Finding a L’Occitane Almond Shower Oil dupe?!

After I decided not to buy from L’Occitane any more, I needed a dupe for my Holy Grail Shower Oil. Here’s what I found – but did I indeed find a good L’Occitane Almond Shower Oil dupe?

We all have different reasons for no longer supporting a brand. In the case of L’Occitane, I was increasingly worried about the direction of the brand when they implemented a MLM scheme in the USA (more here). I then started to rethink my willingness to buy my favourite product again when they declined to pull out of their Russian businesses (after a huge backlash, they finally did). For me, that was enough to decide that I really don’t want to support them any more, even though I like their approach of sustainability and some of their products. (This doesn’t mean I’ll boycott them forever. I’ll certainly watch what they’re doing in the future.)

The thing is: I REALLY love their shower oil. So I decided to take you with me while I try to find a replacement.

Why a shower oil?

I’m a lazy bitch, and when I can opt out of moisturizing my body after a shower, I will. But then, I also have quite dry skin on my body, so that’s not really an option. In comes a shower oil that’s more moisturizing than a simple shower gel, and cuts back on my getting ready time in the morning. Win.

Here’re my requirements for a L’Occitane shower oil replacement: it should moisturize (duh) and also smell delicious. (Because the L’Occitane shower oil does – like a honeyed, earthy almond oil.) It doesn’t have to be an exact fragrance dupe, though: I’m open for different fragrances.

Drugstore options

Nivea Shower Oil &

Sebamed Shower Oil

Both are actually nicer than the L’Occitane shower oil when it comes to texture. L’Occitane’s oil is on the thinner side which is seriously annoying when you’re trying to apply it under the shower. Both Nivea’s and Sebamed’s shower oils rely on soybean oil and a heavy dose of fragrance: Sebamed’s will be more suitable for sensitive skin due to the essential oils in Nivea’s. Both are similarly moisturizing – I feel like both actually are better than L’Occitane’s. Where both lack, though, is in the fragrance department. Nivea smells like a generic floral grandma soap, while Sebamed has a warm, musky, floral “skinscent” fragrance. Nivea annoys me more than Sebamed, so there’s that. Both are between 3-4€ for 200ml.

Pharmacy brands

Eucerin Shower Oil

With a similar texture to Nivea and Sebamed, the only “extra” this one has is a small dose of soothing Panthenol and Tocopherol. The scent is jasmine and bubblegum and not my fave. I can’t fault its moisturizing qualities, though. It clocks in slightly more expensive than the drugstore options: expect 12€ for 400ml.

Nuxe Prodigieux Shower Oil

Nuxe is famous for the scent of their original body oil (orange blossom, magnolia and vanilla). I feel their whole bodycare line smells like it, but I could be wrong. I’m rather annoyed with this “shower oil” from the get-go, because its main ingredients are a mix of surfectants and glycerin – just like a regular shower gel. The oil it gets its name from emerges after Phenoxyethanol on the ingredient list – a preservative that’s allowed to be used up to 1% in the EU. It’s a very creamy shower gel with a nice lather that smells heavily floral. The scent stays on your skin. Thankfully, the glitter doesn’t. It’s also drying – so much so that I’m desperately reaching for my body lotion after a shower. A complete fail. Around 12€ for 200ml.

From Sephora

Biotherm Shower Oil

A foamy shower gel with some oil included for added hydration. It’s actually a bit misleading, because the second ingredient is SLS. This is a shower gel, people! Not a shower oil! It comes second to last when we look at its moisturizing qualities (I absolutely have to use a body lotion after my shower with this), but it’s main selling point might be the uplifting fragrance that reminds me of Fanta/orangeade/orange sherbet. I think I might love this one in winter when moisturizing my body after a shower doesn’t feel like such a chore as it does in summer. 200ml for about 15€, although I got it on a discount.

Rituals

I still like Dutch brand Rituals – I like the shower foams, I like the aesthetics of the brand, I like a lot of their individual lines’ fragrances. And here’s the big plus on that: if you like the formula of any given product, and like a fragrance line? You’re good. If you like the shower foam in Sakura, but want to branch out and like the Hamman fragrance? You’re good! The Shower Oil from the Mehr line smells like oranges and sandalwood, is nicely moisturizing and totally fine. It’s around 8€ for 200ml, which still feels affordable, especially as the main ingredient is canola and sunflower oil.

What’s the best dupe for L’Occitane’s Almond Shower Oil?

I haven’t been able to find an exact dupe, unsurprisingly: that’s because the allure of L’Occitane’s oil stems from the combo of scent and silky, moisturizing skin-feel. The latte is easier to replicate, surprisingly. Nearly all shower oils I tested give me a similar feeling. Scent-wise, it’s a matter of personal taste. When it comes to drugstore choices, Sebamed wins easily for me. It’s also a bit more suited for sensitive skin, because all other products rely heavily not only on fragrance, but also on potentially sensitizing essential oils.

For a pricier choice, I’d go to Rituals. It’s as moisturizing, and I like the scent of the Mehr line. (They offer shower oils in nearly all of their fragrance families, so you’ve got choices!)

Please note that this post is not sponsored in any way. We buy products ourselves, with our own money, and don’t accept exchanging goods or money for reviews. We are completely independent, and our reviews reflect that.