L’Occitane 2017 Holiday Collection – Gift Sets & Skincare

Last night I was at Yorkdale Mall celebrating the grand opening of the new L’Occitane Boutique. As you enter the store scintillating fragrances envelop you and the entire ceiling is covered in fresh flowers from Provence. I was reminded of my vacation to the South of France - feeling the warm breeze on my skin and gazing at the sparkling sunshine over the coast. If you are searching for the perfect holiday gifts this season, I encourage you to stop at one of the many boutiques around the city and sample the luxurious skincare but be warned, you might become totally addicted.

When people ask me what I use on my skin to achieve a flawless complexion, one of the brands I always recommend is L’Occitane. The ingredients are incredible and the formulas are extremely nourishing. One of my favorite Christmas treats is the Advent Calendar ($69.00) full of irresistible surprises, one for each day of the month.

The beautiful decorative box includes a range of bath, body and lip products to pamper you from head-to-toe and it is also a great way to discover which products you can’t live without (for me it’s the hand cream, face cream and shower gel).

If I had to recommend one collection in particular it would be the Almond line because the scent is warm and mouth-watering (I literally can’t stop smelling it). To help you relax and unwind after a long day, the Almond Shower Oil ($25.00) hydrates, and cleanses with a lightweight, milky lotion. Simply lather-up and rinse away impurities to reveal soft, silky skin.

Terre De Lumiere ($89.00) might be the best fragrance L’Occitane has ever concocted. This elegant gourmand is fresh, warm and sweet, showcasing robust notes of lavender, honey and almond – suitable for day wear and formal occasions.

Everyone loves a good pull-cracker especially when they are filled with delightful skincare goodies. The Festive Trio ($34.00) comes with 3 fun gifts that are great for stocking stuffers and each includes 3 products (hand cream, body lotion, soap or shower gel).

The small bottles are great for travel and the bright crackers look fabulous with your holiday decor.

To conquer dry winter skin the Shea Collection is a must! Enriched with a very high concentration of organic shea, these formulas soften, moisturize, heal and instantly alleviate dry, flaky skin. The Hand Cream ($32.00) protects, nourishes and treats rough cuticles and brittle nails with 20% shea. It is so effective that you don’t need to reapply frequently and it absorbs quickly with no oily traces. The Ultra Rich Body Cream ($49.00 with 25% shea) takes care of itchy, uncomfortable skin so you feel velvety smooth all day. The texture is more like a thick body butter that feels light, non-greasy and supple once applied. I love the Comforting Cream ($39.00 with 5% shea) for face and neck care. The moisturizer drenches parched skin in lush, fortifying layers and promotes a radiant, healthy complexion. These products are suitable for both men and women so don’t forget the guys on your list.

At night I like to layer the Immortelle Divine Youth Oil ($114.00) with my other skincare to create a reparative mask that rejuvenates my complexion. The formula consists of ultra-concentrated, natural oils that plump, illuminate, firm, fight signs of aging and protect against damaging external aggressors. It melts in quickly and forms a silky sheen that regenerates, evens textural irregularities and promotes elasticity.

To find a boutique near you or to browse the holiday collection visit the website at loccitane.ca.