L’Occitane En Provence OIL-TO-MILK Facial Make-up Remover: REVIEW

L’Occitane En Provence OIL-TO-MILK facial make-up remover brings a little hit of Provençal sunshine to the greyest of winter days.

It occurred to me last year that whilst I spend a lot of time encouraging myself and others to #BeMoreFrench, I tend to direct my attention towards Paris, rather than the regions. Determined to correct this capital-centrism, Margot and I visited the L’Occitane En Provence boutique in St Christopher’s Place with the express intention to #BeMoreProvençal.

The distinctive ‘yellow stores’ of L’Occitane En Provence are a treasure-trove of prettily packaged skincare and fragrance products that centre and celebrate the benefits of the plants that grow in the Provence region. The St Christopher’s Place store is very petite, but beautifully arranged. They have a little treatment room tucked away in there too, so Margot and I had consultations with the L’Occitane therapist, prior to selecting our perfect Provençal purchase(s).

The bright golden promise of the L’Occitane En Provence Oil-To-Milk Facial Cleanser sang to me like a troubadour.

But I almost resisted its siren song, because:

1) It featured an ingredient that was not one of my favourites

The main component of this gentle but effective make-up remover is Sunflower Seed Oil. Ordinarily this would have given me pause, as I am not (usually) a fan of things putting on my face, hair or body, things that I associate with frying or roasting, like rosemary, or sunflower.

However! Along with the Sunflower Seed Oil, the Oil-To-Milk facial make-up remover is infused with calendula and immortelle and has just enough fragrance to take the edge off any negative sunflower associations that I might bring to the party.

2) I don’t lack for cleansers and make-up removers and since I don’t wear make-up every day, I was slightly worried that I was falling for a product that I would rarely use.

But! Although this product is sold as a make-up remover, I’ve been using it as a straightforward cleanser.

I haven’t experienced any sense of dryness or tightness using it in the mornings, or on a face bare of make-up at night. I find it very soothing and softening, so much so that I must often remind myself to moisturise after using it.

I thank my lucky stars and all the gods that I followed my instincts and ignored my reservations, because this is one of the nicest cleansing products I have ever used.

L’Occitane En Provence samples

How I use L’Occitane En Provence Oil-To-Milk Facial make-up remover

I find the L’Occitane En Provence Oil-To-Milk facial make-up remover a far more versatile product than the name suggests.

I am very much not a morning person, and so massaging oil into my skin is a suitably gentle way for me to begin my lengthy waking-up process. Once I’ve splashed on some water to emulsify and rinse off, I feel nicely invigorated and impressively clean. The gorgeous sunshine yellow colour still has all the mood-lifting impact on me that it did when I first saw it, and in the mornings, I find this product energising: it makes me feel optimistic and ready to face the day.

Used last thing at night, I find it incredibly soothing. I’m doing all the same things, but I tend to take a little longer rubbing the oil in, run the water to emulsify it a tiny bit warmer, pat my face dry that much more softly … after a long or tiring day, this product encourages me to be kinder to myself.

I recommend this product because …

L’Occitane En Provence Oil-To-Milk facial make-up remover is an effective make-up remover/cleanser that is pleasurable to use, nicely packaged and jollies up the bathroom no end.

What I like best about it though, is that it helps me to regulate my emotions – in the same way that music can. In the mornings, the L’Occitane En Provence Oil-To-Milk facial make-up remover is the skincare equivalent of Lowkey singing Just Shine and at night-time, it’s Brigitte Bardot crooning her way through Mister Sun.

If John Keats were around today, I bet he’d adore L’Occitane En Provence Oil-To-Milk facial make-up remover.

This product truly is ‘a beaker full of the warm South, Full of the true, the blushful Hippocrene‘ and offers a simple and easy way to put a little Provençal song in your heart every day.

RRP: £20 for 200ml and available online  here or in a L’Occitane En Provence boutique – find your nearest one here