I’ve been working on this post for the longest time. Why? Because I always struggle the most when writing about products that I truly love.
I mean, I love everything I write about for the most part because ain’t nobody got time for writing about things that don’t quite work (unless you committed to writing about it, or it’s so awful that you just have to rant a little obvs), but when I love something, when it changes my life for the better and when I know I will never, ever go back to living without that product, I always get intense writer’s block.
Do I even know enough words to convey how much I love the Clarins Hydra-Essentiel skincare range? Probably not, but I’m gonna try anyway.
Introducing the Clarins Hydra-Essentiel Range
The Hydra-Essentiel range features a Bi-Phase serum, and three different types of moisturizers for different skin types and seasons (silky cream, rich cream and cooling gel). This line is replacing the v. popular Clarins HydraQuench range that was recently phased out, and it has been reformulated with even more hydrating goodness.
(If you’re a fan of the HydraQuench Cream-Mask, it looks like it’s still available on the Clarins website…)
This new range uses organic leaf of life extract as its main ingredient to boost the skin’s natural production of hyaluronic acid. Leaf of life is a succulent plant that’s very resistant to environmental changes – unlike our skin.
The Hydra-Essentiel range aims to combat thermic shocks, which are sudden changes in temperature that affect the skin’s hydration levels. A hot shower, central heating, air conditioning, a sweaty workout, or a windy coffee run are all thermic shocks. They’re unavoidable. In fact, our skin experiences up to seventeen thermic shocks a day, leaving it dehydrated and in need of a little help from Clarins.
Hydra-Essentiel Bi-Phase Serum
The Bi-Phase Serum* ($56) is my favourite Clarins product ever. I love it even more than the Hand and Nail Treatment Cream, which I honestly did not think was possible. I love my serums, and this one is nothing like the serums I’ve used in the past. It’s better, it’s lighter, and I can feel the benefits immediately. My skin feels softer straight away, and it’s the perfect canvas for more hydration. It has a watery texture that absorbs into the skin easily and a soothing herbal scent. It leaves my skin feeling refreshed, smooth and ready for moisturizer.
Hydra-Essentiel Silky Cream
The Hydra-Essentiel Silky Cream* ($46) is, for lack of a better word, silky. No, really. It makes my face feel so soft and smooth. This moisturizer goes on like a dream, sinks right into the skin, and has a nice fresh scent. The Silky Cream works perfectly with the Bi-Phase Serum to fight dryness and dullness from thermic shocks, including unpredictable winter-spring transitional weather
Good Enough to Skip Makeup
I’ve been using the Clarins Hydra-Essentiel range day and night for a few weeks now, which is an incredibly long time to test out something for me. As a beauty blogger, I tend to jump from one skincare range to the next, because the review box waits for no one. I’ve enjoyed this range too much to move on to new products, even long after I had made up my mind about the Bi-Phase Serum and the Silky Cream.
The Hydra-Essentiel range made my skin so much better. I’ve seen a huge reduction in redness caused by dehydration, and I’ve finally been able to go without foundation most days. Yes, yes, that’s right. I’ve been able to teach, work, and mingle with friends without wearing any foundation at all, and I didn’t even feel self-conscious.
I’m already dreaming of my next Clarins skincare adventure. For the summer, I think I might try a Bi-Phase Serum and Cooling Gel combo.
