Most of us spend an inordinate amount of time and money slathering skincare products on our face, but what about the 2 square(ish) metres of skin on the rest of our body? L’Occitane has released two new products with this in mind: an Almond Velvet skincare duo to address signs of ageing on the body.
I don’t know about you, but I feel like I deserve a gold star if I apply one body product daily, never mind two, so I may have set about testing this pair with a pinch of cynicism. Admittedly, after the first application, I realised it would be much more of a treat than a chore. Woe is me, I know.
Velvet Serum, L’Occitane’s first ever anti-ageing body serum, pairs the refining effects of almond with Vitamin C and other actives to help even skin tone, brighten, firm and hydrate. Light and silky in texture, it sinks in very quickly, just like a facial serum, making application a breeze and immediately making my skin feel more comfortable.
Velvet Balm is a rich cream (less dense than L’Occitane Almond Milk Concentrate) which targets five signs of aging: dryness, skin slackening, lack of tonicity, fine lines and skin irregularities. Gulp. It’s definitely nourishing and smoothing - and doesn’t cause me any irritation (which I’m prone to).
I really enjoy using these products and my skin feels extra soft after trialling them for a couple of weeks, but I think it would be irresponsible of me to say that any beauty product will deliver on every claim, as they all have their limits. If, however, you think it’s time to show the skin on your body some tlc, then this is a great place to start and I think you’ll enjoy using this duo as much as I do.
Keeping things real, not everyone will be in a position to fork out for both at once (I was sent these for review), so if you’re choosing one, I’d go for the serum - and use it alongside your regular body cream. If like me, your skin is quite dry, it will welcome both with open arms and drink them up immediately. I apply these at night as my mornings are manic enough - and must admit it makes me feel a little bit princess to include them in my bedtime routine. If you can’t face slathering on body lotion head to toe (or want to save £), go for waist up and use a cheaper product on your legs.
A final important point, these do not have the same fragrance as other products in L’Occitane’s Almond range, but a softer, more powdery floral-tinged-with-almond scent. I’m not sure why - and the new scent is still gorgeous - just a heads up in case you’re surprised, as I was.
L’Occitane Almond Velvet Serum, £38 and Velvet Balm, £42
