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Best skincare option - Clarins or other?

Hi,

Over the last few months my skin seems to be getting less bright, more tired looking and uneven, and in need of some help.

I'd like to go to a beauty counter for a trial and some advice, to help me choose some products.

However the only skincare oriented counter I can think of is Clarins.

Wondered whether they are any good, or whether there are any better options I should look at?

Thanks.
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Comments

  • PlymouthMaid
    PlymouthMaid Posts: 1,550 Forumite
    Seventh Anniversary Combo Breaker
    I tried Clinique . I had their over the counter consultation and some trial products and then did buy into it for a year or so. Then I went back to the cheaper stuff such as Nivea and facial scrub like Aapri and wont bother going back to the upmarket brands now as I couldn't really see the difference apart from on the bank balance.
    "'Cause it's a bittersweet symphony, this life
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  • skitler
    skitler Posts: 3,065 Forumite
    boots_babe wrote: »
    whether there are any better options I should look at?

    Thanks.


    I use soap and water on a regular basis, at least once a day.
  • Fairy_dust
    Fairy_dust Posts: 170 Forumite
    I'm a Clarin's girl! I used to use Clinique about 15 years ago but found it drying on my skin. Other counters are Chanel, Lancôme, Est!e Lauder, etc. I know a lot of people think their products are pricey, my moisturiser was £35 & it's just about finished but I bought it in September so it lasts longer than the cheaper products I've used :)! If you do buy the products, do it when there is an offer on (they quite often have buy 2 products - 1 has to be skin care) as you can get other trial sizes with it, such as mascara, shower gel, other skin care products for free :)
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  • HPoirot
    HPoirot Posts: 1,022 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker Stoptober Survivor
    Clarins is not all that, you could try others like Nuxe, ren, decleor, which are more skincare oriented. Darphin is fantastic but pricier than the Diors and Estee Lauders!

    If you really like Clarins, the thing is not to rely on the beauty counter assistants' marketing spiel but book yourself a facial - they sometimes have in-store salons I think - and ask for recommendations from the lady who would have treated your skin.
  • I think it depends on a whole number of factors - age, skin condition, health and so on.


    I've always struggled with my endless search for the perfect skincare regime - I think, over the years, I've tried nearly everything. These have ranged from the very cheap (Aldi) to the very expensive. They all worked for a while but nothing suited me long-term. I have combination skin and my face always felt greasy, especially in the mornings. My make-up would have slid off by lunchtime.

    I'm very lucky insofar as my skin is generally in good condition - I turned 50 this week but most people say I don't look 40. But I've had a lot of health problems this last couple of years which has definitely impacted on my skin condition.

    Purely by chance, I stumbled upon Elemis products at Christmas and gave them a try - I can honestly say, hand on heart, that my skin has never looked or felt this good. For the first time ever, my skin is not greasy or shiny and my make-up is good for the day. I was initially worried as some of the products are very rich but they have indeed, as promised, balanced my skin. The products are expensive but they last a long time. I've been using them since Christmas and have hardly dented the sides.

    This is just my personal experience - everyone is different so whatever you choose now might be your final choice. I think you just have to be prepared to keep trying until you find something that suits you. Good luck!
  • boots_babe
    boots_babe Posts: 3,258 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    skitler wrote: »
    I use soap and water on a regular basis, at least once a day.

    That's what I've always done too. Never done anything special, always use a face cream or my face feels dry but usually just a cheap one - recently been using the Aldi one which I really like.

    But it seems my skin is changing and I think I need something to help combat what's happening to it :(
  • boots_babe
    boots_babe Posts: 3,258 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Fairy_dust wrote: »
    I'm a Clarin's girl! I used to use Clinique about 15 years ago but found it drying on my skin. Other counters are Chanel, Lancôme, Est!e Lauder, etc. I know a lot of people think their products are pricey, my moisturiser was £35 & it's just about finished but I bought it in September so it lasts longer than the cheaper products I've used :)! If you do buy the products, do it when there is an offer on (they quite often have buy 2 products - 1 has to be skin care) as you can get other trial sizes with it, such as mascara, shower gel, other skin care products for free :)

    Hi,

    The reason I guess I'd initially thought of Clarins, is that it's biased towards skincare (I think anyway?). Whereas all the other main brands you've mentioned I think of as being primarily makeup brands, that just happen to also offer a few skincare bits.

    I guess I want to make sure I use something which will actually make a difference, don't want to waste time and money on something that isn't the best option. It's hard as I know everyone is different, but figured the best I can do is get recommendations on here and go from there.
  • boots_babe
    boots_babe Posts: 3,258 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    HPoirot wrote: »
    Clarins is not all that, you could try others like Nuxe, ren, decleor, which are more skincare oriented. Darphin is fantastic but pricier than the Diors and Estee Lauders!

    If you really like Clarins, the thing is not to rely on the beauty counter assistants' marketing spiel but book yourself a facial - they sometimes have in-store salons I think - and ask for recommendations from the lady who would have treated your skin.

    Hi,

    It's not that I really like Clarins, I know nothing about it except that they are more skincare biased than other 'makeup' brands I think.

    You seem to know of a few skincare specific brands, do any of the above ones have counters in department stores do you know? It's just that I feel I need to go and show my skin to someone and ask them to recommend/try things on me. Rather than me just picking without much clue!
  • HPoirot
    HPoirot Posts: 1,022 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker Stoptober Survivor
    Hi, Decleor definitely has a counter in John Lewis and a salon in the Oxford Street branch too. Ren is sold there too, although I have never used this brand my friend loves it. Nuxe does not do department stores but the products give good results, you may have to research them yourself if you wanted to use them.

    IMO Darphin, Decleor and Clarins all use the same principle in skincare, ie active plant extracts, 'layering' oils with creams etc, but Clarins products are more commercial than the other two. I don't use Darphin any more as it is so expensive, but all the ladies at their counters used to be facialists / skincare specialists trained with them in France. I suspect Decleor may be the same; even if they are not facialists they would need to have skincare knowledge to give advice, as opposed to the other counters which are more makeup oriented.

    Do you have a JL near you, you may want to check their services online to see if they have a counter, or call them up?
  • boots_babe
    boots_babe Posts: 3,258 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Thanks HPoirot. JL is only around an hour away so could definitely pay a visit. Good excuse for a day out shopping at the same time :-)

    I've had a set of free samples of Ren a while back, which I quite liked. So I might look at whether they do any specific products that may be worth a try.

    Thanks for your help.
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