Reviews · L'Occitane · Body care
Is L'Occitane Almond Shower Oil worth it? Who it suits, and who should skip it
Almond Shower Oil is one of L'Occitane's best-known products: a body wash that starts as an oil and turns into a milky lather when it meets water. This is a research-based guide rather than a hands-on test. It covers what's in it, how to use it and who it's worth it for, using L'Occitane's own product information and UK retailers' listings.
L'Occitane Almond Shower Oil 250ml
What works
- Turns from an oil into a soft, milky lather with water, so it cleanses while feeling richer than a typical shower gel
- Made with sweet almond oil, which L'Occitane says is rich in fatty acids and omega-9, plus grape seed oil
- Designed for normal to dry skin, and for daily use all year round
- Doubles as a bath oil under running water, or as a shaving base, according to L'Occitane
- There's a 500ml refill as well as the 250ml bottle, for less packaging waste
Worth knowing
- It contains fragrance, including common allergens such as limonene and linalool, so it's not ideal for very sensitive skin
- It's a rinse-off wash, so it won't replace a body moisturiser if your skin is very dry
- It's a lot to spend on something you rinse away, compared with an ordinary shower gel
Who it's for
It's worth it if your skin feels tight or dry after showering with ordinary gels, or if you want a gift that feels special but suits almost anyone. Skip it if your skin is very sensitive or reacts to fragrance, or if you'd rather put the money into a leave-on body cream.
A shower oil is a body wash with oil as its base. You apply it to damp skin, and when you add water it turns into a light, milky lather that rinses away. The aim is to cleanse without leaving skin feeling stripped, which is why shower oils are popular with people whose skin feels dry after a gel.
L'Occitane's version is built around sweet almond oil, which the brand says is rich in fatty acids and omega-9 and helps nourish, soften and protect skin from dehydration. It also contains grape seed oil, rosemary leaf extract, bergamot and sunflower seed oils, and vitamin E. It smells of almond. Retailers' listings describe it as vegan and 99% readily biodegradable.
To use it, L'Occitane suggests massaging it onto damp skin in circular motions, adding water to make a lather, then rinsing well. You can also pour it under running water for a bath, or use it as a shaving base. It's designed for daily use and, according to L'Occitane, is especially useful in summer and winter, when skin is more prone to dryness. Pat dry afterwards and follow with a moisturiser if you need one.
It comes in 75ml and 250ml bottles and a 500ml refill; the link on this page is for the 250ml bottle. If you want a leave-on product with the same scent, L'Occitane's almond range also includes a milk concentrate and a body oil.
Because it contains fragrance, including limonene and linalool, which some people react to, patch-test it if your skin is sensitive. Formulas can differ between sizes and countries, so check the ingredient list on your bottle.
How this page was written: I haven't tested this shower oil myself. Everything here comes from L'Occitane's product information and major UK retailers' listings. If I test it, I'll update this page with a hands-on verdict.
The verdict
Almond Shower Oil is worth it if you want an everyday wash that feels more nourishing than a gel, or a gift that suits nearly anyone. If your skin is sensitive to fragrance, or very dry, a fragrance-free wash and a good body cream will do more for it.
L'Occitane Almond Shower Oil 250ml
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