Clarins has been in and out of my skin care budget for many many years. When I saw they had a new calming range, I jumped at the chance to try it as my skin has become reactive over the past year due to a mix of hormonal red flushes and too many skin products with acids/actives. The Calm-Essentiel Regime is a Sensitive Skin Care range, consisting of a 30ml pump tube Redness corrective gel, a 50ml pump tube Soothing emulsion, and a 30 mil glass bottle/dripulator Restoring treatment oil, all with clary sage extract in the form of a molecule called sclareolide, an explaination of which is on the classic white and red box. The Calm-Essentiel commitment is outlined on the box, info about formula, effectiveness and preserving the planet. Each box outlines benefits of the product, application and ingredients. Benefits include soothing feelings of discomfort, intense hydration, protection against external aggressors, and effects of pollution, revealing skin's beauty. The gel and emulsion both have a herbal fragrance which is different to other Clarins products I've used. It intially took a little getting used to, but is not unpleasant. I used the Redness corrective gel in the morning as a daily moisturiser. It is a cream-gel, with light green pearls and pigments which are to assist with correcting redness associated with fragile, sensitised skin. This gel is instantly cooling on the skin, absorbs well, and my skin felt very hydrated. The redness in my cheeks, while still noticably, was diffused thanks to the green pigment. At night after cleansing my face, I applied the Soothing Emulsion as my night cream. The emulsion is a cream which is neither light nor heavy. It was very hydrating, and my skin felt more comfortable, not as dry. Every other night I added in the Restoring treatment oil, mixing a few drops of the oil into the emulsion in the palm of my hand. The oil is a lovely light texture, almost like a water/oil emulsion, not gluggy or heavy at all, absorbing quickly while leaving a beautiful dewy sheen to the skin. I also used the oil separately in the first week on reactive spots from working in a hot, humid environment, the oil calmed the spots so quickly they were gone overnight. The oil made my skin feel soft and nourished.
After two weeks of using all three products in the regime, my skin looks restored. While I still have my hormone-flushed cheeks, it is definitely an internal reactiion, no longer an external sensitivity. The Calm-Essentiel range has done exactly what it claims to do, intensely hydrate, nourish, and those feelings that fragile skin has, that tight, dry feeling, have gone. I love each product individually as well as together. The Restoring Oil says it is perfect for 'resetting' your skin, and that is what I have seen happen using the entire range, skin that looks much more even in tone, improving day after day.
I was super stoked to get on this trial....thanks BR! A little bit about my skin, it can be very fussy! I have to be careful what I use as some products set my skin on fire and I often get a horrible irritation. I have redness on my chin and cheeks and get occasional breakouts.
The Clarins Calm-Essentiel redness corrective gel comes in a 30ml tube with a pump. I have been using this in the morning after cleansing but I only put it on my red cheeks and chin. A little bit definitely goes a long way, it has a lovely faint smell and has a green tinge which obviously counteracts the redness. It doesn't do anything dramatic for me and is a step I could happily miss out.
Next the Clarins Calm-Essentiel soothing emulsion. It sounded right up my alley, anything with the words soothing make me want to plaster it all over my face. It has a nice medium consistency which is neither too thick nor runny....it is perfect. It has a lovely faint almost floral smell, I use a pump and a half and gently smooth it around my face. It leaves my face feeling hydrated and smooth. I really like this!
Last is the Clarins Calm-Essentiel restoring treatment oil. I only apply at night after cleansing and moisturising. It has a nice consistency and isn't super runny which I like. It has a nice subtle smell. I use about half a dropper full and massage it all over my face and neck. It sinks in well but still leaves a slight greasy feeling. My face feels super hydrated and smooth. I really like this oil.
Overall this is a lovely regime and perfect for sensitive skin. The only product I wasn't a real fan of was the redness corrective gel. I have really loved being on this trial.