Clarins Gentle Foaming Cleanser & Gentle Refiner

I've used many facial wash b4. I'm sure all of you out there have too. Some makes my face tight after washing, some just don't feel clean enough. I present you the cleanser which I've been liking for a while now...

Gentle Foaming Cleanser with Cottonseed

Gentle Refiner Exfoliating Cream with Microbeads

 

Cleanser - Nice and Thick

 

It foams up pretty well. Great for people who's using Clarisonic as well. Man, I've been trying to get hold of them! Those in Sephora are a boring white. Why don't they carry PINK?! Why?! Why?! Why?! They cost $249.00 by the way. Anyway, back to the cleanser. Cleans my face well enough w/o leaving it tight, w/o stripping my face of moisture.

 

 

Cleanser on the Left and Refiner on the Right

 

Previously, I used to exfoliate my face with Kiehl's and they are not suitable. The grains are coarse. Then, I found a suitable one from Clarins. Not too coarse and not that fine either. I'm liking it.

 

In my previous post, I mentioned that I spent a lot in Clarins and they gave me a free full sized cleanser. I'm wrong. That was travel sized. Can't blame me! It's 75ml chock-full of cleanser! Who would have thought that's TRAVEL sized?!

 

The cleanser in the photos shown here is travel sized. The full sized one retails for no more than 50 bucks and the Gentle Refiner retails for 53 bucks.

 

So there you go! I'm off to remove my make-up and enjoy washing my face now...

 

Dreamy C

Clarins Huile Orchidee Bleue

Clarins Huile Orchidee Bleue *trying to sound French*. Aiya... why so troublesome?! Clarins Blue Orchid Face Treatment Oil lor... Ha ha...

I don't wish to spend $$$ on something which might not work for me but I also want to try it out. What's a girl to do then? Take sample lor...

 

Such a cute little bottle. Contains all of 2ml of product. So little you say? Well, this is OIL and one's face don't need tons of oil right? You see that little level in the picture? Cannot see huh???

 

 

Nah! Can see now? Well, this is the level after using it once. SA suggested that I use it 3 times a week. Now guess how long a mere 2ml will last you. This is the sample size. If you buy it, it comes in 1 size i.e. 40ml. Go calculate how long it'll last you.

 

This is what I've extracted out from Clarins website:

Anti-aging care for Dehydrated Skin. 100% pure plant extracts. Zero preservatives. This best-selling oil contains extracts of Rosewood, Patchouli and Blue Orchid to tone, revitalise and restore radiance to moisture-depleted skin. Hazelnut Oil helps prevent moisture loss and the formation of fine lines. Non-staining.

 

This is my sequence:

1. Cleanse
2. Toner
3. Facial Shaping Lift
4. Blue Orchid Face Treatment Oil

Nothing needed thereafter. This was also advised by the SA. How is it? Well, I've been applying this 3 times this week and tomorrow will be the verdict as I'm due to go for my facial!

 

Keep you informed...

 

Dreamy C

Clarins Defining Eye Lift

Like the Facial Shaping Lift, I also started using this on 28th July 2012. I've been going to bed before 11p.m. every night and I get up around 6 - 7 the next morning. This gives me at least 7 - 8 hours of sleep every day. I also avoid drinking water before I hit the sack. Let's see...

 

It's the one on the left, non-white one

 

After 1 month, my eyes are still the same. No difference. I've asked the opinion of J, a SA from Lancome (I only asked her if my eyes are puffy. I didn't even tell her which product I'm using) and a SA from Clarins. All agreed though J says that it's negligent. Is it really negligent or he's trying to make me feel better? During a Clarins workshop, I started chatting with an Ang Moh woman and she also mentioned that my eye bags are negligent. Nothing! Na Da! Zippo! She said she'll gladly have my "eye bags". Really?! Am I being too much of a perfectionist here? That I don't know. What I do know is that this product ain't working on me. Am NOT going to re-purchase!

 

Dreamy C

Clarins Shaping Facial Lift

I started to use this product on 28th July 2012. More than a month later, how does this fare on my face? To be fair, I use this every day and night, everyday.

 

 

On the right, white in color

 

I have been procrastinating whether to get this product for a while though the procrastination isn't going strong enough to make me want to dash out of the house to get it. In other words, it's not a 'I have got to get it' kind of product. I've heard and read a number of good reviews on this serum. One day, I received a mailer from Tangs Orchard about a promotion which is going to take place there for Clarins. I thought, why not? Even though I've been using some products from Lancôme and it seems to work well for my skin, according to my beautician, there's really no harm in trying to improve on the condition of my skin. 

 

I made a trip there. I've heard lots of raves about Clarins, about how good it is for people with sensitive skin, about how some of their products gets absorbed easily, about some of their best sellers. Also, 2 bottles of this serum now cost lower! All these factors are enough to make me decide to change the brand of my skincare entirely. Talk about loyalty! Hey! A girl is always looking out for improvements right? Improvements, improvements, improvements!

 

I spent more than 500 bucks, purchasing products for cleansing, exfoliation, moisturizing, mask etc. I'll cover that in another blog, one at a time. I was given some toner, serum for night, moisturizer for night in travel sizes. Due to the promotion from Tangs, I was also given a Cleanser and Foot lotion in full size! Lucky me!

 

I realized that the reward point system seems to fare better than Lancôme but I'll cover that another day. 

 

This product! I took a 'before' photo which I'm going to show it right now.

 

Now, see the 'after' photo. This was taken 1 month after usage of product, day and night, every day.

 

 

See any difference? Well, in my opinion, the difference is insignificant. Don't work for me does not mean that it doesn't work for you. Frankly speaking, it's a pricy item and not worth the try unless if it's under a promotion.

 

I don't intend to restock on this once it runs out. However, since this comes in a range, now that I got the lift wrap, I wonder if it'll work even better when I use it together. Let me try...

 

Stay tuned!!!

 

Dreamy C

Stuff Bought from Clarins Workshop in September 2012

Like I mentioned recently, I'll tell you about the stuff I've purchased from the workshop @ Clarins. Viola!

 

This comes with a spatula. It's 75ml and retails for $75 from Tangs Vivocity

It has a mousse-like texture

We were asked to put this in the fridge and to use this twice a week, morning and night. It's suitable for ALL skin types. This is what I've extracted out from Clarins website:

This deliciously rich cream-mousse with extracts of Chinese barley and organic ginkgo biloba is a quick-fix lifting treatment for puffiness caused by sleep, stress or heat. Within just 10 minutes, sensations of heaviness are reduced, the skin texture is tightened, lines are smoothed away and repositioned. An essential complement to your everyday Lifting and Firming facial treatments, experts in contouring the face using plant extracts.

Dermatologically tested, does not encourage blackheads.

I started using this on Sunday morning. I didn't put it in the fridge but still, it's cooling to the touch. I applied a thick layer on my cheeks. I didn't apply it on my neck though we were encouraged to do so. I intend to do it when night comes as mornings are usually hectic and I can do w/o the mess.

I applied this on my cheeks and then proceeded to shower. By the time I'm done with my hair and body, I can wash this product away. Well, upon application, my face felt some heat and I know the product is working on my face. After 10 minutes, I removed it and noticed that my laugh lines were slightly less visible. Don't expect magic after just 1 application. I intend to use day and night, everyday and see if there's any results after a month. Will keep you informed!

 

 

You know how well some products from Clarins have worked on my face. Since I was there and if I spend 300 bucks, I'll be given freebies! So I picked this up since all I've got are travel sized ones. Travel size is 50ml and this is 200ml. I got this together with the cleanser for $80.

 

Travel size is all I've got. This one is 125ml whereas the travel size one is 75ml. Pretty good for a travel size. I've been using the travel size one for more than a month and I'm not even done yet!

 

 

This is good for my T-zone. Again, I only have travel size ones until now. Travel size is 5ml and can last me quite a while since I only apply this on my forehead and nose. This one is 50ml and retails for $58 from Tangs Vivocity.

 

I also got another bottle of their sunscreen which I do not have photo here. It retails for $74 and is 30ml.

 

 

This is light and it comes with SPF 15 which I kinda like. It does not have a greasy feel and is suitable for day time. Retails for $40. The smell reminded me of the sunscreen by Banana Boat, only that it's flowery as well.

 

I bought another hand cream. I believe it's called the hand and nail treatment cream. It also retails for $40. This is slightly heavier and I'm going to use it for night. It's currently out of stock and I was told that the stock will come towards 3rd week of September 2012.

 

Lastly, I bought blotting firm from M.A.C. which I do not have the photo here. It cost $22 at M.A.C. outlets here.

 

Now, I've accumulated enough travel sized freebies to last me a good 3 months I believe. Goodness me! I'll put them into good use when I start to travel. There's a holiday in October. Hmmm...

 

Dreamy C

Clarins Eyes on You Beauty Chat

Few weeks back, I was invited to a workshop organized by Clarins. It says - How to make your eyes bigger. That caught my eye and I registered for it.

Once there, there's 13 of us including muah. I would say that majority are women in their late 40's and signs of aging is evident on their face. There's a couple of women who came with make-up on and ended up trying products on their hands. Being the smarty alec, I went w/o make-up and ended up trying stuff like their toner, exfoliation cream, face lifting serum, eye lift serum, sunscreen etc. Not that I'm so into it since I'm already using most of the products beforehand. The method of application isn't new to me as well. The service of Clarins staff is slightly disappointing. I was given my beverage mid-way through the workshop and I had to ask for it. I also caught one of the Clarins staff dreaming away. Tsk tsk tsk...

Did you think I'll end up buying nothing at all?! Ha! You are wrong my friend... I'll show you another day.

All I can say is that the workshop taught me nothing as to how to make my eyes bigger. I should say a good part of the workshop was used to introduce their products and only a teeny weeny last part, used to show you how to make your peepers bigger. To make them bigger, you apply a light brown eye shadow all over lid up to the brow bone. Then draw your eye liner on your near the roots of your upper eye lash and also your waterline. Then apply mascara. Chey... I also know...

Disappointment. The first and perhaps only workshop I'll ever attend.

Dreamy C