Le Petit Marseillais - Affordable & Aromatic Skincare from France's #1 Body Wash Brand

SUMMARY: France's #1 body wash brand, Le Petit Marseillais, now offers a wide range of affordable bath and body products made in Greece, Italy and France. Developed in the 1980s by Bernard Lengellé, a French businessman who was inspired by the magic of Marseille's markets and products, Le Petit Marseillais (or "the little one from Marseille") began as a soap company only to expand into "what would become one of the top French beauty and body care brands in history" (lepetitmarseillais.us). Affordability is a plus with Le Petit Marseillais; all of the products I am reviewing today, sent to me by the brand, are less than $10 USD.

WHERE IS MARSEILLE?

Located near the southeast border of France and Italy, not too far from the Mediterranean, Marseille is a port city with a history dating back to 600 BC when it served as an important crossroads of commerce and culture. Today, Marseille is the third-largest metropolitan area in France after Paris and Lyon.

Marseille's mild to warm Mediterranean climate makes it the ideal location for growing herbs such as lavender, fruit such as olives, flowers such as orange blossoms, and numerous other sun-kissed ingredients that have been used in natural bath and body care for centuries. But as I noted above, many products are also produced in nearby Italy and Greece.

GOOD FOR THE SKIN AND GREAT-SMELLING, TOO!

Many of the ingredients used in Le Petit Marseillais products offer skin-nurturing properties. From vitamin-rich orchard fruit such as nectarine and white peach, to skin-softening almonds and olives, Le Petit Marseillais products are pH neutral; paraben-, phthalate- and salicylate-free; and the brand proclaims (personal correspondence) that they do not test on animals*. But one of the most enjoyable aspects of the brand is the attention paid to the aromas of their lotions, soaps, balms and creams.

Shea Butter, Sweet Almond & Argan Oil Nourishing Body Milk Lotion for Dry Skin

USE: "To care for your dry skin and pamper your senses, Le Petit Marseillais™ has combined 3 indulging ingredients in this nourishing body milk: shea butter, sweet almond and argan oil. With a rich texture and deliciously indulgent scent, our nourishing body milk absorbs quickly without any greasy after feel. Intensely cared for, your skin is left beautifully soft and supple with 24 hours of moisture."

AROMA & TEXTURE: This quick-absorbing body milk boasts a non-greasy texture and an intoxicating aroma of vanilla, almond, orchard fruit and amber. In fact, I'm strongly reminded of Chopard's 1992 Casmir by Michel Almairac.

INGREDIENTS: Water (Eau), Mineral Oil (Huile minérale), Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Carbomer, Fragrance (Parfum), Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides, Sodium Hydroxide, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, p-Anisic Acid, Chlorphenesin

PROS & CONS: The nourishing lotion is ideal for dry skin due to its long-lasting hydration. Though I personally love the aroma, it is quite strong upon application. This would layer well with those who enjoy oriental, vanilla or fruity aromas.

While some lotions absorb to feel as if one hasn't actually applied any product, I was aware of the Nourishing Body Milk on my skin.

WHERE CAN I BUY IT? 250ml pump bottle ~$6 USD at Walmart.

Mediterranean Algae and Marine Minerals Body Balm

USE: "To care for your dry skin in a refreshing way, Le Petit Marseillais™ invites you to dive into the goodness of the Mediterranean sea by bringing together 2 wonderful marine ingredients in this hydrating body balm: Mediterranean algae and marine minerals. With its rich creamy texture and fresh sea fragrance, our hydrating body balm quickly melts into your skin leaving it beautifully soft and supple with 24 hours of moisture."

AROMA & TEXTURE: The Mediterranean Algae and Marine Minerals Body Balm is slightly thicker than the body milk formula. The aquatic aroma, with hints of ylang and magnolia, is fresh and clean, recalling numerous scents from the 90's when oceanic fragrances first became popular.

INGREDIENTS: Water (Eau), Mineral Oil (Huile minérale), Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Cetearyl Alcohol, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides, Fragrance (Parfum), Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide, p-Anisic Acid, Chlorphenesin, Beeswax (Cire d’abeille), Sea Water (Eau de mer), Propylene Glycol, Magnesium Chloride, Sodium Chloride, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Ulva Lactuca Extract

PROS & CONS: The body balm is ideal for dry skin due to its long-lasting hydration. Though I personally love the aroma, it is quite strong upon application. This would layer well with those who enjoy citrus, aquatic or floral aromas.

While some lotions absorb to feel as if one hasn't actually applied any product, I was aware of the Hydrating Body Balm on my skin.

WHERE CAN I BUY IT? 200ml ~$7 USD at Walmart.

Sweet Almond Milk Extra Gentle Hand Soap

USE: "Our sweet almonds are carefully harvested at the end of summer, it’s from these almonds that we are able to obtain our sweet almond milk. This hand soap gently cleanses and envelops your skin with its delicious fragrance."

AROMA & TEXTURE: This is a milky hand soap that is strongly-fragranced. Though almond is the theme, there is nothing nutty or powdery about this aroma. Rather, the scent offers a candied, sweet marzipan.

INGREDIENTS: Water (Eau), Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Chloride, Acrylates Copolymer, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Fragrance (Parfum), Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Polyquaternium-7, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Lecithin, Glyceryl Stearate

PROS & CONS: The hand soap is indeed gentle and didn't leave my hands itchy or dry. Though the aroma was strong during use, it didn't really linger afterwards.

WHERE CAN I BUY IT? 10.1ozs pump bottle ~$4 USD at Walmart.

Orange Blossom Shower Crème

USE: "Le Petit Marseillais™ Orange Blossom Shower Crème gently cleanses your skin. Its smooth and easy to rinse foam reveals a delightfully sweet and floral fragrance. Skin is left feeling soft, moisturized and nourished."

AROMA & TEXTURE: I'm a sucker for the aroma of orange blossoms so this was easily my favorite product of the four I've reviewed. The aroma is strong, the texture is creamy and a little goes a long way. The cream offers a good lather and my skin felt moisturized after use.

INGREDIENTS: Water (Eau), Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Chloride, Fragrance (Parfum), Acrylates Copolymer, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Polyquaternium-7, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Lecithin, Citrus Aurantium Amara (Bitter Orange) Flower Extract, Glyceryl Stearate

PROS & CONS: An excellent value for the size when compared to similar products, the Orange Blossom Shower Crème would be a great product to use along with orange blossom, citrus or other floral products. The aroma of orange blossom here recalls classic European soaps and cleansers and as such, the scent might be too familiar/industrial for some looking for more exotic fragrances.

WHERE CAN I BUY IT? 13.5ozs bottle ~$4 USD at Walmart.

*Author's note: Although the brand claims that is does not test on animals, the parent company, Johnson and Johnson, makes no such claim. Moreover, Le Peitit Marseillais products do not carry the Leaping Bunny seal of approval for vegan products.

Products mentioned in article

Le Petit Marseillais Orange Blossom Shower Crème

Le Petit Marseillais Sweet Almond Milk Extra Gentle Hand Soap

Le Petit Marseillais Mediterranean Algae and Marine Minerals Body Balm

Le Petit Marseillais Shea Butter, Sweet Almond & Argan Oil Nourishing Body Milk Lotion for Dry Skin

Marlen Elliot Harrison

Dr. Marlen Elliot Harrison’s journalism in the fragrance industry has appeared in international print and online publications such as Playboy...(more)