L'Occitane New Shea Butter Skincare Collection

I remember when the L'Occcitane boutique opened in Galway a good few years ago. There was huge excitement but I just didn't get it. Obviously I headed along to the opening - and got sucked in immediately.

That yellow shopfront, the luxurious ambiance, the whole damn Frenchness of it all - who could resist? Mammies definitely can't, that's for sure.

L'Occitane are launching a whole new range of products in January 2015 and the Shea Butter Skincare Collection sounds very interesting indeed. Since the 1980's, L'Occitane have worked in cooperation with women of Burkina Faso in West Africa in a sustainable, fair trade partnership.

In Burkina Faso, Shea butter is hand-produced leaving the resulting creams incredibly rich in omega 6 and karitene. L'Occitance has embraced the traditional methods of the country and developed this new range to contain the perfect amount of Shea butter to comfort and protect all types of skin.

The L'Occitane Shea Butter Skincare Collection features six products:

• Cleansing Oil

The Cleansing Oil (200 ml €20) sounds like a magical elixir altogether. Containing 5% Shea, the oil is designed to thorougly cleanse skin by removing all impurities - including waterproof make-up! - without leaving an oily residue.

• Cleansing Milk

Don't fancy cleansing with oil? Well, a small bit goes a long way with your alternative choice, the Cleansing Milk (200ml €20.) The smooth texture has calming properties to leave skin feeling comfortable and soft.

• Gentle Toner

Completing your cleansing routine to soothe and balance is the Gentle Toner (200ml €18.)

• Lip Balm

The Lip Balm (12ml €10) features 10% Shea butter and promises to nourish, repair and protect your delicate smackers.

• Ultra Rich Comforting Cream

The Ultra Rich Comforting Cream (50ml €34) is absolutely saturated with Shea butter at 25%. Perfect for dry and sensitive skin, this cream provides intense nourishment, protecting skin against the harsh winter weather.

• Light Comforting Cream

Our favourite product of the bunch, the Light Comforting Cream (50ml €32) contains 5% Shea butter and the lighter texture provides just the right levels of hydration and protection for normal to combination skin. The texture looks thick but isn't at all. It's pleasantly light and smells old-fashioned (in a good way - that's the Shea.)

The whole collection will be available from January 15th 2015.

Are you a fan of L'Occitane ? Does this new collection tickle your fancy? Do you already use Shea butter based products and if so, what do you think of them?