It might be a little late in the day, but brands that we once stocked up on during our travels have finally made their way to the city. L’Occitane en Provence, the natural beauty range from France, is the newest entrant. With its first store opening at Phoenix MarketCity, André Joseph Hoffmann, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director - Asia Pacific, says, “Behind all our products there is a true story, most often related to the land of Provence.” With its emphasis on high-quality natural, traceable ingredients, he shares that each is “carefully selected and respectfully cultivated”. “Over 130 farmers and 17,000 pickers plant, harvest and transform the natural beauty ingredients, and we use state-of-the-art methods to capture, concentrate and deliver the full benefits of the essential ingredients,” he adds. In fact, Hoffmann asks that if you are ever in Provence, to drop by the L’Occitane factory and museum, which is a popular tourist destination.
The immortal cream
At the store, take your pick from body butters, shower gels, body oils, fragrances and more. The brand prides itself as the pioneers of the hand cream culture. “We sell one every three seconds worldwide,” says Simi Dewan, the Deputy General Manager, insisting I try out the Arlésienne cream from the July launch. They are also excited about the Divine Harmony Range, which combines the ‘power of the earth and the sea’ — harnessing Jania Rubens, the algae with the ability to eternally regenerate, and Immortelle Millésimée, the flower that never fades. “These bring exceptional powers of regeneration and it is a supreme anti-ageing range that works on facial volumes and contours,” says Hoffmann, adding we can look forward to new products in the Reine Blanche and Aqua Reotier ranges (which help with natural radiance and hydration). With a push on e-commerce, where they believe there is “tremendous opportunity”, one of the surprises is how well their men’s range is doing. “India has one of the highest penetrations in Asia, with men seeking good skincare due to harsh weather and pollution,” he concludes. From ₹380 onwards. Details: 66650229
Spa break
Meanwhile, across the city, at Hyatt Regency, the Italian skincare range, Comfort Zone, has made a quiet entry. Available exclusively at the hospitality brand’s in-house spa, the product line — ‘founded in science’ and incorporating natural active ingredients — is created in conjunction with doctors and scientists. During a quick visit to check out their various lines — from the longevity series, called Skin Regimen, to its anti-ageing one, called Action Sublime — I am soon tempted to try out one of their treatments. A detailed consultation and a quick steam and sauna later, I’m ready for the Sublime Skin Double Peel, which promises to target my pigmentation.
The treatment begins with a luxurious cleanse and the first of a series of three scrubs / peels. Then, under the nimble fingers of my masseuse, I relax as a double dose of glycolic peel is applied. An algae mask at the end is skipped in favour of the peel doing its job a little better. While I’d recommend a patch test for sensitivity, beauty consultant Boni Sepi assures me that everyone who has used their products have had good results. Treatments from ₹1,000 onwards. Details: 61001234
