It hadn’t crossed my mind that trying Clarins Vital Light Serum, which is for Dark Spot Correcting (and age repairing) could just be the thing to help. If I had known how much it would effect the colouration on my neck…
So I have been known to be a bit single-minded at times. And once I decide to test a product, I really do test a product. You can be assured that when I say I have tested something – I really have.
I am very fussy about products I use on my skin, and also I really like to know what is IN those products. And also because I am quite happy with my current facial regime, it has be a pretty interesting product to get me to change and try something new.
I have been blessed (as I have said before) with reasonable skin for a mid-forty-year old. I thank my Mother for this genetic gift, and also thank her for insisting on us wearing hats and using sunscreen as children, at a time when this wasn’t fashionable.
The one area that I wasn’t so careful with in later years has been my neck. If I could say one thing to you twenty-somethings (and even thirty-somethings), it would be to look after your neck. Use sunscreen on your neck as frequently as you use it on your face, drape a scarf around your neck when you are at the beach so your neck doesn’t take the brunt of the sun. It isn’t so much the back of your neck as the sides. The skin on your neck is the same as the skin on your face – but for some reason we think it is somehow tougher than our facial skin. We put creams on our decollage to keep our bust line firm (well I don’t but some women do), but for some reason the sides of our necks often get missed. And now I have been left with a very red neck.
This is NOT pretty when I have makeup on my face, which only draws attention to the fact that my neck is quite red. I have used some Dr Hauschka products in the past that have really helped with the flare-ups of red, and my skin is not as sensitive as it was. I have made some changes to how I use perfume, I don’t spray it on my neck any more – and that really seems to help. But I have been left with a mild permanent red mark on each side of my neck. It looks like I have just caught the sun a bit that day – when of course I haven’t been out in the sun AT ALL!
It hadn’t crossed my mind that trying Clarins Vital Light Serum, which is for Dark Spot Correcting, (and age repairing) could just be the thing to help. And it most certainly has been. If I had known how much it would effect the colouration on my neck I would have taken a before and after photograph, but silly me, I assumed it only worked on dark spots. I am entirely unsure how my brain was unable to make the connection that a product made to correct a dark spot, might just help a red mark. Boy, I am entirely unsure what planet I was on…
Speaking of being on different planets, I have just got back from visiting my sister in San Francisco. And the first thing my sister said to me after I got off the plane and had had a shower etc, was how great my skin was looking. And this was after a grotty 12-hour flight with a squirmy nine year old in the seat next to me, (my son Theodore) and 3 screaming babies in front of me for the whole flight (someone else’s squalling offspring). Not exactly a dream flight. So for her to mention my skin so soon after arriving was rather surprising. Surprising, but very welcome.
Hand in hand with the Serum, goes both the Extra Firming Day Cream and the Extra Firming Night Cream. I am only a recent convert to night creams – but a convert I am. I have had naturally oily skin most of my life, but as I get older I am finding my skin needs more of a helping hand. Moisturising both day and night is becoming a much more essential part of my life. If only someone could design a makeup that instantly wears off at night so you don’t actually have to remove it – then I would be really happy. I just hate banging around in the bathroom at night when I should be ASLEEP (an even more important part of my life these days!)
I like to know about where my products come from. I like to know about the company that made them – and the thought processes that drive them. It is one of the reasons I like Dr Hauschka (as a company), and why I am interested in Clarins. Started in 1954 by then medical student Jacques Courtin-Clarins, his son Christian now runs it, and the company is still owned by the family. They have a real passion for botanically-based products, and always have – even when other companies have favoured cheaper, more easily-found ingredients in their products.
Even though the catch cry at present is ‘organic’ and all that that entails, Clarins have always made sure their ingredients are ethically-farmed and harvested fairly and are always researching, and pushing the boundaries – especially with their work with Pioneer Plants. If you want the ‘science-y’ bit then Organic Lemon Thyme and Green Banana Extract are active ingredients in the Vital Day Cream, with Rose and Camellia scents added.
Lotus Root, Rhodiola Extract with Lily, Jasmine and Iris scents are present in the Extra Firming Night Cream.
In Clarins testing (with a sample size of 77 women), they found a 12.7% reduction in wrinkles, and an 11.1% improvement in firmness. Approximately 80% found they had more supple, smoother skin. I am definitely part of the 80%.
The Vital Light Serum uses Hexylresorcinol as an anti dark spot molecule – as well as Spergularia Extract (a pioneer plant). The serum most definitely has an almost immediate effect of firming the skin. And for someone with sensitive skin, I can hardly ever use those more concentrated serums as I end up having a very quick reaction. After nearly 4 weeks of use, I have had nothing but the benefits of better skin tone, and an increased ‘luminosity’ (it looks ‘brighter’ for want of a better word) where previously my skin has been becoming a little duller with the passing of time.
The other surprising thing about all of this is where you can buy your Clarins now. When I first starting using Clarins in my 20’s (which was oh so long ago), I used to buy it when I had a Clarins facial. Or, from duty free at the airport. Oh how things have changed.
This Clarins came from the beauty section at Farmers. Clarins is one of their biggest selling products.
And, at the moment, they have a special promotion where if you buy two Clarins products you get a third free – of equal or lesser value than the lower priced of the two items you are buying. Which sounds like a good deal to me! With Vital Lift Day Cream retailing for $155, Vital Lift Night Cream for $160 and Vital Light Serum for $155, that works out to be a great deal – but it is only available from 7th – 27th May and only at Farmers.
By Anya Brighouse
9 May 2012
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