Review: Clarins Hydra-Matte Lotion for Combination Skin

Clarins Hydra-Matte Lotion for Combination Skin

It always irritate me to the core whenever my T-zone gives off an obscene shine during mid-day whenever i am not into one of those makeup days. The super duper oily shine will show through within the first few hours and yet some areas will appear rather dry.

So, what's a gal gotta do? I need something that is both hydrating and at the same time able to keep my T-zone matte. Being a existing user of Clarins, naturally i turn to the brand and was recommended the Hydra-Matte lotion as a day lotion.

"The Hydra-matte lotion is the ideal moisturiser for combination skin. A lightweight lotion that gently yet effectively ensures the moisture balance of the skin where needed, all while effectively reducing skin shine on the T-zone (forehead, nose and chin)."

-Clarins

Since most of the Clarins product worked well on me, so i took the plunge and bought the Hydra-matte lotion set which consist of 15ml of the Pore Minimizing Serum, 15ml of the Pure and Radiant mask and a full size bottle of Hydra-matte lotion, despite having read mixed reviews of the lotion on Cozycot and Makeup Alley.

The thing about Clarins products is that most of the them has the same scent.. how shall i put it.. the lightly scented expensive kind of smell that one would only associate with skincare products from European countries. I know that doesn't make much sense, well that's the best my nose can pick up. I don't hate it, it just smells fine to me, anyway the smell dissipated moments after the product is being absorbed.

Texture of the lotion (a little Milky)

Texture-wise, the slightly watery white milky lotion spreads easily across the palms and is easily absorbed into the skin with some light patting. My forehead appeared a wee shiny but that could be the excess lotion, once the lotion is fully absorbed, my face felt smooth and matte, no roughness or oily patches felt.

Skin remains matte after 1 hour of application and so on, until the 3rd hour whereby i can feel and managed to blot abit of oil on my forehead and checks. By mid-day (approximately 4~41/2

hours later), there is a thin layer of oil sheen on my face, not too bad after all.

One thing to note, i used the lotion together with the Pore minimizing serum for approximately a month. The serum does absolutely nothing at all to minimize my medium sized pores which is a disappointment for me, the lotion on the other end does perform its job of hydrating the skin and in the meanwhile keeping it oil-free. My only complaint is that i have rather high expectations for it- to have better shine control ability and for longer duration.

To date, i am halfway through the 50ml bottle.... the question is will i return for a 2nd bottle?

Not likely .....If i am paying full retail price for it and i do believe there are some other products that has the potential to perform the same job at a much more affordable price range.

Priced at S$57 for 50ml. ( It was a value set i got some time around Christmas, the 15ml Pore minimizing serum and Pink Radiant mask plus the 50ml lotion)

Main Ingredients: Extracts of Linden, Green Algae, Chrysin, Alphine Willow Herb, White Dead Nettle, Zinc, Vitamin B6 and Lantana.

Review: Crabtree & Evelyn Citron Honey & Coriander Hand Therapy Collection- Hand Remedy

I received a mailer from Crabtree & Evelyn early March about their latest addition to their extensive Hand Therapy Collection- the Citron Honey & Coriander Collection.

While its existing range of Hand Therapy collection focused on the cleansing, moisturising and protecting of our precious hands from the harsh elements that we face daily, the people of C&E believed that our hands deserves the same level of care and pampering that we do to our face. Thus, the birth of this newly developed collection inspired by nature, with the aims to reduced visible signs of aging while cleansing and moisturising at the same time.

I am all too familiar with the C&E's existing range of Hand Therapy Collection such as Gardners (heavy duty series targeted at extremely worked out hands), La Source (Spa-like and most lightly fragranced series), Rosewater, Lavender, Nantucket Briar, Summer Hill and Jojoba. Just like i am a skincare junkie, i couldn't resist the pretty packaging that the Hand Therapy comes in, so i practically owned every single one item from the various collections. I always believe, 1 for the bag, 1 for the drawer at work and 1 at home.. well, our hands are precious, aren't they?

The Hand Remedy basically works the same way the face serum for our face, so it is actually serum for our hands, according to the Hand care ritual that the C&E SA advises. It is supposed to be used daily once in the day and at night, it contains ingredients that can help to even out skin tones and protect the skin from free radical damage. See the similarity here?

Packaging-wise, its a nice green with a hint of yellow, it makes sense to come in a tube form but there is too much similarity between the hand remedy and hand therapy, one might easily mistaken one for the other in the morning rush. Not too good in this sense but still pretty.

In terms of texture, since it is "serum", the consistency is a little on the watery side, much less creamy than the hand therapy and so it is easily absorbed into the skin, doesn't feel greasy at all and no sticky residue. There is no overwhelming fragrance, it is lightly fragranced, i can detect mainly the smell of fresh grass (maybe its the coriander) , a hint of lemon and a faint smell of Thyme. No honey smell here, though its name says citron HONEY.

My hands felt softer and smoother, minus the slight greasy feeling that i get most of the time after application (the Gardner range). Although i am supposed to follow up with the Hand therapy (can be from any series), i decided to skip that. Well, it is moisturising enough for me, i felt, perhaps i will complete the regime with the Hand therapy on days my hands felt like rough paws. As of now, the hand remedy seems to be sufficient for me, love the grassy citrusy smell (a great change from the usual standard floral fragranced range, subtle enough for the group that favours non-fragranced products).

Do i like it enough for a second tube?

Hm... yes, on days that i felt like pampering my hard worked hands.

The Citron, Honey & Coriander collection consist of :

1. Scrub Cleanser 250ml

Price: S$38

2. Creamy Cleanser 250ml

Price: $38

3. Hand Remedy 100ml

Price: S$45

4. Hand Therapy 50g, 100g and 250g (comes with pump)

Price: S$20, S$33 and S$65

5. Hand Recovery 100g

Price: S$40

Judging from the main ingredients below, I think this is the most nature-inspired range to date from the Hand Therapy collection.

Main Ingredients: Water, Ceterayl Alcohol, Glycine Soja (soybean) oil, Trehalose, Glycerin, Caprylyl Methucibe, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea butter), Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) oil, Jojoba Esters, Tocotrienols, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Citrus Medica Lemonum (Lemon) Fruit extract, Coriandrum Sativum (Coriander) fruit/leaf extract, Honey (Mel)(Miel) extract, Pisum Sativum (Pea) extract, Phytosterols, squalane and Squalene.

Review: Chanel Precision Activateur Eclat Originel Energizing Radiance Nanolotion vs Clarins Aqua Essence Morning Energy

Chanel Precision Activateur Eclat Originel Energizing Radiance Nanolotion

Chanel Precision Activateur Eclat Originel Energizing Radiance Nanolotion - well, this is quite a mouthful to utter for a facial product

To put it simply, this is a energizing treatment lotion that one can put on in the morning and at night. It contains vitamin C, E, seaweed extracts and Yuzu water to revitalise one's skin. For me, i use it mostly in the morning after i cleanse my face and before toner, in some sense i personally think of it as an equivalent of Clarins's Aqua Essence Morning Energy.

Clarins Aqua Essence Morning Energy

Clarins's Aqua Essence Morning Energy is solely based on plants extracts (in fact the whole line of Clarins's skincare is based on plants extracts), it too restores skin radiance and it tones and preps the skin ready for makeup as well. It contains green coffee, white tea, ginseng and redcurrant to tone, moisturise and smoothen skin. It smells a little fruity and rather refreshing in the morning, the lotion (water-like) is easily absorbed into the skin in the morning, effectively ''waking'' up the skin.

On the other hand, Chanel's Activateur Eclat Energizing Radiance lotion is transluscent with bits of tiny orange beads, it has a gel-like lightweight texture, due to the Yuzu, it has a slight citrusy fragrance. One does needs a little bit of patting for the skin to absorb the lotion and moments after the application, my skin felt rather smooth.

Before application of the lotion (Chanel).

Texture of the lotion (the orange bits are the Yuzu extracts).

After the application, the skin looks slightly brighter and firmer.

It is a close fight between Chanel Precision Activateur Energizing Radiance lotion and Clarins Aqua Essence Morning Energy....

Love both to the core. But i would use the 2 for different purposes, Clarins's for preping skin the morning before makeup and Chanel's when i felt my skin needs more moisture and needs to look more supple.

Holy grail materials in the making for me.. : )

Chanel Precision Activateur Eclat Originel Energizing Radiance lotion: Price unavailable as it was a gift from a friend.(150ml)

Main Ingredients: Vitamin C, E, Seaweed extracts and Yuzu.

Clarins Aqua Essence Morning Energy: Priced at S$65 for 100ml.

Main Ingredients: Redcurrant, Green coffee, White Tea and Ginseng extracts.

Clarins Skin TIme Appointment

I have tried denying this all my life and even having battles in my head over this simple statement that "I am a skincare junkie", but I AM ONE. I used to be a sucker for skincare products that claims to do this and that.. as long as there is a possibility that it might actually be the solution for my troubled skin.. i would just pull out my purse and shell out a pretty penny or two for it.

However the thing is, there is a tester available for people like you and me to test the prodcuct on a patch of our skin... a lovely well groomed sales lady to introduce the product and its function or maybe even other compilmenting products to you.. but something is lacking... somehow...

Now, Clarins sent out an email a while ago.. inviting people to make an appointment for a half an hour session with their skin experts, not the beauty talk that is conducted in a group but a one to one mini talk at the participating stores. Being the skincare junkie that i am, the next minute i know, my fingers are busy clicking onto their website booking an appointment with them.

The day finally arrived, I was attended by a friendly sales lady named Patsy, i think she is the supervisor of the branch that i made the appointment for. First of all, she asked if i am a current Clarins user and then she proceed to check on the database to find out what are the products that i am currently using.

Apart from the usual round of routine questions asked, like how i felt when i am using the product, do i feel comfortable about it and what are my concerns, she took extra care to make sure i use them all correctly and that she demonstrated by explaining and doing my entire skincare regime step by step on my face without me laying a single finger myself!

Step 1. Gentle Eye Makeup Remover to remove the shading powder i used for my eyebrows ( i didn't put on any makeup for this, except for my eyebrows, they must look prim and proper at all times.. haha). Patsy carefully placed the lotion soaked cotton pads over my eyes, pressing them one by one, showing me how it was removed.

Step 2. As i "complained" about my face feeling a bit tight after washing it at night, she finds out how i did my cleansing first before recommending that i use the Cleansing Milk with Gentian at night and demonstrated the "suction"method, followed by cleaning it off with water then the Toning Lotion with Iris.

Step 3. Next, for facial scrub, she showed me the corrected amount used for White Plus Renewing Gentle Exfoliator and proceed to use firm but gentle strokes to remove dead skincells on the surface. At this point, i asked her about the different masks available and was told that if i am using the white Plus Renewing Gentle Exfoliator, there is no need for the One-step Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser as it is redundant.

*she did emphasize to me that i need to use the Shaping Face Lift everyday morning and night to see the significant change and demonstrated the Clarins Facial Massage Techniques with explanation. (As i told her, i can't see any change after using that, well i guess i am detoxing my skin with that......)

Step 4. After the thorough cleansing, my face is ready for some pampering.. the HydraQuench Cream Mask.. I never knew that i can actually apply it over the whole eye area as well as leave this mask on overnight so that its hydrating properties can be further enhanced in this way.. all i have to do is to spead a tissue flat on my face and absorb the excess while patting the rest into the skin. (in that situation, she cleaned it with water and then used lotion over it). Good tip on that : )

Step 5. Patsy took a step further and asked if i am continuing my shopping later on, she selected loose powder of my shade, blusher as well as eyebrow liner and put it on for me, she even asked if i would like to have some eye colors, which i politely declined.

After the whole session which lasted a good 1/2 hour, i "bombarded" her with a lot of questions like can i use this with that and what is this for.. what can that do, even things like can i use it with other brands... blah blah blah (idiotic sounding questions included).....and answered one by one patiently.

The hour skin time appointment went well over the allocated 1/2 hour, whereby a lot of explaining and demonstrations was done, it wasn't a sales talk entirely as i was not persuaded to buy anything at all. It was solely an effort to make sure that Clarins's customers know what they are buying, that the products they are using are suitable and the correct techniques are used. Customer retention at its best. Well, i am convinced at least for now......

Priced at S$0.00

Main Ingredients: Troublesome customer, patient sales lady, Priceless

Review: The Body Shop- Ice Blue Shampoo

Originally created in the 80s, this classic was revived and made a come back by the good people of Body Shop together with many popular classics that they discontinued back then.

This unusual bottle of blue shampoo brings back memories of my teenage years...I was lamenting for the loss of it when they decided to discountine this in the 90s.... just when i have began to fall in love with it...

So naturally, i am delightfully surprised when it was brought back though for a limited time only.

I am currently halfway through my new bottle of Ice Blue. I would say the invigorating minty feeling on the scalp during washing and after washing remains very much the same except that the icy coolness sort of toned down in this version. I still recalled how i actually felt years ago when i first came in contact with Ice Blue, i shivered at the strong minty coolness on my scalp, more than enough to wake me up for morning classes. This time round, the concoction is a tad milder in my humble opinion.

Nevertheless, I like the fact that the shampoo is able to lather properly, it thoroughly cleansed my hair and best of all the faint minty smell it leaves on my hair. Unfortunately, the Ice Blue conditioner was not brought back together with the shampoo.. This is a pity, the pair would have worked flawlessly together.

The Body shop's Ice Blue Shampoo has been compared to LUSH's Ice Blue Shampoo many a time. Both sport similar packaging, TBS's version has a deeper hue of ultramarine blue to it and it has a black and green label, while LUSH's version was a light shade of teal blue with a speck of brightness to it and it has a white label. I would love to do a comparison between the 2, but LUSH pulled out of Singapore many years ago, so it would mean that i will need to ask my friend in US to help me get hold of it. Meanwhile, hopefully the good people of TBS decides to keep Ice Blue for good.

The question is, would i buy it again?

Why, yes!

But please bring back the Conditioner too and make both available in larger size.

Priced at S$16.90 for 250ml.

Main Ingredients: Aqua, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Chloride, PEG-5 Cocamide, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Menthol, Citric Acid, Benzyl Salicylate, Parfum, Benzophenone-4, Disodium EDTA, Linalool, Citronellol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf juice, Cl 60730 and Cl 42090.

Interesting fact: Aloe Barbadensis Leaf juice is actually Aloe Vera juice. It has anti-inflammatory properties and can soothe irritated skin.

For deciphering of the scientific terms used in the listing of Main ingredients, please visit http://www.thebodyshop.co.uk/ for it.

Review: Clarins- HydraQuench Cooling Cream-Gel

"A super-light fresh climate control moisturiser for normal to combination skin. Refreshing and non oily, it continuously hydrates the skin while protecting it from excess shine caused by heat and humidity."

- Clarins

The Clarins HydraQuench series has a total of 6 types of face creams targeting at different skin needs.

They are namely:
1. HydraQuench Cooling Cream-Gel - for normal to combination skin
2. HydraQuench Cream- for normal to dry skin
3. HydraQuench Smoothing Gel- for all skin types (but i think it suits oily to normal skin better)
4. HydraQuench Lotion with SPF 15- for all skin types with SPF 15
5. HydraQuench Rich Cream- for very dry skin and all skin types exposed to extreme conditions 6. HydraQuench Cream with SPF 15- for normal to dry skin types with SPF 15

Out of the 6 listed face creams/lotions in the series, only the first 3 are available in the Singapore market. I was told by the Clarins Sales lady that they will ascertain the demands of the consumer in the particular market before deciding to bring in certain skincare items.

In this case, the climate in Singapore is mainly humid and hot, sometimes wet when the rainy seasons hit us, thus the Singapore market will not be having items 4 to 6, unless there is a change of mind.

Today i will be reviewing the HydraQuench Cooling Cream-Gel. The cream comes in a blue frosted glass jar. Packaging-wise its pretty hefty, i much prefered its glass packaging compared to plastic jars, its a matter of personal preference.

The cream has a light beige tone to it and its looks heavy, but looks can be deceiving as the texture of the cream is way lighter than it looks it resembles those of gel. I find that products in the HydraQuench range have a certain faint smell to it that i simply can't put my finger on exactly what it is, nevertheless it a soothing fragrance, so it doesn't really bother me.

Upon application on the face, the cream actually spreads out quite nicely and easily absorbed by the skin, there is also a wave of very subtle cool tingling effect minutes after the application. I tried using it both as a day and night cream. As a day cream, it managed to moisturise my face for about 8 hours, the dry patches around my cheek areas remains sufficiently moisturised, i don't see any flaking of the skin. As a night cream, it is a little insufficient for people with dry skin types, but for normal to oily and combination skin types, the cream-gel goes very well with the range's Biphase serum.

I would buy it again as a day cream and use it on days when i felt that i need just a little more hydration.

Priced at S$88 for 50ml.

Main Ingredients: Aqua(water), alcohol, glycerin, squalane, caprylic/capric triglyceride, tapioca starch, ammonium acryloydimethyltaurate/vp copolymer, phenyl trimethicone, butylene glycol, parfum, ethlhexylglycerin, tocopheryl acetate, palmtoyl proline, C13-14 isoparaffin and tetrasodium edta.

Review: Dr Andrew Weil for Origins Plantidote Mega-Mushroom Face Serum

I have a friend who has very sensitive skin, almost anything would trigger violent reactions from it. Dust, dryness, the weather, anything you named it, her ultra-sensitive skin would react to it almost instantly causing blotching of the skin and then redness. Her saviour comes in the form of Plantidote Mega-Mushroom Face Serum from Origins.

With regular use twice a day, her extreme skin condition that has always been the core of her frustration actually subsided in a few weeks time. Her skin does not look blotched red every time i see her, though it remains slightly pinkish and it actually looks quite smooth.

That is a miracle for her and well, that prompted me to try this miracle potion wondering if it could conjure its magic to me. My skin is not as sensitive as hers however i do encounter problems such as dry patches around the cheeks but oily T-zone, mild irritation and appearance of some fine lines.

I jumped in to try the face serum, it comes in a clinical looking green glass bottle with a pump, it smells rather herbal (perhaps its due to the Reishi mushrooms, Ginger, Turmeric and etc used), the smell is not strong but to some it might put them off. The serum has a thin consistency of a lotion, lightweight and easily absorbed by the skin.

After a few weeks or so, it did what it claimed, the my skin felt more balanced, less irritated and the appearance of fine lines is not so obvious though its still there. I was told by the Sales lady that the serum has anti-aging properties too, i can't really tell for sure about that but i will see how i turn out years down the road.

This serum has been my friend's holy grail for a few years, as for me, i will always go back to the green bottle whenever i can feel my skin acting up.

Priced at S$108 for 30ml and S$138 for 50ml. It is the saviour for those with ultra sensitive skin, a holy grail material in the making.

Main Ingredients: Hypsizygus ulmarius, Cordyceps, Reishi mushrooms, Ginger, Turmeric, Holy Basil, Resveratrol and Argan Nut oil.