Clarins Skincare Haul

This haul is part repurchase and part impulse buy. Normally I spend hours researching a skincare product before buying, especially when it’s on the expensive side. Clarins isn’t a brand that has always been on my radar. However since I picked up one of their cleansers during a Sephora sale I’ve noticed that my dry and dehydrated skin loves it.

I got the Blue Orchid Face Treatment Oil last autumn/winter when I finally decided to invest in an oil. In the past I had tried every mask and overnight treatment I could get my hands on but never saw the results I'd hoped for. I was always a bit skeptic when it came to putting actual oil on my face but I figured it couldn't get any worse. At this point my skin was so dehydrated that any foundation looked patchy on me within an hour. This oil worked wonders for my skin and my confidence. I use 6-8 drops on cleansed and toned skin. The oil doesn't feel heavy or greasy while I massage it in. It gradually absorbs and leaves my skin smooth and hydrated. Plus it smells divine!

While picking up another another bottle of the oil I was looking at their HydraQuench range. I walked out with the HydraQuench Cream and travel sizes of the matching serum and mask. I was looking for a light weight hydrating moisturiser that absorbs well without leaving a greasy residue. I'm hoping to use this in the morning under my foundation. My first impression is good but I'll update you in a couple of weeks to let you know if this works in the long haul.

Which skincare products did you add to your collection recently?

What I learned from Caroline Hirons

I’ve never been one to stick to a skincare routine morning and evening. I used to wash my face with a flannel and put moisturizer on in the morning and remove my makeup at night, maybe apply a hydrating mask every now and then. The occasional exfoliator would be used in the shower. But really I didn’t care as much as I should.

Picture from here.

I’ve finally blamed my foundation problem on my skin and began to do my research. It wasn’t long until I stumbled upon Caroline Hirons and her skincare blog. Caroline is a qualified advanced facialist trained in over 100 brands. She’s developed facials and trained teams all across the world. Besides working as a consultant to brands and retailers in the Beauty Industry, she’s also a blogger, mother of four and wife. Caroline is straight to the point, gives blunt and honest opinions and has a refreshing attitude. Cheat sheets on everything skincare from routines to facial massages can be found in her sidebar explaining everything a newbie needs to know.

Let me share with you what I learned: 1. Use flannels as in a new one every day. 2. No mineral oils and nothing foaming in your morning or evening routine. 3. Never use wipes to clean your face unless you don’t have access to water.

Here’s the breakdown for all the newbies and those who've always been confused as to what to use when (like me):

Morning Routine:

• Start with a new clean flannel
• Cleanse: any non-foaming gentle cleanser like a milk, balm or gel applied on a dry face
• Exfoliating (acid) lotion, nothing too harsh in the a.m.
• Spray hydrate: hydrating flower mist/water or hydrating toner, avoid alcohol and fragrance
• Eye cream: always apply at this stage or else it’ll be useless
• Serum/oil: if you use both serum comes first then a few drops of oil
• Moisturizer: choose it by your skin type, not your skin condition

Evening Routine:

• Flannel from the morning is okay to use
• Pre-cleanse oil and eye makeup remover to get the majority of your makeup off
• Second cleanse with a balm cleanser
• Acid toner or exfoliating toner to get rid of the build-up if you’re suffering from dehydration
• Spray hydrate which isn’t a necessary step
• Eye cream
• Treatment: oil, serum, mask, etc.
• Moisturizer: depending on the treatment you might not need any

Please feel free to share all skincare tips and product recommendations in the comments!

Glamglow Thirstycleanse Nightmare

I recently purchased the Glamglow Thirstymud treatment at my local Sephora. At the till I was lucky enough to be given a generous amount of samples of their new cleansers. I was genuinely excited about these samples for once - Sephora, why do I always get perfume samples for men??

I picked up the treatment for my dry winter skin so I was particularly interested in trying the Thirstycleanse. It claims to be a revolutionary cleanser “designed to create a hydrated, silky, and dewy fresh complexion”. Ingredients such as Brazilian clay and green coconut water are supposed to remineralize and boost skin for intense hydration.

The subtle coconut scent surprised me as I’m used to the REN clay cleanser which smells very unpleasant. The texture of the mud is rather sticky and thick which makes it difficult to spread it evenly across the face. As soon as you add water in circular motions the cleanser gets creamier and you can easily massage it into the skin. After rinsing off the product my skin feels clean and smooth but I wouldn’t say that it is more moisturizing than other cleansers.

So far so good: it’s not a revolutionary cleanser that I need to purchase full-size for 30 €, I’m not missing out on something great if I pass.

It was only the next morning when this review had turned into a nightmare. I had a pretty painful reaction to Thirstycleanse. Around my mouth and nose my skin felt almost burnt. It was very dry and flakey, and covered in tiny little bumps. It was painful to the point where it felt like my skin might crack when I smiled.

If you have dry or sensitive skin I wouldn’t recommend this cleanser. In fact, stay as far away from it as possible!

Have you tried Thirstycleanse or Thirstymud? Let me know what you think!