Even though the scent of L’Occitane Pivoine Flora Beauty Cream ($36) reminds me of my ninang (the Tagalog word for godmother), I’m gonna assume the folks at L’Occitane weren’t shooting for eau de high maintenance Filipino godmother divas when they developed it. 🙂
I love the scent, which smells more to me like a mix of old school Oil of Olay (the one that came in the pink bottle), floral soaps and roses than the peonies it contains. I can picture something similar sitting on the dressing table of a young woman in the ’50s, or see it sitting on a shelf today in the home of an older woman who still remembers being that girl. While I think it suits girls of all ages, those who prefer scents on the mature side may like it more than, say, the fruity bubblegum body sprays that sparkle in most drugstores.
The thick, rich cream feels sticky at first, and while it may not be as moisturizing as Pacifica’s Body Butters, which I love, it’s moisturizing enough for me. It absorbs quickly and leaves my skin feeling soft without a greasy residue. L’Occitane gave it several oils and plant extracts, in addition to peony, and many are listed up near the top of the ingredient list.
The last time I saw my ninang was on a visit to the Philippines about 10 years ago, and when I hugged her goodbye I remember a scent just like Pivoine Flora Beauty Cream. She’s always been one of my beauty heroes — the kind of woman who would put on a full face of makeup, do her hair and don a full outfit (with matching shoes, purse and accessories) just to walk down to the corner store. Now that’s dedication. 🙂
PRICE: $36 for a 7-oz. jar
AVAILABILITY: Available now at L’Occitane stores and also online
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B+
Do you hair that?
Tabs sure has been needy since I got home yesterday. He’s been alternating between my lap and my right shoulder all day long, which means I’m utterly covered in cat hair.
I should probably enjoy the affection while it lasts because it’s only a matter of time before Edward Scissorpaws comes out to play.
In other news, how was the rest of your Monday? Anything new to report?
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
That scent sounds lovely. It’s amazing how certain scents remind us of people. I only met my late grandmother a few times (she lived in Germany), but when she came to visit she would wear this classic scent, 4711. I still see it in drugstores from time to time and always think of her.
The rest of my Monday was good. I’ve been indulging in some new Pacifica products I picked up at Sephora on Saturday (speaking of Pacifica body butters). I don’t know if they had these in yet the last time you went, but, OMG — Coconut Crushed Pearl Body Butter! Coconut! Pearly Shimmer! A-MAZING! I got the matching lip balm, too which smells divine and gives a nice pearly glow to my lips. They also had a bronzy version of the crushed pearl body butter which I’m sure would be stunning on darker skin tones.
Oh, I saw those at the Vintage Oaks store last week! I almost picked up a tube, but the line was really long and I had to jet. Thank you for reminding me! If I have time today I’ll swing by.
Is the lip balm hydrating? I can’t wait to try!
The lip balm is really nice. It doesn’t feel greasy or too slippery, just nice and buttery.
Check out the discovery kit they have of the new products. It contains small sizes of the body butters, the crushed pearl and the bronzing crushed pearl, the lip balm, and then their new body scrub which is either coffee or cocoa, I don’t remember. It seemed like a really good deal for trying all the new things.
This body cream sounds lovely, and the packaging is gorgeous. I don’t like strong floral soaps/ oil of olay type smells though. Or anything that smells like pot pourri.
Hmm, this does have a little bit of that potpourri vibe. It’s nice, though.
The packaging is beautiful. The scent sounds lovely too.
The packaging’s gorgeous. It’s heavy, too, so don’t drop it on your foot, LOL!
Hi Karen! I kept searching the internet if there’s a filipina blood on you for maybe a week now. And today you mentioned your ninang and am delighted. I love reading your blog,my day won’t be complete without it.Thanks again!
Yup, I’m Filipino! 🙂 So glad you like the site, Raquel. Have a great day!
for some reason i was tired when i got home …. so we had dinner, i started the laundry and crashed.
im hoping to fold the laundry i started later LOL.
rose scents remind me of my mom — she used to love a marks & spencer lotion that smelled like a rose garden. 🙂
I’ve been tired lately too. What did you guys have for dinner? I had some pasta w/Trader Joe’s Arribiata Sauce and lots of parm. NOM!
we had ravioli that i made over the weekend with some marinara!
im about to crash again nao, but the laundry has been folded yay!
Girl, are you telling me you made ravioli from scratch? PROPS!
I remember that pink Olay bottle. My mother used to buy it. I was a wee tot back then. 😛
Last night, a friend tasted my lemon cupcakes and she loved them so much she asked me to make 2 dozen for her and she’s paying for them! This could be a business blossoming…
That’s awesome! What kind of frosting did you do?
Lemon frosting. 🙂
Yup! Now I’ve got major cupcake cravings.
Hi Karen! I just wanted to say that I didn’t get a chance to watch Game of Thrones on Sunday night but watched it last night On Demand. All I have to say is Holy Cow! I wasn’t expecting that and actually shed a few tears! That new little king seems like he’s gonna be a big pain in the butt! I am totally addicted to this show and wish it would run every Sunday all year long 🙂
Oh, and wanted to say that my son’s girlfriend is half Filipino. She is so freaking cute!
I’m still in major denial. 🙁 I’ve watched the episode twice and can’t believe it!
Do you know if last night’s was the finale?
And aww… your son’s GF sounds adorable!
No, last night wasn’t the finale. They were showing what’s coming up on the next episode.
I love the smell of Oil of Olay. Great post.
Thank you!
I was wondering if you were Filipino! Are both your parents Filipino or just one? I’m not Filipino but my husband is. We’re planning on having a baby next year and I’ve kind of become obsessed with what our kids will look like with his dark skin and hair and my super pale skin and light blonde hair. I keep telling him that we are going to have the cutest baby alive or at least a really unique looking one! lol
My husband is Filipino (I’m white) & we have a 4 year old son. His skin tone is right in the middle of ours (tan, but not too dark) with my medium brown hair & my husband’s asian nose. 🙂 He’s a cutie! You will have adorable kids for sure!
I can’t wait!
I’m “similar”, half Indonesian.
Good luck, I’m sure they’ll be cute.
This is the kind of product I would purchase just for how it would look sitting on my dressing table… romantic, classic, elegant. Love the jar it comes in.
Hi Karen! I am now a regular reader of your blog, so much that I have to stop myself from accessing your site at work cause I will sooooo not be productive all day LOL! Love your posts, especially about MAC. I have just recently revived my love affair with makeup, and I am thrilled! There is nothing more satisfying to me than picking up the most beautiful shade of lipstick, or finding the perfect eyeshadow palette after a looong week at the office:) Thank you for all of your helpful tips and tricks! Keep ’em coming!:)
Your new fan,
Sasha:)
Hi Sasha,
It’s nice to meet you! 🙂 I’m so happy to hear that you’re getting back into makeup again. What things from MAC are you loving these days?
Hi again Karen!,
Really happy to see you replied! Thank you!:)
I was never really into one brand before, since I would mix it up with both the MAC Studio Fix, Lancome Hypnose Mascara, and then drugstore goodies such as Cover Girl and Almay. I find though that Cover Girl really makes me itchy, so I decided to just limit my choices to MAC, Lancome, NARS, and Smashbox since they have worked well with my skin, as I didn’t wanna completely break out.
My MAC faves? I am still learning a lot about them, but I have the usual Studio Fix, primer, the Cosmo lipstick (I love how MAC’s lipsticks don’t feel sticky at all), plus the Viva Glam V and VI Lipglass-es. Now I am really liking In Synch! Is this still available in stores?
Hey Sasha,
You’re welcome. 🙂
Looks like you’ve already played with quite a few brands; that’s great!
Believe it or not drugstore stuff has gotten really good in the last couple of years. The quality’s improved and the color selection has exploded. You may want to keep it on the back burner just in case you want to venture into the crazy colors or if you need a quick pick me up.
As for In Synch, yup, it’s still available in stores.
I just knew you were Filipino! I’m very new to makeup and was obsessed about finding a beauty blogger that I can relate to in terms of skin color, etc. Maybe that’s why I keep coming back to your blog!
Yup, I am! Glad you like the site, Jo. 🙂
I’ve been following your blog since January and I really really love your blog! I find it funny and informative! Anyway may I ask if you are a Filipino or a Filipina-American? 😀 I am a Filipino and we love MAC Products here 😀
Yup, I’m Filipino! 🙂
Yay! I’m so proud of you and congratulations on your Mac lipglass Evolution Revolution! I hope I could buy or try your lipglass! More power to your blog and God bless! (Pasyal ka sa Pilipinas kung may oras ka 😀 )
YESS a beauty cream that my mom’d ♥!! And it looks super cute! Thank you!!!
You’re welcome!
“..high maintenance Filipino godmother divas… ”
i’m not a filipina, but i’ve worked with several of these divas over the span of my career, so i get ya! 😀
they’re great though, one had an ivy league education and always took me ballroom dancing whenever i’m in manila. *RIP, Guia*