The best Clarins products, used on repeat by the GH beauty editors
Including the new Super Restorative range, developed for menopausal skin
There are few beauty brands that have stood the test of time as well as Clarins. From the iconic Beauty Flash Balm and Double Serum to the new Double Serum Foundation that wowed everyone in our recent GHI tests, the French brand is known for efficacious products that harness the power of plant-based ingredients.
And it continues to refine its tech to help shoppers tackle real skincare concerns, whether it’s minimising fine lines or restoring your glow. Take one of the brand’s newest launches, the Super Restorative range, which has been developed specifically for menopausal skin, helping to manage the impact of hormonal fluctuations on our complexions (more on that below).
Clarins is a firm favourite on the GH beauty desk, too. It's one of the few brands that does beauty well across the board; everyone in the office has at least one product on the go as we type. And while you might come for the Double Serum Foundation, you'll stay for the sun protection, hydrating lip products and restorative creams.
Whether you’re new to the brand, looking to shake up your existing routine, or want to find a failsafe gift, read on to discover some of Clarins’ best-selling beauty products, why we love them, and maybe even find your new favourite….
Restore firmness and give your skin a big hydration boost with this intensive day cream from the new Super Restorative skincare range. As well as the range’s hero ingredient, harungana extract, which is essentially nature’s retinol and works to stimulate cell renewal to counteract the impact of dropping oestrogen levels in menopause – it’s also packed with ingredients to guard against skin-damaging environmental aggressors, such as pollution and UV rays.
Added squalene reinforces the skin barrier, which is your very own natural defence against potentially harmful external factors, whilereplenishing hyaluronic acid keeps your skin feeling plump and moisturised throughout the day.
The ultimate beauty icon. Originally created in 1985, Double Serum remains a beauty editor and shopper favourite, in large part due to the fact that the formula has been updated over the years – in line with the latest ingredient advancements – to be increasingly efficacious.
It contains 22 potent plant extracts, including turmeric and five new active molecules to stimulate some of the skin's vital functions. We find our skin always looks and feels fresher and less tired after a few weeks of use. It's available in a lighter texture, too.
This lifting eye cream was the winner in the GHI’s best eye creams test, with testers saying it glided onto their skin and absorbed quickly, leaving the eye area feeling instantly more moisturised.
As well as those signature firming ingredients, it also contains horse chestnut escin, which works to reduce those annoying dark circles by supporting the delivery of vital minerals to the under-eye area.
And the proof is in our panellists' feedback – nearly everyone reported an improvement in the appearance of their dark circles, as well as a reduction in puffiness and fine lines at the end of the 12-week trial period.
Your hands are the first place to show signs of dehydration and dryness, as there is a lack of oil glands compared to other areas of the body, further exacerbating the impact of menopause. So, we very much recommend a really nourishing hand cream.
Clarins’ formula contains glycerin, a humectant that draws moisture into the skin to help plump fine lines and leave them feeling soft and nourished. Harungana extract also helps to stimulate cell renewal, to help smooth skin and reduce the appearance of age spots. Plus, the conveniently sized tube makes it easy to pop into your bag for on-the-go applications.
The Lip Comfort Oil has entered directly into the Clarins Hall of Fame as far as we're concerned. It has that hard-to-nail balance of being sheer but not invisible, vibrant but not too bold, and comfortable but not greasy. We love it for a quick and easy wash of colour to perk up the complexion, which can be layered up as desired.
Clarins has taken its bestselling Double Serum and combined it with a gorgeous, lightweight foundation to create the ultimate makeup/skincare hybrid.
It offers glowy coverage while also infusing your skin with all those potent plant extracts. We tested it as part of the GHI's Believe in Beauty Awards and our panellists raved about it. In fact, everyone who tried it in the office went out and bought one for themselves.
Our skin’s cell renewal process really gets to work as we sleep, as our day-to-day bodily functions are completely switched off for a good eight hours (hopefully!).
This makes it the prime time to apply Clarins’ Super Restorative Night Cream, which supports the skin’s nightly repair process with its harungana-rich formula. The luxurious cream also includes nourishing shea butter, which is rich in fatty-acids, to add suppleness to skin and restore hydration as you sleep.
Menopausal night sweats can also make your skin even more susceptible to dryness, making this deeply replenishing night cream even more potent for round-the-clock nourishment.
We think this tinted lip balm deserves a spot in every handbag, not least because the Princess of Wales is a fan. There's also the fact that it contains vitamins A and E to reinforce and repair the delicate skin on the lips while protecting it against free radicals, as well as shea and mango butters to intensely soften, all wrapped up in a deceptively lightweight gel texture.
It's available in seven colours – from the palest pink to a rich berry – and the subtly shimmering finish skims over fine lines to make lips look more plumped. It leaves the most natural, pretty finish, and we can't get enough of it.
Most serums and creams require patience to see results, but sometimes you simply need a quick pick-me-up. Enter Beauty Flash Balm: a legendary Clarins creation that has saved many a face before a big meeting or party.
A rich, almost gel-textured cream, it works by delivering an intense hit of moisture to the skin, with soothing extracts (olive, witch hazel) to immediately help reduce redness, and plant oils for firming and brightening. Apply it before foundation, or try it as a pre-event mask – either way, you're bound to become hooked on its glow-boosting benefits.
Designed specifically for skin over 60, this soothing oil-infused day cream contains two extracts from the horse chestnut (flower and seed) that work to strengthen the skin's barrier, which in turn helps lead to a brighter, more resilient complexion (not to mention seemingly more plumped, lifted and firmed).
A Clarins classic, and for good reason. It hits that sweet spot between being incredibly hydrating while absorbing well, making it one of the brand's bestselling products. There's something about the scent that's incredibly pleasing, too; it's clean, fresh and not at all overpowering. Smother it over hands and rub into cuticles for total nourishment.
Clarins Lip Comfort Oil
Clarins does lip products well. Don't be put off by the word 'oil' here; this is more like a cushiony gel that keeps lips feeling soft and hydrated. The colours look punchy in the tube, but don't be scared by them - they look soft and pretty on the lips. These are non-sticky, hydrating look beautiful in the summer paired with a slick of mascara.
Clarins UV Plus Multi-Protection Moisturising Screen SPF50
This is facial SPF at its best. It's a lightweight but hydrating SPF50, with the prettiest pink (yes, really) tint that somehow works to brighten any skin tone in a natural, flattering way. It melts down to a comfortable texture that plays well under makeup, with no pilling (even when you apply a generous amount).
