Review: Clarins Cleansing Milk and Toning Lotion

Clarins is one of the leading skin care brands but I think it is often forgotten amongst the buzz for the likes of Liz Earle, Ren (of which I am a massive fan!) or other HG products. A few years ago I enjoyed used the cleansing milk and toner for normal to oily skin, however my skin changed and I moved on to other products. On a recent holiday, I was in a pharmacy that had amazing deals on lots of beauty products, including salon sized Clarins products. I was running out of my Cleanse and Polish and decided I would give the normal to dry range a go, the offer was incredible, 400ml for 19 Euros, unfortunately it is a little pricier in the UK, 200ml for £17.50 (double the price) but still cheaper than a lot of high end skin care.

The Cleansing Milk  with alpine herbs is a beautiful lotion which is best applied directly to dry skin. I usually massage it into the skin and then follow the Clarins suction technique, which involves placing the hands flat on the face and pulling away quickly to create a suction effect, this is meant to pull the grime and toxins out of your skin, I then use a warm muslin cloth to buff the lotion off my face. I find it is very effective at giving a glowing, soft finish to my skin and is perfect for my normal to dry skin. The original is also very good but more for combination skin.

The Toning Lotion with camomile is also for normal to dry skin. The pump action of this bottle is not ideal as I end up wasting a lot on a cotton pad, so I have decanted this into a small spray bottle and I spritz my face after I have removed the cleanser. I am not entirely sure if I believe toner works, but this has a beautiful, natural smell and I am sure it has a small moisturising effect so I am happy to keep using it!

All in all, I would highly recommend these products to anyone who wants some luxury skin care, perfectly suited to normal/dry skin. They keep my skin clear and glowing and I can tell they will last for ages, even with my morning cleanse and double evening cleanse routine!

Have you tried these products? Or have any recommendations? Let me know in the comments below!

Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser

In my first post I mentioned that I would be reviewing the Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish, a cult skincare product that has been taking the beauty world by storm ever since the company started in 1995. It is a 'one size fits all' product as the cleanser is suitable for all skin types and is made from lots of natural ingredients that nourish and cleanse your skin without leaving it stripped of natural oils.

In the past I swore by REN Ultra Moisture Cleansing Milk which is a fantastic product and I would definitely recommend it for dry skin but I fancied a change and I have only heard good things about the Liz Earle.

I purchased the starter kit which consists of 1 x 100ml pump cleanser and 2 x muslin cleansing cloths. In the UK this is priced at £14.25.

The idea of the cleanser is that it acts as a 2 stage skincare programme. You cleanse with the cream on dry (not wet) skin and then buff it off with the muslin cloth (steeped in hand hot water) which gently exfoliates the dead skin cells off your face. It can be used over your eyes, it does not hurt my eyes and I do have quite sensitive eyes from that point of view, and it removes most mascara's I own.

At night I like to do a double cleanse to make sure my skin is properly clean, and to do this you just take a small pea sized amount after you finish your first cleanse and repeat the process. In the morning I just single cleanse unless I was naughty and slept with my make up on (SHOCKER!!! not advisable) 

I've noticed a massive improvement in my skin since using this product. It has most notably, balanced my skin because whilst having dry skin, I do occasionally get an oily T-zone, and this just does not happen for me now. It has also reduced any redness I have on my face, which can often be quite noticeable around my nose. My skin looks brighter and feels softer. So much so that I would consider going make up free during the day which is something I would never normally consider. I honestly don't have a bad thing to say about the product... I'm converted!

Any more questions? Pop them in the comment box below!