Finely ground walnut shell serves as the base for this silky L’Occitane body scrub, which is also loaded with nourishing shea butter , as you might guess from its name.
It is a purely physical or mechanical exfoliant that manages to drag the dead cells accumulated on the surface of the skin, with an extra emolliency to leave the skin tremendously hydrated and nourished.
It is especially indicated for dry skin to prevent it from becoming too dry, something that can happen after the exfoliation process if it is not moisturized afterwards.
According to the brand, the result is a super soft and very smooth complexion, with a velvety touch and free of impurities. Although to see its effectiveness, what we are going to do before trying it is to analyze its ingredients.
The container is 200 ml and its price is around € 30.
I recommend that you first take a look at our article with The Best Body Scrubs.
Index
L’Occitane Shea Butter Ultra Rich Body Scrub Analysis
- Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter : Tested in Clarins Men’s Anti-Wrinkle Cream .
- Glyceryl Stearate : Analyzed in Fiori di Cipria’s anti-wrinkle cream for men .
- Glycerin : Tested in Clarins Men’s Anti-Wrinkle Cream .
- Dicaprylyl Carbonate : Analyzed in Kiehl’s Facial Fuel Transformer Age Correcting anti-wrinkle cream .
- Caprylic / Capric Triglyceride : Tested in Clarins Men’s Anti-Wrinkle Cream .
- Silica : Tested in L’Oreal Men Expert Anti-Wrinkle Cream for Men .
- Arachidyl Alcohol : Analyzed in NeoStrata’s Bionic anti-wrinkle cream .
- Myristyl Alcohol : Analyzed in the Vichy Eyes LIFTACTIV Eye Contour .
- Cetyl Alcohol : Tested in L’Oreal Men Expert’s Anti-Wrinkle Cream for Men .
- Cera Alba / Beeswax : Tested in the Shiseido Benefiance WrinkleResist24 eye contour .
- Juglans Regia (Walnut) Shell Powder : Walnut shell powder used as an abrasive in exfoliating products. Walnut shell powder is not preferable to polyethylene beads in a scrub because it is impossible to make the walnut shell particles smooth, which means that the sharp edges can cause microscopic scratches on the skin each time it is used. .
- Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil : Analyzed in Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Eye .
- Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil : Tested in Shiseido Men’s Anti-Wrinkle Cream for Men .
- Potassium Cetyl Phosphate : Analyzed in the LIFTACTIV Eye Contour Vichy Eyes .
- Myristyl Glucoside : Analyzed in the eye contour Belei reducing dark circles .
- Caprylyl Glycol : Analyzed in the Youth Eye Complex from iS Clinical .
- Arachidyl Glucoside : Analyzed in Bioderma Hydrabio Moisturizer .
- Allantoin : Analyzed in Mercadona’s Sisbela eye contour .
- Behenyl Alcohol : Tested in Shiseido Men’s Anti-Wrinkle Cream for Men .
- Xanthan Gum : Tested in L’Oreal Men Expert’s Anti-Wrinkle Cream for Men .
- Sodium Hydroxide : Analyzed in Fiori di Cipria’s anti-wrinkle cream for men .
- Chlorphenesin : It is used as a preservative due to its antifungal and antibacterial properties. It causes irritation and contact dermatitis in many, especially those with dry, sensitive skin.
- Tocopherol : Tested in Clarins Men’s Anti-Wrinkle Cream .
- Parfum / Fragrance .
- Benzyl Alcohol : Tested in Nuxellence de Nuxe eye contour .
- Benzyl Benzoate : Tested in Clarins Men’s Anti-Wrinkle Cream .
- Linalool : Tested in Clarins Men’s Anti-Wrinkle Cream .
- Citronellol : Tested in Shiseido Men’s Anti-Wrinkle Cream for Men .
- Coumarin : Analyzed in Biotherm Homme Force Supreme Youth Reshaping anti-wrinkle cream .
- Hexyl Cinnamal : Tested in Clarins Men’s Anti-Wrinkle Cream .
- Limonene : Tested in Clarins Men’s Anti-Wrinkle Cream .
Summary analysis of L’Occitane Shea Butter Ultra Rich Body Scrub
As its name indicates, shea butter is the queen of the formula, occupying 10% of the composition .
This is good news, especially if we consider that this natural ingredient is one of the most appreciated emollients and moisturizers in dermis care for its great benefits.
Emollient agents do not stay in shea butter. L’Occitane’s formula includes up to 7 more consecutive emollients, including glycerin and various fatty alcohols.
This guarantees a highly moisturized and protected skin by forming an invisible film on the epidermis, and prevents any dryness and tightness.
Silica or silicon oxide is one of the ingredients that is used as an abrasive particle along with the ground walnut shell . However, this last ingredient is not one of our favorites to exfoliate.
This is because no matter how much it is crushed, the powder from the walnut shell will never be soft, that is, it will never have rounded edges.
And those sharp edges and edges that it has can create microscopic tears – which are not noticeable to the eye – but which are there and can damage the skin every time it is used. And this is a problem, since the skin barrier is damaged, unwanted microorganisms can penetrate.
This is something that puts me back when it comes to choosing this L’Occitane scrub.
The next ingredient is beeswax, a natural compound that forms a protective barrier that keeps moisture in place and prevents any pathogens from entering.
Other interesting assets are apricot kernel oil, with emollient and nourishing properties, and sunflower oil, with nourishing and antioxidant action.
These two oils provide extra nutrition to the formula, although they are in a somewhat low ratio for my taste.
After some surfactants and surfactants -cleaning agents-, we find allantoin, an active with soothing properties that also helps to eliminate the outer layer of the epidermis and promotes the formation of healthy tissue.
Already at the bottom of the list is when it starts to go awry, including a couple of irritating ingredients, perfume, and several ill-advised preservatives .
And although, as I said, they are in a low concentration, it is something that I do not want on my skin, not to a low degree, not even a lightening product. And even more so when there are so many better options on the market.
Therefore, it would not be an item that I would put in my shopping cart.
Alternative
For me, the Akento scrub would be the role model when it comes to scrub.
All its ingredients are natural, the beneficial assets are concentrated, and above all, it avoids any type of irritant or harmful ingredient.
This ensures that the product fulfills its mission, and eliminates any possible negative effects, such as the combined effect of cosmetics. Plus, it’s great value for money.
Kathie Sand always saw the world of beauty as the terrain on which to build her professional career, a goal that was clear to her when she was only 15 years old. Her great concern to expand knowledge led her to settle in Paris where she studied hand in hand with the best beauty professionals and with the most advanced techniques for skin care.