Temporary Perfection (Clarins Beauty Flash Balm)

Member Name: Leolover

Product:	Clarins Beauty Flash Balm
Date:	18/10/02 (1328 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: an instant skin boost, last for hours, feels fantastic

Disadvantages: expensive, doesn't last forever!

For those occasions where you want to look and feel your best, for that youthful, radiant 'glow', you can't beat Clarins Beauty Flash balm.

Beauty Flash Balm is marketed as a luxury product for occasional use, which will make your face appear smoother and younger for a limited period of time.

I was introduced to this product by my Aunt, who's thirty seven but looks twenty five (I'm not exaggerating), and at first I baulked at the price - £25 to £29 pounds for a 50ml tube. I actually took the plunge when I discovered my first wrinkle! I needed a confidence boost, and if my Aunt?s gorgeous skin was anything to go by, this balm was my best hope.

*** PACKAGING

The balm comes in a small white tube adorned with the Clarin's red and gold logo. It is easy to store on a shelf and fits nicely into a cosmetics bag. Unfortunately, the ingredients aren't listed on the tube, but they listed in a little leaflet that comes boxed with it.

*** TEXTURE AND APPEARANCE

The balm itself is a very pale pink colour, and looks like a typical hand or face cream, with a slightly oily feel to it. You only need to apply a little to see and feel the benefits.

*** APPLICATION

You are supposed to apply a thin layer over the face, neck and eye area without massaging. I actually only apply it to my face, because I'm not all that bothered about my neck, to be honest (no turkey jowls so far, thankfully!) and I don't want to waste too much of this expensive product.

The most important thing to remember is not to massage in the cream, as the results won't be as good. You need to 'pat' the cream into your skin very gently, until it is completely absorbed. I would then advise waiting a couple of minutes before applying make-up, and when you do, apply your foundation as you have applied the cream, patting it in rather than rubbing or massaging.

Alternatively,
you can apparently use the cream as an intensive revitalising treatment, applying a thick layer and leaving it on for 10 - 15 minutes, but I have not used it in this way as I'd rather save it for special occasions.

*** RESULTS

A couple of minutes after applying the cream, if you look in the mirror you will notice that your face appears smooth and glowing. The effect is hard to describe...it's as if the cream 'plumps up' your skin, making dry areas and dark patches far less noticeable. Your skin will feel soft and moisturised. It's an instant boost. I suppose it's the facial equivalent of a body moisturising treatment or skin wrap.

The effect should last a good few hours, and retouching your make-up will not spoil it.


*** CONCLUSION

This is an excellent product and will be on my beauty 'must have' list for many years to come. The best thing about it is that the effect doesn't seem to lessen the more times you use it, as it does with some other beauty products. You will always be pleased with the results. Yes, it's expensive, but having said that, I've had my tube for about a year, use it at least once a week, and it's still going strong. Clarins don't claim that this will 'cure' problem skin, but it does hide flaws and give you wonderful looking skin for a while, which is sometimes just what you need.

Summary: