unique. My husband really likes this one as well (for him). It leaves the skin feeling super soft and lingers on the skin but won’t interfere with your perfumes. Ingredients listed online here.

Next up is the Jack Black Turbo Wash Energizing Cleanser for Hair and Body (also available in a smaller size). This one is designed for men and is my husband’s all time favorite, but I like to borrow it too. My husband is all about products that multi-task, this one really is good for both hair and body. This one is his favorite because it suds up really well and cleans the skin without leaving any film or residue. It has a mix of rosemary, eucalyptus and juniper berry which makes it smell incredibly fresh and crisp. The eucalyptus has a cooling feel that energizes the body and wakes you up in the morning but it’s not as sharp or strong as other scents with eucalyptus making it softer around the edges. I’ve bought him a number of travel sized minis from other brands to try out but this one remains his favorite. Ingredients listed online here.

My latest discovery is the Nuxe Rêve de Miel Cleansing Gel for Face and Body. This one is designed for dry skin. It has that sweet honey and sunflower scent which I usually find too powdery or floral in other lines but it’s something Nuxe does the best. It’s really thick and concentrated so a little goes a very long way. I like that it lathers up to a gentle lather – since it’s on the thicker side it won’t foam up like some others making it adhere better to the skin when you’re in the shower or bath. That being said it does rinse off completely but leaves the body feeling well hydrated. I haven’t tested this on the face yet but if you have dry skin and like honey-scented products this is amazing for the body.

Ingredients:

Aesop Geranium Leaf Body Cleanser is a staple but also extremely pricey. This has a gel texture that lathers up nicely but since it’s more liquid than others it won’t necessarily foam up like the Diptyque or Neutrogena. It’s a nice soft geranium scent that is very mellow but still refreshing. You only need two pumps for the entire body and it cleans the skin like nothing else I’ve tried. Ingredients listed here.

Last but not least is the L’Occitane Bonne Mere Rosemary Shower Gel. I’m normally not a fan of rosemary scents for the body because they are often too sharp and too herbal-smelling. This one is very different. It’s incredibly difficult to describe but it’s a softer more refreshing version of the Jack Black Turbo Wash minus the eucalyptus. The entire Bonne Mere collection is designed to be extremely gentle on the skin. I’ve tried several items from the line and love the Rosemary Shower Gel, Olive Shower Gel and Liquid Marseille Hand Soap. The Rosemary has been repurchased 4 times already.

Ingredients:

If you’re in the market for a new bath or shower gel I hope you found this roundup helpful. There are a number of scented showers gels I love for the fragrance but aren’t so great in terms of giving the skin a good clean feeling. The ones above do both for me and are gentle enough for my sensitive skin. Do you have a favorite splurge? I would love to hear about your favorites!

The Nuxe and L’Occitane were press samples provided for review consideration. All other items purchased and repurchased by me.

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L’Occitane La Collection de Grasse | Néroli & Orchidée

June 2, 2014

L’Occitane recently released Néroli & Orchidée as a new addition to their La Collection de Grasse line, inspired by the world perfume capital in the south of France. There is a lovely Néroli & Orchidée Collector’s Set ($85) which the 2.5 fl.oz Eau de Toilette, 6 fl.oz Shower Gel, and 6 fl.oz Body Milk. This fragrance line is a mix of both neroli and orchid, making it a lively juicy floral. I like that this set has a variety of items to sample. All are packaged in a lovely simply pink-beige tone making these lovely additions to your bathroom or guest room. The box is also quite lovely making this a great gift. Notes for these include orange, mandarin
neroli, lily of the valley, fig milk, peach
orchid, iris, musk – it is very feminine.

My favorite item of the three is the Shower Gel. It leaves the skin feeling very clean, I like to run a little bit into the bath – it bubbles nicely and I like that this feels nice on the skin.

The Body Milk has a soft and silky feel. The texture is thin but not too fluid, it’s very moisturizing and absorbs quickly into the skin and leaves the skin feeling refreshed and soft (no sticky remnants or dry-down). The Eau de Toilette has a very lightweight airy feel. With both of these the initial scent after first application is on the strong side of sweet. The best part in my opinion is the dry down. It turns less sharp and less sweet to a soft fruity floral. Lasting power on both of these layered is medium – but I usually prefer body products that are more subtle. I like that these are compact and small enough to fit on your night stand or dresser table without taking up a lot of space.

The Néroli & Orchidée Collector’s Set is available in stores and online at L’Occitane for $85 or individually as well. If you’re shopping online, don’t forget to check their Special Offers page for deals and gift with purchase offers. I’ve been eyeing the Vanille and Narcisse along with Mer and Mistral but have been avoiding the store because I always leave with more than what I have on my shopping list.

Have you tried anything from the La Collection de Grasse? What scent is your favorite?


This set was provided as a press sample by L’Occitane for review consideration, for more information see my Disclosures.