Brands & Products FAQ
What is your commitment about palm oil?
Palm oil, which comes from the fruit of the oil palm tree, is used mainly in food products. However, it is also used in personal care and cosmetics, mainly for its good saponification index and high concentration of lauric acid, which give a soap its hardness, as well as its cleansing and foaming properties. The intensive cultivation of oil palms can have major consequences on the environment and biodiversity.
THE L'OCCITANE COMMITMENT
We do not directly purchase or use palm oil in our formulas. However, our soap noodles and certain derivatives (such as surfactants, which give a formula its foaming properties) may contain it. Nevertheless, the volumes used by our activity are very low in relation to worldwide consumption across all sectors.
When it comes to sourcing our ingredients, we are committed to upholding our values and ensuring the quality, traceability and sustainability of our plant ingredient supply chains. This is why we have launched various initiatives to ensure that we use palm oil responsibly in our products.
Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil
Since 2011, L’OCCITANE has been a member of the RSPO (Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil) – a not-for-profit organization that unites all stakeholders from the palm oil industry. Its aim is to develop and implement global standards for certified sustainable palm oil.
By the end of 2015, 100% of our soaps sold in stores will be formulated with traceable and sustainable palm oil, in accordance with one of the highest levels of traceability defined by the RSPO (Segregated).
Moreover, in 2014, we launched a procedure that makes it possible to identify the presence of palm oil derivatives in all of our raw materials. Between now and 2020, we will be implementing an action plan so that 100% of these raw materials can be awarded RSPO certification in accordance with the highest levels of traceability.
Find out more about the RSPO
Working with our suppliers
Our soap flake suppliers are going one step further than the RSPO criteria and are signatories to the "Palm Oil Innovation Charter". This charter lays down stricter provisions with regard to protecting biodiversity, fighting deforestation, building ethical and sustainable partnerships with local populations, and carbon storage.
We also encourage our suppliers to use RSPO-certified palm oil and to give priority to the highest certification levels.
Setting up a supply chain
To go even further, we are working on setting up a supply chain in West Africa with a contracted supplier of palm oil. This will allow us to have a direct supply, as well as greater control over the traceability of the raw material and environmental and social impacts.
HOW TO RECOGNIZE IT ON THE INGREDIENT LIST:
SODIUM PALMATE, SODIUM PALM KERNELATE, PALM ACID, PALM KERNEL ACID.
Do your products contain parabens?
ROLE: Preservative (molecules to fight against the microbiological contamination of cosmetic formulas). All formulas containing water need preservatives so that they can be used in normal conditions (kept in the bathroom, everyday contact with the user's hands, etc.).
L’OCCITANE POSITION: Today, parabens have been removed from all of our formulas.
INCI: METHYLPARABEN - ETHYLPARABEN - BUTYLPARABEN - ISOBUTYLPARABEN – PROPYLPARABEN – ISOPROPYLPARABEN
Do your products contain silicons?
ROLE: There are numerous forms of silicones used in cosmetic products, particularly leave-on skincare products as they give a soft feeling to the formulas. In addition, all types of hair-care products generally use silicones as they leave hair shiny and smooth.
L’OCCITANE POSITION: We limit our concentration of silicones to a maximum of 5% in our care formulas,with the exception of some sun protection products when mineral sun filters are dispersed for better efficacy. We do not use silicones that are suspected to be toxic. Because silicones are suspected to be poorly biodegradable, we are working on their total or partial substitution with plant-based alternatives in order to obtain the most sensory feeling and application of our products. We also try to give present an option to customers who search for products that do not contain silicone. For instance, our Aromachology Repairing Shampoo does not contain silicone. Angelica Sublime Essence, which has an incredible silicone-likeeffect, also does not contain silicone.
INCI: DIMETHICONOL - CYCLOMETHICONE - DIMETHICONE - CYCLOHEXASILOXANE - CYCLOPENTASILOXANE - DIPHENYL DIMETHICONE - PEG/PPG-18/18 DIMETHICONE - PEG/PPG-20/15 DIMETHICONE - PEG-12 DIMETHICONE - PEG/PPG-14/4 DIMETHICONE
Are your products tested on animals ?
L’OCCITANE does not and has never tested its products, its active ingredients or its raw materials on animals at any point in the product development or manufacturing process. This principle applies similarly to our raw material suppliers.
L’OCCITANE is fundamentally committed to the abolition of animal testing of beauty products worldwide. In China, where our products are retailed, the local Chinese authorities request testing on some cosmetic products sold on the Chinese market, as they view it as the best way to safeguard their consumers’ safety. Our company does not conduct those tests; they are done by Chinese laboratories, approved by local authorities on a limited animal panel.
To move forward we decided to develop our relationship with the Chinese authorities to pledge the case for the end of animal testing for beauty products, through open dialogue. Since 2010 we have therefore engaged in a dialogue with the relevant authorities, as well as animal rights NGOs. Our goal has been to highlight alternatives techniques used in Europe where animal testing has been banned since 2004. This constructive dialogue has led to a series of advances in Chinese regulation including a decision to end this type of tests as of June 2014, on so-called ordinary cosmetics that are manufactured and packaged locally (shampoo, perfume etc.), as well as on imported hygiene products (soap, toothpaste etc.).This is a first step. L'OCCITANE will continue to work proactively for these alternatives to be implemented as soon as possible for all of our products.
We remain of the firm opinion that it is by working from inside China that we will be best placed to further influence Chinese regulation and put an end to animal testing. L'OCCITANE will continue to work proactively with the Chinese experts committee from National Institute for the Control of Pharmaceutical and Biological Products, for these alternatives tests to be implemented as soon as possible for all of our products.
May I receive free samples?
To discover our wide range of skincare and perfumes, we invite you to go to your nearest boutique. Our sales assistants will do a personal beauty diagnosis and you will be able to try numerous textures and fragrances in order to choose what fits best your needs.
Can I make a beauty diagnosis?
If you cannot go to a boutique, you can make your diagnosis skincare and fragrance on line. Also, you can contact our Customer Service for any personal advice at info@loccitane.com.my or call 03-2720 6288 (Monday to Friday: 10am 1pm and 3pm - 5pm, excluding Public Holidays).
What does "L'OCCITANE" mean?
L'OCCITANE means "the woman from Occitania". Occitania is the name of the ancient geographic area in southern France, spanning from northeastern Spain to northwestern Italy.
How do you pronounce the word L'OCCITANE ?
Phonetically you pronounce our name "lox- ee- tahn".
What is your policy on customer reviews posted online ?
How do I review a product ?
L'OCCITANE welcomes feedback on your experience with our products. To leave a review, simple visit the product page and write your testimonial in the open box under "Customer's Review".
Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with other L'OCCITANE customers.