Review of L’Occitane Lavender Hand Cream

L’Occitane and Crabtree & Evelyn have something in common. They are well-known for their elegantly-packaged hand cream that smells so luxurious and high-end. And of course, don’t forget their premium pricing too. But, which is better?

I’ve first started using Crabtree & Evelyn hand cream more than a decade ago and adored the then one-of-a-kind metal tube packaging that’d separated premium from mass-market hand creams. Of course, this style has since been copied even by cheap brand names found in drug stores.  In any case, the same packaging of L’Occitane led me to an impulse purchase when browsing at Singapore Changi Airport. It’s like I just had to get something that was duty-free whenever I’m at the airport. LOL.

> RELATED: Duty free beauty hauls from airports

 

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About L’Occitane Lavender Hand Cream

I’d specifically purchased the Lavender range that came in a 75 ml silver and violet metal tube. My hands were dry after returning from an overseas trip and I didn’t mind pampering myself with some premium hand cream made in France.

Lifted from their marketing label, this is what L’Occitane Lavender Hand Cream promises:

Marketing Description: The smooth, light-textured Lavender Hand Cream, enriched with shea butter and P.D.O lavender essential oil, gently nourishes the hands, leaving them softly perfumed.

At Singapore Changi airport, this lovely-scented hand cream retailed for S$24 (Non-DFS: S$32.50). Quite a good bargain, huh? Let’s find out if this hand cream is worth its price tag.

 

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What’s Good about L’Occitane Lavender Hand Cream

1. Elegantly-Packaged

The reflective metal tube feels solid and cool to the touch. Not only do I feel as classy and sophisticated as its packaging when using L’Occitane Lavender Hand Cream, I was immersed in luxurious indulgence. Yes, it’s all psychological, but it works. 

2. Absorbs Well

L’Occitane Lavender Hand Cream absorbs quickly leaving no obvious grease or residue on hands. You can touch your ipad or typed without anything oily transferring onto your devices.

3. A Balanced Scent

There’s a refreshing and light powdery scent to the lavender hand cream. It’s well-balanced and not overpowering! I’m pretty certain it won’t scare off your neighbors or make them (or you) gasp for breath. ;)

 

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What’s Bad? 

1. Not Moisturizing Enough

I’d bought L’Occitane Lavender Hand Cream thinking that the shea butter and lavender essential oil in it would offer sufficient hydration. To my disappointment, the cream was more diluted that what I was expecting and my hands felt in need of moisture again after say 15 minutes.

Admittedly, I do have dry hands. Still, I would expect it to work better than my cheap Vaseline body lotion. It shouldn’t have been a difficult task considering that I was using it in a hot and humid country (i.e. Singapore).

If you are thinking of using this within flight cabin or in a cold country, I suggest not. 

2. Requires Repeated Application 

It gets tiring having to reapply this cream repeatedly, like every 15 minutes because of how fast the hands feel dry afterwards. So I’d abandoned L’Occitane Lavender Hand Cream for a long while and only recently putting it into service again when I found a more convenient way to use this troublesome hand cream.

What I did was not to carry it out, but to put it on my work desk. So it’s always within sight, and within 30cm from my hands (or keyboard). It is definitely more convenient to reapply it this way than to reach into the bag every 15 minutes. 

3. Inconvenient Screw-on Cap

A high-end design comes at a price.  The screw-on cap is inconvenient as it requires precise alignment when closing as compared to a snap-cap tube. It’s worsened by the need for repeat application. 

4. “Lavender” scent?

I know how lavender smells like, having a lavender sleeping mask bought from a lavender farm in Hokkaido, and a Kiehl’s lavender body scrub on my table right now.

Can I say this? L’Occitane Lavender Hand Cream doesn’t have the scent of a typical lavender that I know of. It is less floral and more powdery. Still a nice fragrance though. So, don’t worry.

RELATED: Marks & Spencer Lavender Cream is my favourite summertime body moisturiser. Here’s why.

5. Expensive

You can easily get a hand cream for $5. If a hand cream costs 6 times the price, it better be great. Unfortunately, L’Occitane Lavender Hand Cream didn’t work that well in nourishing my dry hands. It’s consistency is more like a lotion than a cream.

And we all know lotion tends to be cheaper. So, I thought this hand cream from L’Occitane isn’t really worth the price tag.

 

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Recommendation

Judging at how dry my hands are perpetually, I don’t think I’ll repurchase L’Occitane Lavender Hand Cream. I need something richer and more lasting. Crabtree & Evelyn works better for me.

If you have dry hands like mine, or intend to use it under harsh environment such as within flight cabin or in winter climate, you may have to consider other hand creams. Rating: 3/5.

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