L’Occitane en Provence · Divine Harmony Serum & Cream

Harmony. The very word brings about a feeling of peace, doesn’t it? L’Occitane agrees and after consulting hundreds of participants, they created a new holistic approach to skincare, one that aims to fuse the body & mind in perfect harmony. It stands to reason; if your skin shows a better texture and tone, then that gives way to a feel-good frame of mind. Harmony.

L’Occitane recently introduced Divine Harmony (Serum and Cream), their newest skincare products in the brand’s lineup that include ingredients powered by the earth and sea. The two stars of the show are Immortelle Millésimée — the flower that never fades, and Jania Rubens — a red algae that continuously regenerates, the pair coming together, well … in harmony, to offer up all their incredible restorative benefits to your skin.

Found on the island of Corsica, Immortelle Millésimée grow freely and abundantly in two special locations, privately owned farms where the sustainably grown flowers are harvested by hand using the traditional sickle method, thus allowing the flowers to slowly fall once they’ve reached full maturity. The is important to note, because this precious flower will only release its potent anti-ageing powers when it’s ready – and not before. Taking anywhere from several weeks — and even longer — to gather, this slower growth means that it may take anywhere from 700 kg to one ton of flowers to produce two litres of this precious essential oil. But then again, immortality has no timetable.

Growing in the clear mineral-rich waters of Revellata Bay in Corsica, Jania Rubens thrives in this sheltered sun drenched marine environment that’s free of any pollutants, finding everything it needs to grow and perpetually regenerate. Upon studying this plant, L’Occitane, in partnership with STARESO (a research centre), then set up a sustainable cultivation program using controlled conditions. Starting by taking a single fragment of the algae and then cultivating that in vitro in an aquarium that replicates the exceptional conditions of its natural habitat, this then made it possible to ‘trigger’ the regeneration process to produce new algae, and in turn obtain its rare 100% natural active extract.

Bound together for the first time, Immortelle Millésimée and Jania Rubens are found in unprecedented concentrations in both the Divine Harmony Serum and Divine Harmony Cream which also happen to come in refillable bottles, thus limiting their environmental impact and furthering the entire concept of harmony.

The flower that never fades, Immortelle Millésimée from Corsica

L’Occitane en Provence · Divine Harmony Serum & Divine Harmony Cream

Divine Harmony Serum (CAN $225.00/30 ml, $210.00 refill) | Each refillable bottle of this Serum contains 5,000 micro-drops of Immortelle Millésimée that is suspended within a water-based gel enriched with Jania Rubens. Both of these potent ingredients are thus encapsulated in each tiny drop, protected by a super-fine membrane that waits for the right moment to act upon the skin. Other ingredients include essential oils of:

myrtle
camelina
evening primrose
borage

Once dispense via the pump delivery system, each micro-drop delicately bursts upon the skin, spreading effortlessly and vanishing without any greasy residue whatsoever. Its fresh green-floral fragrance makes me immediately think of a sun-drenched field, a scent that dissipates fairly quickly after application. To be used after cleansing, morning and night.

L’Occitane en Provence · Divine Harmony Serum

Divine Harmony Cream (CAN $200.00/50 ml, $185.00 refill) | Made with the same super-fusion of Immortelle Millésimée and Jania Rubens, along with essential oils of myrtle, camelina, evening primrose, borage & musk, it’s the texture that stands out: once applied to the skin, it evolves from a lightweight cream into a soft oil, thereby allowing the ‘lipophilic active ingredients’ to effectively penetrate into the skin. Scented with the same fragrance as the Serum, it continues the whole sensorial experience — in the least offensive way possible — and gives your skin an immediate softness you can both see and feel. To be used after the Divine Harmony Serum, both morning and night.

L’Occitane en Provence · Divine Harmony Cream

I am deeply passionate about skincare, especially as I’ve gotten older and understood the importance of protecting my skin, a concept I’m not ashamed to say was quite foreign to me back when I was younger (and totally invincible). It also goes without saying that the better your skin looks and feels, the better you will feel and the better your makeup will apply as well. I’m also quite selective in what products make it as part of my full-time routine and being in this industry, I’m fortunate to have access to so, so many items –although not all are made equal. After having tested both the Divine Harmony Serum and Divine Harmony Cream for over a month now, I can happily say that they have each earned their place in my arsenal, as I’ve seen my skin respond in the best way possible; the tone looks even, the texture feels baby soft, and I feel that some of my fine lines are not as apparent. I’d definitely call that a harmonious result.

Available at all L’Occitane Boutiques and online