Happy Monday!
I debated whether or not I should write this post, and in the end I decided, why not?
Normally I try not to write up posts for super expensive brands and products because I know not all of us can afford them. Heck, even I cant’; I’m all about affordability and not breaking the bank. That being said, is it possible that some high-end brands may actually be worth it? Let’s find out. 🙂
Shout-out to Influenster for sending me this voxbox complimentary for testing. I’ll admit that prior to this voxbox I hadn’t heard of the brand, so when I looked through their site I was genuinely shocked at how much these products go for. I am grateful and feel incredibly lucky to be able to try high-end brands in exchange for reviews and content. 🙂
Here’s what I received:
- Double Serum Eye Firming and Hydrating Anti-Aging Concentrate ($82.00 USD for 0.6 oz)
- Double Serum Firming and Smoothing Anti-Aging Concentrate ($90.00 USD for 1 oz)
Let me take you through my deep dive and find out what makes Clarins a high-end brand.
About Clarins
“In 1954, Jacques Courtin-Clarins founded Clarins with two principles in mind: listening to our guests’ needs, and a love of nature.“
Clarinsusa.com
That pretty much sets the tone for Clarins. I admire their willingness to listen and take the guests’ needs into consideration. Their innovation in manufacturing high quality, plant-based formulas is also something worth noting, now that a lot of brands have started moving towards that goal.
Commitment
In my deep dive, I learned that Clarins’s commitment (or motto) is to live beautifully and leave behind a beautiful planet. Their priority is our beauty and well-being, so they communicate openly and transparently about their products from composition to the effectiveness. Because Clarins believes in the power of nature, their products have been formulated with plants since 1954. Sustainability is essential to Clarins so it is important they responsibly source their ingredients and reduce their carbon footprint when it comes to packaging.
Aside from the efficacy of their products, Clarins is also committed to the people and planet and has taken action into helping others. They provided more than 33 million meals to children in need through the UN World Food Programme in 2021, has supported reforestation programs around the world in partnership with PUR, and was the first official partner of Plastic Odyssey and supports their expedition to reduce plastic pollution the in ocean. Jacques Courtin-Clarins also established Fondation Arthritis, more than 30 years ago, which funds research in the field of chronic inflammatory rheumatic diseases.
Clarins is very ambitious and their goals for 2025 are:
- 100%sustainable sourcing
- 100%of packaging will be recyclable
- 30%further reduction of their carbon footprint—already carbon neutral in 2020
- Optimized traceability
- Reinforced fair trade programs
- Initiatives for health and children
Ingredients
When it comes to their ingredients, nature is a source or inspiration and innovation. They have more than 208 plants in the Clarins Herbarium—each one extensively researched and harnessed to develop the high quality formulas they’re known for.
Their sub-page for their ingredients on their website is super cool and neat. It takes you around the world with 80 plants. You can navigate their map through each continent (Americas, Europe, Africa & Asia) and where they source each ingredient such as avocado, jojoba, arnica, shea, argan, turmeric, ginseng, and moringa, to name a few. Browsing this section was so much fun, I recommend you check it out if you’re interested because you also learn a bit about the benefits of each ingredient and why they use it in their formulas.
Cruelty Free Status
As it happens often, some things seem a little too good to be true. In this case, the brand itself seems to make a great effort into providing the public with amazing skincare and gorgeous ingredients, as well as some vegan products. However, according to many sites, including Cruelty-Free Kitty, Clarins is not considered cruelty free.
Official animal testing policy:
“Clarins does not test on animals. Clarins Research uses alternate testing methods and the latest advances in non-animal safety testing to ensure product excellence. Some countries where Clarins is sold require animal testing on all imported cosmetics as part of their regulatory safety process.“
With the amount of effort Clarins puts into their formulas, sustainability and leaving behind a beautiful planet, you think they’d be cruelty free as well. They technically are as a brand, but let’s not forget Clarins is sold where animal testing is required. That means they are willingly consenting to this. Let me tell you about their products before I give you my opinion on this.
Double Serum Firming & Smoothing
Anti-Aging Concentrate
Product Overview:
Clarins’ #1 bestselling anti-aging serum.* Two power-packed serums in one! Formulated with 21 potent plant extracts—including age-defying Turmeric—to visibly firm, smooth, and boost radiance in just 7 days.** Performance that goes further in decoding the language of youth to address all visible signs of skin aging.
The original double serum! This serum was originally launched in 1985 and looked much different back then, having two bottles for each serum. Clarins eventually updated the packaging to dual chambers in one bottle in 1996, and ever since then, Clarins has enhanced the formula and evolved the bottle many times. In 2017, Clarins re-imagined the packaging once more to what it looks like now, this time with a dial to dispense a customized amount of product depending on your skin’s needs.
The packaging was really well thought-out; the dual-chamber bottle combines the Hydrolipidic System—a ratio of 2/3 water-soluble plant ingredients (hydric gel) and 1/3 oil-soluble plant ingredients (hydrolipidic emulsion)—to mimic the skin’s dual water and oil nature. It combines the two into one potent serum when dispensed and delivers superb anti-aging benefits.
The serum has a fluid texture, absorbs into the skin easily, feels gentle and lightweight. The serum is formulated with 21 potent plant extracts, including Turmeric, an ingredient well-known for it’s anti-aging benefits which addresses all visible signs of skin aging. So far I’ve noticed my skin looks smoother, hydrated, it looks rejuvenated, brighter and clearer. I don’t necessarily have large pores, but I’ve noticed my pores have been visibly minimized. I don’t have wrinkles either, but I like to think this serum is helping out.
I think this serum is amazing. I cannot believe I hadn’t heard of it previously. I would say I recommend as all ages, ethnicities, and skin types, including sensitive skin, can use this serum.
Double Serum Eye Firming & Hydrating
Anti-Aging Concentrate
Product Overview:
Two power-packed serums in one concentrated formula that works from temple-to-temple to visibly smooth, firm, hydrate, and revitalize the eye area with age-defying results in just 7 days**. This plant-based formula contains 96% ingredients of natural origin and 13 potent plant extracts including our new Youth-Preserving Duo of powerhouse plant extracts, Organic Wild Chervil and Turmeric, specifically chosen for their anti-aging benefits to address the delicate eye area. The lightweight, two-phase texture provides an instant boost of nourishment for smoother- and brighter-looking eyes immediately after each use.
Last year, Clarins launched their newest addition to the double serum range, the double serum eye! The formula is very similar to the double serum; same potent ingredients derived from 21 plant extracts, including Turmeric for its anti-aging benefits. The packaging is exactly the same as the double serum—dual-chamber with a rotating dial to dispense a customized dose.
When it comes to dispensing the serum, I opt for the smaller dose, as I find that to be enough for both eyes and then some. In all honesty, I find this eye serum to be one of the best I’ve ever tried. It is incredibly lightweight, feels refreshing, hydrates my eyes, and feels gentle. I can’t think of a better ingredient than turmeric for an eye serum, it hits the mark.
I prefer to use this eye serum in the morning, as I feel it wakes my skin up, reduces puffiness, and brightens up my under eye area. Like the double serum, all ages, ethnicities, and skin types, including sensitive skin, can use this serum. Between the two, this one is my favorite product.
To conclude, I would say I recommend these serums if you can afford them, or if you ever feel like treating yourself. Even for the smaller sizes of the products, the price is pretty steep but I’ve gotten so much out of them. Less truly is more here. Unless your skin is truly suffering, I don’t think the bigger dose is needed for either one of the products, maybe the double serum but not the eye serum.
Considering all the effort Clarins has put into the formulas through research and innovation, getting the best out of each ingredient, coupled with the results I’ve seen since I started using these products, I can confidently say the price is worth it. The two serums combining into one is such a great feat from Clarins, I think this might change skincare for good.
The only beef I have with this brand is the CF status. I don’t think they mean any harm when they sell in places where animal testing is required, but doing so implicates them. I think they have enough exposure to not have to sell in those places, but who knows what their client numbers look like outside of that.
Again, I love the products and may one day buy them myself if they become completely cruelty-free. In the mean time, I’ll keep using these products until I run out and probably cry for not having them anymore. 😥
If you made it this far, thanks so much for stopping by and reading. Your support is greatly appreciated!
Have you tried Clarins before?
Would you purchase these?
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Disclosure: I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes. This review is a personal opinion and is honest. I did not receive compensation besides the products to try.
AyR Galaxy 