Clarins: The Gentle Brightening Toner etc.

OK, well, I am the first to admit that Clarins as a brand has never particularly appealed to me.

1/ As a contemporary brand selling their products to the 'modern' women, I find their approach quite non-descript. I find their red typeface and very red blazers (I'm sure they still wear these in my local department store) dated.

2/ As a higher end brand, I just don't find Clarins particularly engaging or inviting. As far as I know there aren't any gimmicks to reel me in (and if there is then Clarins haven't been shouting loudly enough above the Benefit Maker Uppers and Chanel Ombre hype for me to hear) apart from maybe the odd multi-buy (and multi-buys, come on, how dated is that?!! We want advent calendars and miniature goodies galore please). We don't just want that 'something more' when we're paying higher end prices, we also want that something 'extra special more'. We're looking for products that wow and anything less is unacceptable.

3/ This is where Clarins' straight-forward and no-fuss approach to the market seems to work. When a blogger or vlogger mentions or raves about Clarins, I do take note as their products are not particularly trendy or hyped with claims everywhere. If somebody is taking the time to purchase a Clarins product and then taking the time to tell you it works then in my opinion, it probably does. In my experience, of four Clarins products, they have always done what they were destined to do, well!

Clarins are one of the only brands that offer me a self tanning option for my face that looks natural, sun-kissed and appropriate for my skin tone. The Liquid Bronze Self Tanning is magic and if only I did not break out every time, I used it then I would probably have made their sun-kissed look my 'signature' by now. Unfortunately though, the tanner does always break me out around the chin and neck area and that kind of ruins the overall effect so back to pale, I go which actually is not so bad since I started using two of the Clarins base products, the Extra-comfort foundation and the Instant Light Brush On Perfector (both mentioned here). I was colour matched for both products at the Clarins counter and think I've been matched perfectly. They are both very lightweight and discreet. I think, an outsider would be hard done by to pinpoint 'foundation' on the skin. For me, the Extra Comfort was definitely lighter in coverage then Revlon, Colour stay and slightly thicker then Rimmel, Wake Me Up. Once blended (easily!) both of my base products seem to sit seamlessly on my skin. In the past, sometimes my ghostly white skin dressed in foundation can look cold and harsh but both of these products add a certain glow and softness to my face as if I'm under the most flattering light and I'd imagine, given a little longer to test, I could grow to worship these two products in spite of the price.

The one Clarins product this post was meant to focus on (three or four paragraphs ago. . .) is the Gentle Exfoliator Brightening Toner which I purchased after numerous mentions and praise from Caroline and others on her blog. Caroline claims that it is a beautiful, softening, exfoliating, brightening, hydrating toner that should be in everybody's arsenal (she also talks about the more technical stuff better then I would if you are interested).

I have been using this 'gentle'(!) toner since the middle of September and on finishing my first bottle I realise that I have grown to like it.

A lot! 

The little milia around my eye area have disappeared since I started using this. Indeed, my skin too feels very smooth and I've noticed, I'm not catching myself on my little bumps as much as I used when I use my fingers to apply foundation. Note: Having ran of my favourite Botanics Microdermabrasion Polish (mentioned here) I have not physically exfoliated my face for a long while yet it is still smooth.

Smoootherr, in fact! 

I'm putting that down to this gorgeous skin care goodie. I would say my skin looks healthier and a bit more alive since I started to use the Clarins toner so we can tick off the brightening box too. The only two boxes I'm unsure about is firstly the hydrating one, this toner does not feel particularly hydrating and when I first used it I was getting over a reaction from another product and to be honest, using this twice a day
did seem to heighten my discomfort and dry areas out as they healed. I would not recommend using this product twice a day until you have been using it for a while. I stopped using it twice a day about a week in and now I use it once a day at the most and that honestly seems to be enough and the optimum for me. I'm also not sure how softening this product is, I have not noticed any extreme difference.

Though, I think this Clarins toner is a decent skincare product, I do recognise how hard it is to say how good a skin product is as it forms just one step of an entire skincare routine. However, I would say that allowing for the routines I was using at the relevant times, I am much more impressed by the Clarins toner then I was by the Alpha H, Liquid Gold and that I'm hoping another bottle of the Clarins might be in my stocking (hint hint)

The Clarins Toner is widely available from pharmacies and department stores.

What toner do you use? How do you exfoliate? Have you used this Clarins Toner? What Clarins' products do you recommend? I hope you're all having a good week, almost halfway through it now. Ooh and we can almost say the same for #bigblogmasproject too!

My Daily Make Up Routine!

So, this is my make up routine for a typical weekday when I'm working or popping in to town. . .

1/  Every single morning, there is the prising opening of the eyes because let's face it, it will probably help if I can see what I'm doing and I need all the help I can get. A quick shower and an even quicker wipe across the face (with the L'Oreal Paris 3 in 1 Purifying Miscellar Solution) is employed most days for this first mission. I know miscellar solutions are reportedly overused and should not be used in place of a 'proper' morning cleansing routine but hey, it seems to work quite well for me. This step usually finishes with a frown in the mirror as my eyes have very reluctantly opened, only to find my reflection. Damn, I don't particularly care for what I see!

2/ At night, I tend to lather my face in potions and moisturisers but in the morning (I have to be out of the house by 6.40am at the latest), a dollop of the Hydreane Riche moisturiser from La Roche Posay (My absolute favourite moisturiser ever. Totally recommend, I always come back to this stuff. Remember this rave?!)  mixed in to Extra Comfort foundation from Clarins suffices.
I can't really feel this foundation as I rub it in to my face (Yep, I do the finger thing. I can get in to all my little contours etc that way plus is it just me or does it take at least three times longer to apply foundation with a brush?!). It feels and looks quite a lightweight foundation (though many claim it to be of medium coverage) and blends in easily giving my face a nice polish and a flattering glow. I frown as I move a little closer to the mirror though, I can still see a little redness in my cheeks and jeez, those eye bags. Did I honestly just wake up from a good night of sleep?!!

3/ Scramble around in my nice new flowery make up bag from Boots to find my Clarins Instant Light Brush On Perfector concealer thingymajig. I was on a mission last week to become more organised and this bag was to be my new home for my day to day make up. . ! So after 5 minutes of frantic scrambling, I find said concealer lying ever so innocently (ha!) on the floor behind me. Now to twist the pen and tapping concealer with fingers in a large triangle under my eyes. Wow, sigh of relief. A miracle has again taken place, I almost look awake. A quick shake of the pen to determine how much concealer is left but I can't tell. I dread the day that I do the twist and nothing comes out. I really really like this concealer for under the eyes but wish I could see inside the pen and find out when I needed to find the serious cash to stock up.

4/ Using my Sigma angled brush, I apply a little Mystery (MAC) to my brows and raise an eyebrow or two as I fill the gaps in. All the while muttering as to if the threader got a little carried away recently. Argh, I walked out of there feeling so 'fine' too.

5/ A quick swipe of something close to hand (often Seventeen, Phwoarr paint) to prime the eyelids. Then with my Sigma flat shadow brush, I tap my current favourite eyeshadow on to colour block my eyelid. More often then not, this task falls to the Naked eyeshadow from Urban Decay. All That Glitters, Modellette, Buck, Tempting and Satin Taupe have all performed this role at some time but Naked for me, is the ultimate colour blocker. Face on, it gives the wearer a subtle but flattering draw to the eye but when I look down, it makes my eyelids look that much more and really softens my look. A quick swirl or two with the Sigma blending brush to blend out.

Note: After using Sigma for five years, I have recently experimented with the Real Technique  eye brushes but I need further practise and practise needs time so I tend to stick to the Sigma in the mornings as the clock ticks ever closer to 6.40am. Occasionally a little contour to the outer corner or darkness along the eye line is needed but very rare I bother making the extra effort  especially as we get closer to the end of the week. This is where the semi-permanent eyeliner from last year pays off, I can move straight to mascara.

6/ More often then not, I stick with just a few slicks of mascara now my eye line is already so dark. Instant curse as I pull away from the mirror and look at the final result. Cor, I so need the Prestige blackest lashes or some Max Factor, back in my life. This L'Oreal Voluminous isn't half messy and, unlike L'Oreal Million, here smudge galore is served with very little (and quite disappointing) extra oopmh, length or volume. Sigh as I resign myself to the fact that I will need to buy a new mascara this weekend, if I want to go out in to town etc without fussing (unsuccessfully) with falsies.

7/ Oh, the clock says 6.35am already. Deep breath before I grit my teeth and (fake) smile anyway as straighteners are switched on (ready for the hair prep which needs to swiftly follow) before a final swipe just above my cheekbones with NARS, Deep Throat blush.

8/ A little Lush lip scrub applied before picking up straighteners. Mmm, extra dip in to the pot, just a little taste. After all, I'm not sure there will be much time for breakfast this morning. As I lick my lips, I make a mental note to add Rimmel Stay Matte Powder to my shopping list. I keep meaning to buy it with my points, it definitely helps my make up pull through a double shift. Ooh and as Harmony from MAC catches my eye, it passes through my mind that maybe I should try again tomorrow to set my alarm five minutes earlier for some contouring action. When I do bother to use Harmony, it rewards me.

........FAST FAST FAST FAST FORWARD AND THE OCCASIONAL TRIP OVER MY OWN FEET OR ABANDONED TOP ON THE FLOOR AS I RACE AROUND THE FLAT AND COMPLETE THE REMAINING STAGES OF MY DAILY PREP (HAIR, TEETH ETC)...........

9/ Before finding myself in the car, scrambling around my Miu Miu Bow for a lip product. Shoot, I thought I had promised myself I would keep them in the inner zip pocket but no, only an electric key there. Oh and is that a perfume bottle, a quick overly generous spritz of that before lip product search resumes. Finally, I find a Sleek Pout Polish in Peach Perfection but a bit fed up of that and then, oh, there is the Benefit gloss but that feels almost too much for work. Another scramble until I find MAC Underage (a bit drying) and Lanolips or even better, a Maybelline Baby Lips. The Peach Kiss is my favourite. Remind myself to check lips later, my favourite daily lip products never last. Well all, except the totally fabulous Lanolips.

10/ Another smile crosses my face. A genuine one this time as the first of my daily major tasks has been completed. Yep, my make up is in place!!!! Well, sort of, except that bloody  L'Oreal Voluminous mascara which smudges again as I put my driving glasses on. Oh well, 6.50am, must wipe smudges away at the other end. Start ignition, lights on and off I go or well, that was my plan but darn, I need to de-ice. Resume scrambling action ... just know there is a couple of deicers in here somewhere. . !

So that is how each day starts for my face and I? What about you? Do you have a signature make up look? What make up products do you recommend?

Thanks for all your comments and support this week, it means such a lot and gives an excuse for that genuine(!) smile to cross my face again. I hope you are all well. Two days until the weekend . . . woo!!!