L’Occitane en Provence – One Minute Hand Scrub (swatches & review)

 

Our hands can sometimes express ourselves even better than mere words alone, and as such, are totally deserving in being well taken care of; in my case the very nature of how often my hands are photographed, means that I need to keep them in as optimum shape as I can. When I discovered that one of my favourite bodycare brands, L’Occitane en Provence, had this ‘One Minute Hand Scrub’ in their lineup, I couldn’t wait to give it a try – after all, one can never have enough pampering … even if it is just the hands!

the simple & clean lines of the outer packaging

innovative touch: braille on the exterior

a view of the open box contents

information & directions on back panel of the box

full ingredients list found on bottom of box

 

L’Occitane’s ‘One Minute Hand Scrub‘ is a unique nourishing exfoliant designed specifically for the skin of your hands, although I suspect that it would be just as effective for the feet (note to self: need to test this theory out!). Using organically sourced botanicals such as shea butter – one of L’Occitane’s star ingredients, grape seed oil – a well known natural preservative high in anti-oxidants, and sweet almond oil – an incredibly effective humectant, along with organic brown sugar for natural exfoliation, regular use of this scrub is almost like turning back the clock.

The plastic jar comes packaged in a recycled-material cardboard box, and includes a curved acrylic spatula that is not only handy for stirring the contents, but for easy application – a hygienic touch and one that keeps your hands free from excessive messes. I am totally impressed that a many of L’Occitane’s products also come with braille on the exterior packaging – kudos for that thoughtful touch!

The next line of defence comes in the form of a foil seal that effectively protects the liquid contents from any accidental spills, as well as keeping everything contamination-free. The conveniently placed lift tab on the seal ensures you won’t break a nail in frustration struggling to lift it off – thank you for that!

Upon opening the jar and taking in the scent, I was immediately transported back to my teens and trips to Greece; for anyone who remembers “Bain de Soleil’s Orange Gelée” suntan gel, that’s exactly the aroma of this ‘One Minute Hand Scrub’ – and I absolutely LOVE it! The delicate and somewhat vanilla-leaning warm smell of the sweet almond oil is definitely present, but the brown sugar also seems to add a sort of crème brûlée touch as well … quite yummy!

As there are 2 phases to this scrub – the sugar and the oils – the contents form a natural separation at rest which is clearly visible upon looking at the jar; using the spatula to stir everything up takes approximately 30 seconds, and you then have a perfectly emulsified scrub.

Using one scoop, or approximately 1/2 a teaspoon per hand, I applied the scrub and then proceeded to gently massage the contents into my skin, paying special attention to my cuticles and along the sides of my nails. You definitely need a light touch for this part, as the sugar granules literally do all the work while the beneficial oils help everything to glide along, all without any unnecessary pulling.

After about 1 minute (I confess to going on for about 2 minutes – I loved the sensation too much to stop!), I rinsed my hands with warm water and when the sugar granules washed off, I was left with glistening, and somewhat oily-looking skin, with the water simply beading off. Once I finished rinsing, I then used paper towels to gently pat my hands dry – preferable to wiping with a towel, as there are some oils still present at this point on the surface of the skin, and you really want to preserve all these nourishing benefits.

NOTE: It takes approximately 5 minutes at this point for all the oils to be fully absorbed into your skin, although drier types may find that time lessened somewhat.

HOLY MOLY!!!

To say that I was left with soft hands, would be the biggest understatement of the year! It’s closer to the truth to state that my hands actually felt like the softest velvet, thoroughly moisturized and supple, while the skin along my nails and cuticles looked the best it ever has. This sensation lasted through several hand washings as well, and I could swear that 2 days later, the surface of my hands still maintained a residual softness.

scrub with included acrylic spatula

view showing contents’ separation prior to mixing

foil seal which provides hygiene and added security against spillage

a closeup view of the foil seal with its convenient lift tab

foil seal opened to display contents

contents prior to being mixed

contents after being stirred

a sample view of the fully mixed contents – looks yummy, right?!

hand sample before applying the ‘One Minute Hand Scrub’

amount of scrub used for each hand

applied & massaged all over, nails & cuticles as well

macro shot of the sugar granules

view of glistening & water-beaded skin when the scrub was rinsed off

hand sample after using the ‘One Minute Hand Scrub’

 

Final thoughts: Now that I have discovered the incredibly nourishing properties of this ‘One Minute Hand Scrub’, there is NO going back. Creating an effective skin care routine, be it for the face, body, or hands, takes some experimentation but exfoliation in order to help speed up cellular regeneration and reveal freshly glowing skin, should top the list of everyone’s priorities. This scrub now proudly takes its place in my hand care arsenal and will most definitely see regular use, I can guarantee it. Available through all L’Occitane boutiques and through their website, this scrub retails for CDN $24.00/100 ml and is more than worth its weight in gold!