Given that I'm all for products to help combination skin, never in a million years did I ever think a facial oil would grace the pages of my blog but since my skincare overhaul in the new year I discovered that you can actually fight oil with oil. When you have oily skin the temptation is to strip it of all the grease and dirt by using high alcohol astringent products; these can in fact work in the opposite way and although they'll leave your face squeaky clean after immediate use, it can actually make the skin produce more oil to compensate for the dryness. And anyway, as Caroline Hirons once said: 'Nothing on your body should squeak. You are not a mouse'. Shes a genius, pure genius I tell you.
Anyhow, the oil in question is the Clarins Lotus Face Treatment Oil. It's made with 100% pure plant extracts and contains an 'exclusive' blend of rosewood, geranium and lotus extracts. It claims to purify, tighten pores and refine the skins texture.
You apply this after cleansing and toning to skin which is still damp from your toner. You only need 2 drops of this into the palm of your hand, warm it between your hands and then apply to your face with a gentle pressing motion, there's a really good video illustrating how you should do this on the Clarins Website.
Clarins Lotus Face Treatment Oil - £29.00, Debenhams
I have only used this twice, hence the 'first impressions' style post. This is in no way a full review, how could I possibly know whether it works for me just yet? But what I can tell you are my initial thoughts.
I'll be honest with you, I have actually had this since Christmas but I've only just plucked up the courage to use it and I know it sounds so daft that it took me a month just to try something but putting oil onto my face is against everything that my brain tells me to do. I also had no idea how to use it or when to use it so I figured I best make sense of it before I actually put it onto my face!!
What I'll start by saying is that for me, this product oozes luxury. I've been using it as a treat for my face if it's feeling especially dry and neglected which happens a lot in this sort of weather. My skin is just generally unhappy at the moment, I've been really quite ill with various different minor things (colds, chest infections, sickness bugs etc.) and my skin is reflecting this.
The Lotus Oil fragrance is the thing that is most noticeable as soon as you open the bottle, it just smells like aromatherapy oils... reminds me of the smell of a spa that I go to near where I live. Total luxury. As I said earlier you literally only need 2 drops for your whole face, the first time I used it I think I used a little too much as it sat on my skin for a good half hour afterwards. However, when I used the proper amount my skin just drank it up like it should, no need to blot or anything it just left my skin feeling so smooth and hydrated. Because you only need 2 drops of this, this little bottle will last absolutely ages!
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