Beauty Bites: Clarins

It's no secret that I'm a Clarins lover. Ever since being introduced to a selection of their products a year ago, I've been hooked. So, I decided to take the next step and I scheduled my first facial at their Bloomingdales spa location. Truth be told, I've always been reluctant to try facials, as I'm very particular about who touches my face. But, because I'm such an avid user of Clarins products, I knew I'd been in good hands with their team. After answering a few questions, we decided on a moisture-replenishing treatment for my skin, where my aesthetician focused on my problem area - my eyes. I've always had bad bags under my eyes, so I was really looking for some pointers on how to get rid of them. During the treatment, my aesthetician did gentle massages around my eyes to help with blood-flow and reduce puffiness. Results? 50 minutes full of bliss and relaxation. And because Clarins was offering a gift-with-purchase that day, I couldn't help but leave with a few goodies to round out my collection of skincare items. To see my current rotation of day and night skincare products, click for more.
Day Prior to my facial, I already owned Clarins' Multi-Active Day Cream and their UV Plus Sunscreen. You already know that I can't go a day without this day cream. It's my favorite, and lasts quite a while for as much as I use it. So, I'll skip sounding like a broken record and save you the spiel. Instead, let's talk about the other two products in my current routine. I think I've said before that I hate when my sunscreen isn't part of my moisturizer. Having said that, I'd much rather spend the extra minute or so applying it, than risk damaging my skin with the sun's rays. I love using Clarins' sunscreen because it's light and doesn't have that strong sunscreen scent that reminds me of my dreaded Saturday swim lessons from my childhood (sorry, mom - I really hated those classes). One thing, I recently added to my routine is their Eye Revive. I've tried other eye creams in the past and while I've liked some, I'm constantly on the hunt for the one that will wow me the most. After my facial, the Clarins team suggested I try their Eye Revive to help lift, tighten and de-puff my eyes. I use a teeny-tiny drop and massage around my eyes after moisturizing. It's only been a few weeks, so it's hard to say if there has been a change in my eye-appearance, but I am definitely hopeful. Night One thing missing from my skin routine was toner. I've used toner in the past, but wasn't completely sold that I needed it. Truth be told, I'm still not completely sold that I need it, but I figure it can't hurt to give it another go. I picked up Clarins' Toning Lotion with Camomile to help cleanse and soften my skin at bed time and have been using it for a few weeks now. I apply directly to my face after cleansing (no cotton balls or pads needed!) to help completely clear my skin of leftover residue. It's extremely lightweight and fast drying, which I love. My skin has always been naturally soft, so it's hard to say if it's any softer now, but I figure if I continue to use it, I'll at least prolong its softness, right? Another thing missing from my skincare routine was night cream. i recently ran out of my last night cream and although I loved it, I thought it'd be nice to switch things up and try Clarins' Multi-Active Night Cream to complement my day cream. As you can imagine, I love it just the same. For the sake of full disclosure, I was using Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate prior to switching and really have no bad things to say about it. Clarins's cream is much lighter, which is great for warmer weather, but once fall and winter hit, I think I'll switch back to Kiehl's, as it's a little heavier and more moisturizing. Now, I know what you are thinking - what kind of person needs two different eye creams? Truth be told, I don't know that I do need both. I purchased the Eye Revive and actually received the Super Restorative Total Eye Concentrate gratis during Clarins' spring product preview. I don't think the total eye concentrate is specifically made for night, but I like that it's a bit more moisturizing, so when I apply it at night, I feel as though it does a little extra work. Does it? Only time will tell, but for now, I'm doing all that I can to help my problem zone. So, there you have it! My day and night skincare routine secrets unlocked. What products are you currently loving for your skin?