Skincare Review: L’Occitane Immortelle Brightening Essence & Brightening Moisture Cream

by PJ on Saturday, August 21, 2010

in -L'Occitane, skincare, skincare - moisturizing/others

L'Occitane Immortelle Brightening Essence 1

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Among L’Occitane‘s Immortelle skincare lineup is the Brightening range, and today I am featuring the Brightening Essence and the Brightening Moisture Cream.

The Immortelle Brightening Essence has a very lightweight and watery consistency and it is absorbed quickly. Some of its main ingredients are glycerin, pentylene glycol, ascorbyl glucoside, bellis perennis (daisy) flower extract and anthemis nobilis flower water.

The products in the Immortelle range contain extracts of the Immortelle plant, which is listed as helichrysum italicum flower oil. The plant is part of the sunflower family, and L’Occitane claims that the essential oil from the plant is able to enhance cell renewal.

The products in Immortelle’s Brightening range feature bellis perennis (daisy) flower extract, which is claimed to have skin-brightening properties. However, Paula Begoun points out that daisy flower extract can cause contact dermatitis. (This ingredient is fifth on the ingredient list, so the product doesn’t only contain a minuscule trace of this ingredient.)

Two of the ingredients in this product that may have skin-benefiting properties are ascorbyl glucoside and anthemis nobilis flower water. Ascorbyl glucoside combines vitamin C and glucose and may have antioxidant efficacy. Anthemis nobilis (chamomile) flower water has moderate antioxidant properties. The serum also contains borago officinalis (borage) seed oil. The oil contains gamma linolenic acid, which has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

The product does not contain alcohol, silicones, mineral oils, or parabens. It contains fragrance (parfum) and other scenting agents such as linalool and limonene.

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L'Occitane Immortelle Brightening Moisture Cream 1

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The Immortelle Brightening Moisture Cream has a lightweight watery cream consistency. It is absorbed quickly and leaves a surprisingly softly powdery finish.

Like the serum, it contains helichrysum italicum flower oil, bellis perennis (daisy) flower extract, ascorbyl glucoside, and borago officinalis (borage) seed oil.  In addition, it contains tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E, with antioxidant properties), but it also contains ficus carnica (fig) fruit extract, which, like bellis perennis (daisy) flower extract, can cause contact dermatitis.

The product does not contain alcohol, mineral oils, or parabens. It contains fragrance (parfum) and other scenting agents such as linalool and limonene.

The Brightening Serum is packaged in a bottle with a drop dispenser and the Moisture Cream is packaged in a jar. It is worth pointing out that ascorbyl glucoside, which both products contain, is sensitive to light and air, and the ingredient can lose its efficacy in these forms of packaging.

Overall, the two products have a pleasing lightweight consistency that can appeal to those with oilier skin types. While they contain several skin-benefiting ingredients, they also include ingredients that warrant some concern.

(The products featuresedin this article are provided by L’Occitane.)

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Related posts:

Genre Focus – Whitening Skincare Products

Bakel Jaluronic & Q10-B5 Serums

My Evening Moisturizer: Olay Complete Care Night Enriched Cream

{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }

Victoria Tuesday, January 29, 2013

I am a huge fan of L’Occitane! The immortelle essential oil is so beneficial for the skin, I would love to try these products. Did you notice any visible changes in your skin after using them for awhile?

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PJ Thursday, January 31, 2013

Hi Victoria,

I decided not to use the products continuously over a period of time due to the two ingredients (mentioned in my review) that can cause contact dermatitis. (One of them is in both products.)

Thank you very much for your question.

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