Clarins Beauty Flash Balm

I have been wanting to try a few different Clarins products for a while. The bottles always look so classy and I had heard really good things about their skin line being well formulated. When I finally caught on to a GWP I knew I had to go for it! In the Farmers GWP there were a few goodies - this "Beauty Flash Balm" was one of them. I had wanted to try this for a while as it has a bit of a cult following so I was really excited to try this (I would have purchased this had it not been in the GWP).

Once again the packaging is extremely classy and simple. A white squeezy tube with red writing on it. The lid fits securely and once undone reveals just a normal wee whole for squeezing the product through.

I was a bit surprised when I initially squeezed some of this out that the cream/balm is kind of tinted a pale orange. No wonder they say it brightens as that pale shade would be a great colour corrector. This does have a bit of a scent. Quite natural and inoffensive though so I didn't find it a big problem. When you spread this on your skin it feels very smooth and a wee bit silicone like, but not so much that your skin feels terrible. I have been using this as a base for my makeup and I do feel like it creates a really nice base, I'm not sure if it really makes it last longer but I really do like it. I don't think this really does any tightening or reduction of wrinkles... but I am reasonably young so can't really test it on that claim. They say you can also use this as a mask but for such an expensive product I don't think I'll be doing that any time soon.

For me I have been really happy to try this. But I don't find it a holy grail product so it isn't going on any repurchase lists just yet. I think my overall advice is to see if you can get a sample or this with a GWP because although it is really nice I personally don't find it a miracle worker.

Full credit for title goes to Farmers-Wife :P

I recieved this as a gift, I was really unsure at first what it was... A moisturiser? Primer? Mask? The packaging kind of confused me as it said it Brightens and Tightens but can also be used once or twice a week as a mask for 10-15 minutes.

I have been using this as a moisturiser under my make up. Smells lovely and has a great light non-oily texture, leaves my skin feeling soft and awake, has a freshness about it that I adore in the morning. I would say this is a light moisturiser and would not be quite suitable for really dry skin. I have Oily/combination skin and find this wears well under my makeup without making me look too shiny throughout the day. I have found that sometimes that if you touch the product on your face too much or rub it in too much it begins to ball up on your skin.

This is quite a costly product and am unsure yet if I will buy this product myself. I will continue to use this bottle in the meantime and re-evaluate. I will update this review as I continue to try this Beauty Flash out.

I was a little skeptical of this product first after reading how 'multi-purpose' it is. I tend to find that products made to do one job usually do that job great but for some reason products that are made to do a multitude of things generally don't seem to do ANY of them well.

This was NOT the case with this product, it exceeded expectations for me! It works really well as a primer and would be perfect for those who hate silicone primers as its not silicony at all. I have not used this as a moisterizer or mask as I have other products I like using for these purposes.

However, my favourite way to use this product is actually mixed in with one of my favourite foundations for a 'no-makeup' makeup look. It sheers out any full coverage foundation and gives such a natural look while still being able to cover redness and as a bonus it will make your makeup last longer!

I will repurchase this product.

This came as a GWP when I brought some Clarins products it is in a 30ml tube I will be purchasing it when this runs out I am in love

For a start when I got home and saw this was in the GWP pack I had no idea what it was for (thank goodness for BR) I have used it as a straight moisturiser, under my foundation (which has given me perfect results I don't think I could use anything else!!) and as a night cream I have also put it on quite thick to use as a mask but my very dry and thirsty skin sucked it all up

It comes in a white tube with the Clarins logo and red writing on it so it's nothing fancy but I have noticed all Clarins skincare products are like this. It's a lovely thick cream that is slightly pink. The scent of it is slightly nana-ish but it is subtle It's kind of like a talcum powder smell. Like I have said I have dry thirsty skin and this absorbs so quickly and leaves no residue even when I put on a heap of it on in an attempt to make a mask it absorbed so fast nothing was left on my skin. I absolutely love this product and I don't think I could ever be without it. It is such a great all rounder definitely a staple product for me.

Clarins does incredible products and this is no exception. Makes your skin look and feel incredible, provides a good base for makeup application and just refreshes in general. It's expensive but 100% worth it - it even comes in smaller tubes so if you can get ahold of one you don't need to fork out for a full size until you're sure you love it.

I'm never really sure what these balm products are supposed to be used for so I've been using this almost exclusively as a primer. I hear it can be used as a mask too but when I found out how much this cost (I was lucky enough to be gifted it) I nearly choked and couldn't bear to use that much of it again if it wasn't going to aid my makeup finish.

As a primer it is GORGEOUS. I leave it a tad wet and immediately apply my base as as it dries it sort of bonds with the colour and helps it to set. It gives an amazing finish. I haven't had any oily or drying affects from this product at all. It's perhaps a tad thicker than primers I'm used to but really I cannot fault it in this regard.

My main issue is the price. For the same price I could get a dedicated primer that it's just great but phenomenal, or for much less I could get an equally great dedicated primer. Yes this is a multitasking product "supposedly" but I wonder how much of that is marketing.

I have used it as a mask a couple of times and I didn't really get any effect either positive or negative from it. Also, again, there are better and cheaper dedicated masks that can be left on or wiped away with a tissue.

I never use things as a pick-me-up because I usually have makeup on and if I remove it I generally run through my entire routine anyway so there's no room for those types of products in my life.

Maybe I'm just a big fuddy-duddy though and like things to have a specific job and not try to be an everything product.

I use this product most mornings after my usual moisturiser and before my foundation. As a full-time professional employee, part time student, mother, 40 year old insomniac , I need all the brightening and refreshing I can get and this product delivers. My foundation looks dewier and my skin appears as if I had 8 hours sleep the previous night.

This balm is perfect for days when your skin feels tired and forlorn. The balm is greasy as you imagine a balm to be — it's quite the opposite. It tightens the skin, smooths and soothes, and leaves your face feeling soft and uplifted. It smells great too!

The tube of Beauty Flash Balm I have is kind of oval rather than round which makes getting most of the product out a lot easier than some tubes. I appreciate the simplicity of the packaging; a white tube with red text. There is nothing gimmicky, I feel like my money is going towards a product rather than a flashy package. When it comes to the product itself, I’m not sold. The cream is a peachy-apricot colour with a light perfumed scent. Although it feels like it would be pretty heavy straight from the tube, it quickly absorbs into the skin and provides a bit of moisture with a subtle glow. I don’t notice anything really different from a moisturiser which is why I don’t think I’d repurchase this product.

Years ago I worked in a clarins salon, so I used all of their products. These days the only reminder of those days is my Clarins beauty flash balm. Many other companies have similar products but this one works for me. I use it when I am wearing full make-up for a special night out, it make my make-up stay fresh all night. I also use it after a night out as a pick me up mask.