Beauty in a flash with Clarins

I don't know if this is just me, but I have a set of products - skincare, makeup and perfumes, that I only wear every now and then, and when I do bring them out it really is a special occasion. These products are special for all kinds of reasons - maybe it's an end of line product, the price (let's be honest I don't think anyone would wear their most expensive mascara or perfume to the gym right?) or memories linked to them, but when you wear them you feel Special, a bit like a princess. Does this sound familiar to you?

One of my Special products is the Clarins Beauty Flash Balm, because of the amazing effect it has on my skin. I first came across it in a You Tube video on primers by the amazing Lisa Eldridge, but the Beauty Flash Balm is so much more than a primer and I would go as far as to say that it should be a staple item in every beauty wardrobe for those times when you want to feel more Special than usual.

 

The Beauty Flash Balm contains olive extract which is rich in anti-oxidants and witch hazel which in addition to being a well known acne fighter reduces puffiness, helps to tighten pores, refreshes skin and it locks in moisture. It also has algae extracts, bisabolol and rice starch to revitalise, soften and purify the skin. These ingredients create a real Cinderella cream that immediately tightens your features and makes your skin look as if you've slept for 15 hrs. The balm has a lovely slightly peachy color that adds a very faint hint of shimmer to the skin, which glows through your makeup giving an incredible lovely radiant finish.

Most Clarins products have a gentle and fresh scent of different ingredients, however the Beauty Flash Balm surprisingly has a much stronger, old school (almost granny like) perfumed scent to it - but luckily that scent doesn't remain on your skin for very long. When you wear this under your makeup you only need very little product, and I would recommend that you use no more than the size of a grain of rice - after all this is not a moisturiser as such. The balm feels very cooling and relaxing on the skin when you first apply it, and it instantly forms a thin protective layer on your skin, acting as a primer to help your makeup stay in place for longer. As with many of the Clarins products there's a "correct way" of applying the balm, you don't just massage it into your skin. Instead you have to apply it with a few gentle strokes in the same direction, or press it into your skin with your palms to get the silicone to create or activate that firming feeling on your skin. When you've applied the balm, the skin will feel velvety smooth, invigorated and protected and you can move on to foundation straight away without needing to let the balm settle on your skin. 

There have been days when my skin has felt as if it needed a mega boost of radiance, so I have put on quite a thick layer of the balm all over my face and left it on for 10 mins, like a drink up mask before wiping it off. It's worked quite well and made the skin look plump and instantly radiant, however my skin has felt slightly sensitive afterwards, so I don't do this very often and personally I prefer the sensation of the balm working on your skin, and the glow throughout the day or evening under your makeup.

According to Clarins you can use the Beauty Flash Balm as part of your daily routine, either in the morning or the evening, but I definitely wouldn't do that. I have a theory that your skin gets used to products, just like any other muscle gets used to certain exercises and since I really want that Cinderella effect every time I use the balm, I'm a bit selective of when I use it which probably also helps that feeling of "something special". So I save it for special occasions, or if I have a really important day ahead and I want to feel confident and the best I can. The only downside of this product for me is the scent - it's not at all what you would expect from Clarins and if for some reason there really is a need for such a strong scent, I wish it was more modern in its style. Otherwise it's a wonderful smoothing, illuminating and firming product and since the effect last so long, there's no need to hurry home before midnight - before you turn into a pumpkin!