Indulging in Almonds: Home Spa Bliss by L’Occitane
Truly a home spa experience like no other.
In recent years, I’ve taken to be a lot more intentional with my evening routines. Earlier meals, less rowdy entertainment, more quiet me-time. There’s something magical and therapeutic about beginning–and ending–the day on your own terms, and what better way to wind down for bed than a sensorial escape in the confines of your own bathroom?
Visits to L’Occitane’s flagship spa on Star Street may be few and far between, but don’t let that get between you and the everyday moment of indulgence our body deserves. And while a home spa won’t ever be quite as good as the real deal, it still does a lovely job of purging the mind and making you feel good from the inside out before settling down under the covers.
The Iconic Sweet Almond
L’Occitane’s almond collection is a longstanding bestseller, and I’ve always found it to be their most luxurious body care lineup. Its fragrance is sweet and refreshing but not cloying–perfect for unisex products that your significant other may want to share in the bathroom.
Did you know that sweet almond oil dates back to ancient times? Rich in omega-9 fatty acids, it has emollient and smoothing properties that improve skin suppleness, elasticity and firmness.
Once an emblematic feature of Provence, almond trees were unfortunately neglected for half a century after the disastrous winter of 1956 and the mass uprooting in favour of more profitable and less labour-intensive crops (including olive trees). With generations of almond trees vanishing from the Valensole Plateau, L’Occitane stepped in to set up a sustainable partnership with local producers. Now, the brand is committed to sourcing almonds from the area, repurposing produce not used by the food sector, and replanting almond trees so the industry can thrive again.
Almond Shower Oil
Touted “liquid gold”, the Almond Shower Oil has an oil-to-milk texture that emulsifies and foams when it hits the water and doesn’t leave a greasy or filmy residue behind. It gently cleanses and hydrates, leaving skin feeling softer and more nourished after just one use.
It doesn’t hurt that the mouthwatering scent of fresh almonds brings to mind summer days in an almond grove, an enveloping scent that turns evening showers into a peaceful ritual I look forward to, but most of all, a game-changer for the hot summer months to boost hydration sans the heavy feeling.
Almond Milk Concentrate
To me, it’s so important to have a body lotion that not only performs well but also smells heavenly. After all, its scent envelops you as you go to bed and lingers on your pyjamas and bed sheets in the morning.
That said, the Almond Milk Concentrate is even more sumptuous than its name suggests. With a creamy, silky texture and a rich almond oil fragrance, it’s formulated with 95% natural ingredients that not only moisturise the skin but also smooth and tighten–kudos to the walnut seed and almond extract complex that promotes skin elasticity while stimulating cellular renewal.
It also presents the prime opportunity to pamper yourself at the end of a hot shower. After warming it in your hands, glide the lotion onto your skin and massage with slow, circular movements, working from the bottom up, and focus on areas where you need the extra toning or definition. It leaves skin feeling light and soft, and a small scoop daily can already create visible effects over a month.
Eco-Refill
If you love the Almond Shower Oil and Almond Milk Concentrate as much as I do, the good news is that both products are available in refill format, with the Almond Shower Oil refill repackaged in a 100% recycled PET bottle. L’Occitane’s eco-refills use, on average, 85% less plastic than a regular bottle and cost 10% less. So it’s good for your wallet, but better yet for the planet.
L’Occitane had also sent a beautifully textured bowl along with their almond collection that piqued my curiosity. Turns out it was created in collaboration with local art studio Earth Element, where empty beauty bottles collected from customers were broken up into tiny plastic pellets and upcycled into works of art.
As part of L’Occitane’s commitment to reduce waste, the goal by 2025 is for all its bottles to be made from 100% recycled plastic and all plastic packaging to be recyclable, reusable, or compostable.
For those looking to explore the full range of almond products from L’Occitane:
Almond Supple Skin Oil – A lightweight oil alternative to the Almond Milk Concentrate that multi-tasks to firm and smoothen skin.
Almond Shower Scrub – Crushed almond shells exfoliate in an almond tree flower scent.
Almond 2 in 1 Exfoliating Soap – Scented with apricot flowers, the soap is shaped like a knobbly brush to massage and scrub simultaneously.
Almond Delicious Paste – A more decadent exfoliating treatment than the Almond Shower Scrub, the addition of sugar crystals and almond butter smooths and contours skin.
Almond Milky Bath – A rich bath soak infused with almond oil and milk.
Almond Delicious Hands – Creamy but non-greasy, perfect for topping up the fresh almond scent on the go.
I’ve linked all the mentioned products sourced from across the web as usual, but if you purchase from L’Occitane Hong Kong directly, there’s also a limited-time promotion:
10% off for 2 pieces;
15% off for 3 pieces.
For transparency, the post features press products kindly gifted by the PR team but without obligation to share. This post may contain affiliate links, meaning we receive a commission when you click the links and make a purchase.
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