The L’Occitane Almond Shower Oil is, I believe, one of the hidden gems in the brand. Ok, maybe not so hidden because I know of many who are great fans of it. Its been around a while, and I’d heard a lot about it, but it was only relatively recently that I actually tried it.
I picked up a bottle when I walked past a booth last Christmas (Goodness! Has it been that long?!) and I love it! This is what I keep as my luxury shower treat (because its so pricey I nearly fainted handing over money at the cashier 😛 ). Its really a fascinating product and by now, you should be familiar with my penchant for oils – body oils, face oils… and now shower oil! 😀
The L’Occitane Shower Oil comes in only one scent – Almond. I’m not the biggest fan of almonds whether in the form of scent or the nut, but I must say that it isn’t too bad. It is quite a strong scent and leaves the bathroom perfumed for a while after. There is no way that someone can secretly use your Almond Shower Oil, because the minute you step into the bathroom, you will know. The smell lingers… and its quite nice.
The bottle is a flip top cap that is easy to manage in the shower. The shower oil pours out quite thickly and has the exact amber shade that you see in these photos. It does not feel like conventional oil in the sense of being oily and sticky. It is rather like a face cleansing oil, if you are familiar with that.
Unlike a face cleansing oil, you do not need to use this on dry skin. I usually pour a sizeable portion in the palm of my hand, then apply all over. You don’t really need very much, because when you emulsify it with water, it covers a wider area, if that makes sense. When it comes into contact with water, it will turn into a milky liquid. I hesitate to call it a foam, because it does not foam nor lather up as a regular shower gel does. It just turns into a thick milky liquid that has lovely slip and washes off easily, leaving skin feeling moist and soothed.
I find a little strangely, that when the oil comes into contact with water, it turns a little warm. Not scary hot, but just a little warm, like warmed up massage oil. I attribute this to the reaction between the oil and water but it will be interesting to see if anyone else experiences this.
I’d love to use this everyday if I could. My nose likes the scent, and my skin loves how smooth and soft it feels after use. But due to the cost, its a treat – a luxury shower treat! I wonder if L’Occitane will come up with a Lavender version – I’d love that!
In a nutshell
The L’Occitane Almond Shower Oil is an oil that, upon contact with water, turns into a milky emulsion that cleanses skin yet leaves it feeling soft and smooth. The scent is quite strong and will linger on the skin and in the air. Its quite a nice, albeit sweet scent. Be careful using this in the shower, because if water gets in, I can imagine it will not be as effective anymore.
Pros: Only little is needed, Nice scent, Skin feels soft and smooth after use
Cons: Pricey, If it comes into contact with water its likely useless thereafter
Here is the ingredient list of the product.
I love this shower oil and I’m now terribly intrigued by the concept of shower oils. I’m familiar with bath oils but not owning a bath tub is a bit of a problem so my only option is shower oils. Other than this one by L’Occitane, I’m not familiar with any other brand that carries shower oils though.
Does anyone else know what other brands carry shower oils? Have you tried this one? If you don’t know what to ask for a birthday/Christmas/any reason gift, ask for the L’Occitane Almond Shower Oil. I can quite safely say I think you’d love it too 🙂 I now need L’Occitane to come up with a Lavender scent – I wonder if anyone’s listening 😉
Paris B
L’Occitane Almond Shower Oil Price: RM90/250ml (I think) Availability: All L’Occitane stores
Renee | Beauty Fool says
May 11, 2012 at 8:59 amOOh sounds like a treat! I wonder why it turns warm with water? Sounds good though 🙂 I’ve always liked Almond-scented things, but yikes the price O_o
Would you believe I have never tried anything from L’Occitane? Not that I haven’t want to but it looks so expensive I’m scared to go into the store LOL.
xx Renee
Paris B says
May 13, 2012 at 11:44 pmTheir products aren’t much pricier than Crabtree and Evelyn so it’s worth going in to take a look. Smells are free too hehe… I don’t know why I get that slight warming feeling. Another reader had mentioned she doesn’t get it, so maybe it’s just me 😛
xin says
May 11, 2012 at 9:10 amer hem my birthday is coming *cough*
i have only used the REN rose bath oil before, but i have heard so much good thing about this!
Paris B says
May 13, 2012 at 11:45 pmAhem! I thot your birthday was already over 😛 I want to try the Ren bath oil but it’s impossible since I don’t have a bathtub 😛
Jesz says
May 11, 2012 at 9:15 amI haven’t tried this one but have tried Eubos shower oil, like the concept of shower oil especially when you are stress out from the day and also the smooth & soft skin after shower. Recalled few years back, Shu Uemura gave their shower oil (can’t remember the exact name) as gift with purchase. The scent was quite strong but I’ll linger on it after shower, quite relaxing…too bad the product wasn’t brought into Malaysia.
Paris B says
May 13, 2012 at 11:46 pmOho!! Thanks for the Eubos rec! I knew there had to be others 😀 I don’t think it smells as nice does it? But it’ll be cheaper anyway lol! I don’t recall the Shu Uemura one but I recalled they launched a shampoo late last year but we aren’t getting that either.
Jesz says
May 15, 2012 at 9:06 amWhether you like the smell or not, it is very personal. One may love the smell another may hate it…err…I personally quite like Eubos shower oil smell, plus it is much cheaper than the L’Occitane one. …haha so it doesn’t burn a hole in my pocket while still enjoy showering with it. =P
I actually went to take a look at L’Occitane Almond shower oil, quite like the smell but didn’t buy it because of the price tag. =)
jaime says
May 11, 2012 at 9:29 amI have never tried their shower oil before, nor other brands, however I used the same range of product, Almond body oil during my whole pregnancy to minimise stretch marks.
I love the scent and the oil works wonder. :))
But they keep on increasing the price 🙁
Paris B says
May 13, 2012 at 11:47 pmI guess that inflation for you. Great to know that the almond body oil works for stretch marks. Its helpful to know that 😀
shah says
May 11, 2012 at 9:36 amha ha! i love this too. wasnt planning to buy it initially, but since i had a voucher to use up, the SA suggested i try it. oh boy! have i turned into a fan. initially, i was worried that i’d go through it really fast but like u said, u only need a small amount. it’s been months now, and i’ve hardly reached the mid-point – and i use it daily 😀 no problem with the scent for me. maybe because i’m used to the smell of the almond milk concentrate. now this one i’m stingy in my usage since it costs an arm & a leg & an eye!
Paris B says
May 13, 2012 at 11:49 pmYay a fan! High5! You’re right, we don’t need very much and it feels so lovely on the skin. I usually use mine once or twice a week. Keep it for soothing away the aches and tiredness of the day although if that was the case, I should use it everyday eh? 😉
babysaffron says
May 11, 2012 at 9:59 amI really love this…but my wallet doesn’t love it…..
Paris B says
May 13, 2012 at 11:49 pmHaha same here! May wait for their promos and see if they give samples and stuff with it.
babysaffron says
May 14, 2012 at 11:40 amWe don’t have any kind of promo or free or at discounted price here in the Philippines…. I just hope that its cheaper in Hongkong since i’m going there day after tomorrow…
Paris B says
May 14, 2012 at 11:13 pmAhh what fun! Enjoy your trip to HK!
cc says
May 11, 2012 at 10:59 amOh I have been using this for years and totally loving it! However due to the price, it is a twice a week luxury treat for me. They do have Lavender Foaming bath which smells so good that makes you feel like a million bucks dipping in the hot tub. 🙂
cc says
May 11, 2012 at 3:53 pmOn another note, I also use the almond oil to wash some of my foundation / cream brushes, then wash again with their extra gentle soap. My brushes smells very lovely. 🙂
Paris B says
May 13, 2012 at 11:56 pmAhhhh that sounds like a lovely idea! Going to try it 😀
Paris B says
May 13, 2012 at 11:52 pmAhhh you made me want to step into a hot tub of lavender! without a tub it isn’t possible though, boo! I use this oil twice a week too. Gotta make it last as long as I can
jamie says
May 11, 2012 at 1:01 pmhi paris! been a while since i last dropped by! 🙂 ooooh this sounds like a gem! and i’ve never heard of it too and i really want to try it after your description of the feel and the scent!
can i ask you how many usages that bottle you showed in the picture has undergone? just to have an idea of how long it’ll last 🙂
thanks!
Paris B says
May 13, 2012 at 11:54 pmHi Jamie! I have been using this since Christmas, everyday initially for about a month and then about twice a week to make it last. You actually don’t need very much. Maybe a 50sen coin size? More than enough for me 🙂
jamie says
May 16, 2012 at 11:49 ami think this goes into my next month’s beauty budget 😉 thanks for the response paris! 🙂
Paris B says
May 16, 2012 at 10:30 pmYou’re welcome, Jamie! I hope you enjoy it 🙂
gio says
May 11, 2012 at 1:59 pmI’m not a fan of almond scents, but this sounds like such a luxurious treat that I’m tempted to try it anyway. 🙂
Paris B says
May 13, 2012 at 11:55 pmI’m not a fan either, so the fact I live this tells you a lot eh? 🙂 give it a go, Gio. I think it’ll be especially lovely in the cooler months.
Jyoan says
May 11, 2012 at 2:07 pmHmm, so this is basically used like soap? The gold looks pretty.
Paris B says
May 13, 2012 at 11:56 pmYup! It’s like shower gel but oil based 🙂
Shleesy says
May 11, 2012 at 5:40 pmRecommended by a friend in 2007 and use it ever since. I also use the almond oil (the formula was revised last year or is it the year before?) and milk concerntrate from the same range. I tried washing my hand to see if I can feel the ‘warm’ effect – nothing.
Similar to some designer’s bag, L’Occitane price also increase on yearly basis. My 1st 250ml bottle cost only RM65 – 5% member discount and now it is selling at RM90 (before member discount).
Paris B says
May 13, 2012 at 11:59 pmAnother fan! Yay! Maybe that warming effect is just me 😛 I found the smell of the almond oil too strong or I’d have picked it up too, since I’m such a fan of oils. Not much a fan of anything else, just this shower oil. Wonder if they’ll ever come up with another scent. Can’t believe that L’Occitane is behaving like a designer! They must have picked it up from LV and the like. Ish!
Sunny says
May 11, 2012 at 7:15 pmI’ve tried this one and love it!!! I do experience the slight warming sensation too, but it’s nice and unalarming 🙂 I haven’t really paid attention to any other shower oils, since most of the time I do stick to budget shower gels (I’ve found really great ones that are pretty natural and all that too). But this is something I’d totally love to receive as a present!
Paris B says
May 14, 2012 at 12:01 amOh good! It’s not just me that gets that warm feeling 😛 I love bath and body products so I’m always keeping an eye out for the next new thing. I’ve also learnt that my hands hate some shower gels out there and will start to peel if I’m not careful so I have had to be more picky 🙁 incidentally, the only thing it really likes now is Eucerin. There goes all my lovely scented washes
ysk says
May 11, 2012 at 7:54 pmIf I wasn’t mistaken,Crabtree &evelyn also has shower oil….
Paris B says
May 14, 2012 at 12:07 amThanks, I’ll take a look the next time I’m in the store. From recollection, they don’t though. I’m quite a regular especially during their sales but I haven’t seen a shower oil.
gin says
May 11, 2012 at 9:09 pmthe amber colour looks soo luxurious! very yummy colour!!!!
just wondering… from the picture, it looks like a glass bottle(and loccitane usually uses glass bottle)
the glass bottle, isn’t it a biiittt dangerous in the bathroom? being slippery and all….
Paris B says
May 14, 2012 at 12:08 amHaha sorry I should have mentioned it. It’s plastic and shower safe!
AT says
May 11, 2012 at 9:11 pmOooh, my absolute favourite too, although I love it mainly for the scent. It’s so yummy and I think I could just inhale this all day long! I wish L’Occitane would come up with the exact same fragrance for perfumes. If anybody knows a dupe of the scent for perfume, please let me know!
Paris B says
May 14, 2012 at 12:09 amLol! It’s a lovely scent, I don’t deny but a but too much almond for me. Hope someone can help you with the scent bit!
Aza_A says
May 11, 2012 at 9:56 pmReally? Shower oil? I’m sooo outdated, as I have no idea such thing exist. One more excuse to spend money on! :p
Paris B says
May 14, 2012 at 12:10 amShower oils have been around, but not many brands have them locally because it’s more for drier skin. Wish we’d see more of it here though, so we get more variety!
tracy says
May 11, 2012 at 10:07 pmhi Paris! Crabtree and Evelyn, as someone has said, has shower oils too! instead od a shower oil leaving a warming feeling, i’d love to hear of one that leaves one tingly and refreshed! do you know of any?
Paris B says
May 14, 2012 at 12:11 amThanks Tracy. I don’t recall our Crabtree stores carrying any oils but I’ll take a look anyway. I don’t think oils will tingle per se, due to the nature of oils being smooth and calming on skin. If I come across one I’ll be sure to let you know 😉
tracy says
May 19, 2012 at 8:08 amhaha ha Why was I not thinking?! Of course oils won’t tingle really.. please do let me know if you hear of any tingly – non-oily – bath gel!
Shija says
May 12, 2012 at 1:35 amShould i give it a try?…… Hmmmmm
Paris B says
May 14, 2012 at 12:11 amWhy not? 😉
jen says
May 12, 2012 at 5:00 pmSo, how often do you use it? 🙂
Paris B says
May 14, 2012 at 5:56 pmOnce or twice a week … or if I’m particularly stressed, everyday LOL!
nn says
May 12, 2012 at 10:41 pmI’ve met a girl once, shook hands with her and her scent stays on my skin for like, 30 minutes. I can’t stop sniffing my own hand. A few days after I ask her about her perfume and she told me it’s actually L’Occitane Almond products. I wish it’s not as pricey as it is. Can’t afford it, yet.
Paris B says
May 14, 2012 at 6:00 pmWow NN that was a lasting impression for sure! But what a lovely story – I guess you’re actively saving up for a bottle now 😉