If this summer feels like living inside an oven for you too, I've got a couple of products from L'Occitane to show you that feel delightfully fresh on the skin: the Icy Body Gel and the Moisturizing Body Foam, both from the brand's Verbena body care collection. Let's take a look!

As I'm writing this post I'm enjoying a little bit of artificial fresh air thanks to the small air conditioning unit mounted in my bedroom window that I bought a couple weeks ago. This summer has been brutally hot, I don't think the temperature has gone below 70 at night for at least three weeks (that's around 21 celsius) and it's been over 90 inside my house every day for about that long (32 celsius). I never do well in the heat, it seems to affect me more than most people so I'm literally miserable... I'm obsessed with anything that allows me to cool down!

That's why I bought these two products from L'Occitane's Verveine (Verbena) line: every summer the brand releases some new creams or gels that create a cooling sensation, so I wanted to try the 2018 edition. Besides, the verbena fragrance, a light citrusy and herbal scent, is very refreshing in itself!


I got the Moisturizing Body Foam, which is in the Verveine Agrumes scent (verbena citrus), a variation on the original verbena that's even more zesty and lemony. The fragrance is bright and fresh right out of the metal can, but it mellows down to a subtle citrusy scent once applied to the skin. Citrus fragrances are the only ones I can tolerate to wear in the summer heat because they're so refreshing and invigorating.

L'Occitane describes the Moisturizing Body Foam as a whipped cream, but I think it's lighter and more weightless than they suggest. Think of a hair mousse with bubbles that pop as soon as you spray it out in your hand. It really feels light as a cloud! This foam provides a hint of hydration to the skin, but it's definitely not a heavy-duty, rich moisturizer. It's perfect for me right now in the heat, because it give me a bit of moisture without feeling heavy or greasy at all. When it gets cooler I know I'll need something more nourishing, but for now I really enjoy the refreshing sensation and uplifting scent.


Then I also bought the Icy Body Gel, an aqua blue gel specifically made to create a cool sensation on the skin. It comes in a cute clear plastic jar with a metal lid, and there's a seal on top so it doesn't leak before being opened. The gel looks really fun with air bubbles trapped in and a faint silver shimmer (which isn't visible on the skin) and it has a really fresh citrusy scent with a hint of mint.


This ain't no Biofreeze so don't expect your skin to get numb when you use it... but it does contain menthol and feels really fresh on the skin, if only for a short amount of time. You can keep it in the fridge for a more intense cooling effect. I like to use it after the shower in the evening - these days I usually start sweating as soon as I've toweled off, but when I apply the Icy Body Gel I get this aaaah! moment of relief from the scorching heat.

Bottom: L'Occitane Verbena Icy Body Gel Top: L'Occitane Citrus Verbena Moisturizing Body Foam

L'Occitane's Verbena body collection contains a few other refreshing products that are worth checking out too if you like an invigorating citrusy scent: a sugar scrub, a body ice gel in a bottle, a hair and body mist, the classic shower gel, and an intriguing Icy Fragrance Touch in a tube that might well be my next purchase if the heat wave doesn't end soon!



If you are looking for body products that feel refreshing and leave a subtle uplifting citrusy scent on your skin in this terribly hot summer, the L'Occitane Verbena collection is well worth a look. I've used different products over the years, but I really like the Moisturizing Body Foam this year for its lightweight hydration, and I enjoy the Icy Body Gel for the gentle cooling sensation it provides.




The products featured in this review were purchased by me. I received no compensation to write this post, which only reflects my personal opinion. This post contains affiliate links. I receive a very small commission when you shop through those links, and the money generated covers a small portion of my expenses to purchase products for review. Clicking on those links helps ensure that Beaumiroir continues to publish reviews of new and exciting high end French products - at no cost to you!