L'Occitane Bloggers Evening - September 2011
I have always been intregued by L'Occitane. I work right next to their store on St.Christopher's Place and every single day am interested by the gorgeous sights and smells. When invited for a very personal event in their most beautiful underground London store, how could I not resist? The event was to meet their newest range, Divine Immortelle. Being particularly interested in this range as I was, not only because it's star cream 'Creme Divine' has been hailed as the best anti-aging cream in the UK but also because of the involvement of Immortelle - the flower. Immortelle is more commonly known as the Everlasting flower, and it was first brought to my attention on a trip to Venice, Italy, around Mothers Day. The Immortelle flower is traditionally given in bundles to Mothers on Mother's Day in Europe - especially in Italy, Germany and France. When clustered together it is beautiful - I bought my Mum back some from Germany once attached to some chocolate kisses, mm - and it's most beautiful smell and appearance is quite striking. Across Venice it was beautiful, the streets covered with the little yellow flower and it could be found hanging from windows and decorating restaurants. The reason for the flower being called the Everlasting is that the flower completely retains it's colour and form even when dried out. So you can understand why an anti-aging skincare range would benefit from it's natural essential oils, right?
Quite like myself, the Immortelle flower was discovered on a Med holiday by one of the L'Occitane team where soon after they discovered it's essential oil properties. The Immortelle range overall covers everything you'd need from eye creams to night creams and even an essential water. Obviously the hero product is the Divine Cream, but should that not be to your suiting there's plenty of moisturisers that are. The reason for the event was that the Immortelle range recently expanded to cover the Immortelle Precious range, bringing a whole 'nother range of products to the forefront of L'Occitane. These recently launched in store, debuting the week of the event which now was back in September.
At the event we were graced by the presence of L'Occitane enthusiast Jo Fairley, former journalist and editor of the most recent book in her series: The Anti Aging Beauty Bible. The reason for her involvement in this event was that Jo had tried numerous creams and for her the Divine Cream came out on top, with one of the highest scores in the book. I got the chance to chat to her briefly and also take home a copy of the Anti Aging Beauty Bible with me, cool!
Jo signing my book
Natalya (who clearly doesn't need any form of anti aging products for years, grrr) with a copy of the book
So after the event I had a Divine Cream to take away with me and try for myself. After all these rave reviews in particular from Jo herself I was more than curious to see how it worked. I mean, look at Jo's skin - it's amazing! If it works like that on her, it's sold. I've been using it since the event two months ago now. Let's take a closer look at it:
Divine Cream | L'Occitane
Firstly, hello packaging! How gorgeous is that? Not only is it bright yellow - which pleases me and brings me joy everytime I use it - it's just lovely to hold and use. God I love it! I think the design is fantastic and really brings the flower to life. It is a pot though, which may put some people off instantly but to be honest it doesn't bother me at all.
It arrives sealed with a foil seal, which is a great thing as a lot of pot moisturisers don't. This for me is very important - it means I am truly the first person to touch the cream inside since it's manufacture. Now, L'Occitane claim it drastically improves skin over four weeks and makes skin look younger and more radiant. Now, I've been using this just in the evenings and sticking with my usual day cream in the day. Why? Because this is quite thick, and I didn't want to plonk too much moisturiser on my face for the day.
I did however find myself reaching for this when I had a bad reaction to a product used on me in a facial - which left my skin feeling sore to the touch, red and feeling hot like it was burnt almost. I scoured my moisturiser shelf and this was the one I ended up reaching for and relying on. Not only did it take the 'hot' feeling out of my skin but it also really did wonders on reducing the redness. I was at work when the biggest flare up happened and I found myself feeling embarrassed and self concious just in my bare skin (couldn't put any makeup on!). I slapped this on twice during the day and this is how I know it's a great cream. Not only was the redness gone entirely by the next day but it saved my skin totally. I really had to rely on it to perform and fix my poor broken skin and it totally did. It's gentle, yet restorative and I felt much happier by the next day. I feel had I not got my Divine Cream on the case my end story would have been very different. My skin took a little while to adjust to the cream, with a few spots flaring up over night on my top cheeks and chin area - where i'm a little oily - but once it settled it left really lovely overnight results. My skin does look brighter and I felt it was looking lovely. I have since alternated this with some other night creams (including the Immortelle Precious by L'Occitane!) and I really like it.
As far as it's claims for anti aging and wrinkle firming go, I guess I can't really comment on this. Mainly because I don't have many wrinkles at my age and also because I can't speed up time to tell you in ten years or not if I feel younger looking because of it. I will however continue to use it religiously and hope and pray for the best! I do want to be a yummy mummy you know!
L'Occitane's Divine Immortelle Cream retails at £65 from L'Occitane stores, QVC and Debenhams.
What do you think of L'Occitane? Have you tried anything from their range before? Do you think the Divine Cream is up your street or not something you'd look to purchase? I think it's great, and I know £65 seems like a lot but the pot is massive seriously. It's going to last me a very long time and for that basis and because of how well it fixed my face in it's hour of need (although this is everyday, haha!) I would reach and rely on it time and time again.
