My idea of pleasure. (Clarins Relaxing Body Balm)

Member Name: jo@145

Product:	Clarins Relaxing Body Balm
Date:	18/02/07 (151 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Fabulous soft, silky moisturiser.

Disadvantages: Quite expensive.

Everywhere you look these days, there are pamper days, spa days, relax sessions etc. This is a world where people work hard. Stress is predominant in most people’s work and often home lives. So to relieve stress you need to relax, but not everyone can afford the time or money to enjoy a weekend spa break or even an hour pamper session at a salon, so what can we do?
My very kind daughter was massaging my leg after a torn muscle injury and used some of her Clarins body balm. Not only did it feel so silky and smooth, but the smell was so relaxing I commented on how lovely it was. When I left to return home she generously gave me her tube, and I’ve used it regularly to massage my legs and arms.

Who are Clarins?
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A well known French beauty product manufacturer, they started their business in 1954, but it wasn’t until the 70’s that they began exporting to other countries. I have used several of their products and also tried out their salon for a treatment, again a present from my daughter!
Clarins say this on their website “Taking time out to treat your face and body is no longer a luxury, but a necessity of modern living. At Clarins our aim is to increase your sense of well being and boost your inner strength and outer beauty. We ensure you look good and feel good.”

What is body balm like?
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The only thing I would complain about is the colour of the tube! I would prefer it to white like a lot of their other products but it is deep blue. But having said that, it is transparent, so if you hold it up to the light you can see how much is left in the tube!
The cream or balm though, is white and creamy just as you would expect. Squeezing out the tube the fragrance immediately tantalises your sense of smell and you start to relax. It is easily absorbed and leaves your skin feeling wonderful, soft, smooth and silky. My skin by the way is getting old, so I know it works wonders on aged skin.

What does it contain?
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This is the list of ingredients:-
• Seed oil: protects, hydrates, nourishes
• Marshmallow, Linseed and Sweet Almond extracts: sooth, soften, relax.
• 100% natural essential oils of Petit Grain, Camomile, Basil and Geranium: relax, balance, soothe.

Are you much wiser? No I wasn’t either so checked out the ingredients! Petit Grain is another name for the essential oil from Bitter oranges, it was used for its antiseptic qualities and calming effect.
Basil – I like my Basil in tomato sauce on Pasta, but Basil is used for relieving nervous disorders, so I can see why it is used for soothing.
Camomile - used for its anti-inflammatory and soothing action.
Geranium – used again for soothing and it has a lovely perfume.
The seed oils used are, Apple Pip, I wonder whether someone eats all the apples! marshmallow,(the plant, not the yummy pink sweets I love to toast on the barbecue!) the roots were used to treat dermatitis, inflamed wounds and other skin irritations. Linseed- I always thought that was used to treat cricket bats! But it soothes the skin too! Lastly Sweet Almond oil – something my mother used for ear ache, it is used for its soothing and moisturizing properties to treat inflammation of the skin.

Result.
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A wonderfully uplifting mixture of products that together moisturise, and help you relax and give a sense of well being. It certainly lifts my spirits.
Clarins suggest using after a bath or shower, presumably as the pores are open and more receptive, but I use my balm more often, in fact so hooked on the smell, I often squeeze out a little and just smooth it onto my skin when I have to go into the bedroom for something else! Having mentioned a bath or shower it does remind me that the Shower or bath product does smell very similar, so you could go for a double whammy!

My skin smells nice all day after using this, but it isn't too strong that it would interfere with my perfume. Plus my skin feels moisturised all day too.

Cost.
*****
Mine was a gift, but I did some research and have found it at £24 on some sites, but if you do some searching £17 for a 200ml tube is the best price I’ve found.

PS. If you can get someone to give you a massage this is even better, but if not why not just pamper you. Go on you know you deserve it!

Summary: Body balm, with relaxing essential oils.