Clarins beauty flash balm. what is it supposed to do

[chubbymomie2012]

i have it but do t see any difference when i use it???

[Blackden]

It's supposed to be like a primer, smooth out your skin and make you look more radiant. It never did a thing for me except made my face look even oilier. What amazes me is that this product is still overhyped, 20+ years since it was first launched.

[ggirl]

never understood this product
still have some in the cupboard

i wore it as a primer once and had loads of comments at work saying I looked ill !!

[EnglishGirlApproximately]

I was given a sample last time I bought Clarins and it just made me look a bit greasy tbh. I've heard good things from a colleague about the super cheap Nivea primer so I'm going to try that instead.

[ifancyashandy]

You have to apply it in a certain way. Dot it on your face (pea sized amount in total) and then very very lightly smooth it over. Do not rub in. The less touching the better. Lisa Eldridge describes this process as 'creating a matrix' and when it dries, it tightens your skin. I've used it for years and think its bloody marvellous.

[cremeeggsrock]

you can use it as a mask 2-3 times a week! this is the way i used it, left it on overnight a few time aswell, did rehydrate my skin. but alas couldnt use it the 'proper way' either

[Jammygal]

I found this great when I was in my early 20s but since getting older not so much!

[PoppyAmex]

Origins Vitazing is the product that the flash balm is supposed to be, it magically evens out your complexion whilst hydrating. It's a thing of beauty.

[Sugarice]

I feel this is one of the most over hyped products out there!

It was glittery and shiny on me and was not 'sleep in a bottle'! a waste of money ime.

[deXavia]

It's the marmite of beauty! I love it - use it as a mask if you are tired or hungover, dot it on for normal days, shit I even used it on my bump when pregnant and ran out of cream. But I have very dry skin, so maybe it depends on what your skin is like

[echt]

Isn't the tightening effect rice flour?

[treaclesoda]

I've never got on with this product either, I tried to apply it in the 'proper' way, just using a little, not rubbing it in too much etc but I found it just felt sticky and heavy no matter how little I used.

[polyhymnia]

I' m on the enthusiastic side. Use it just as Ifancy describes. Tautens my skin and gives it a glow. Must admit I ve never actually bought a tune as large sam

[polyhymnia]

Sorry - iPhone sent it too soon! Was just going to say that for fans of product or who want to try it a good sized sample tube is often one of the 4 products you can choose as part of Clarins v good value gift with purchase promotions.

[badtasteflump]

I use it sometimes just because I happen to have some but I wouldn't bother buying it again - it doesn't work any better than standard moisturiser IMO.

[mrsyattering]

what ifacyashany said I love this and have been using it for about 15 years, use it every day. I have dry skin so I don't know if that makes a difference

[MoetEtPantsOn]

I love it too. I out it on when I'm tired or hungover and then apply tinted moisturiser straight afterwards. I find you have to put your make up on super quickly afterwards otherwise it can go flaky. For example I don't even put lids back on liquid blusher, concealer etc until I've finished as I'm getting it done so fast.

[Curtsey]

Never did a thing for me either. It's impossible to wear under make-up, no? Just causes the make-up to sort of curdle and cake!

[chubbymomie2012]

Oh good im delighted to see im not the only one who seems oblivious to This products benefits.mwill rtry the mask idea a couple of times see if that works. im sickened cos i stupidly bought the eye flash balm too thinking it would solve my dark circle problem . yes im an idiot. 😳

[mrsyattering]

sorry that shout say what ifancyashandy!!

[ifancyashandy]

Curtsey, if its 'lifting' your make up, it means you may be leaving too long a pause between applying the balm and your foundation. You need to nearly touch it - smooth, don't rub - and then apply foundation quickly afterwards.

I have combination skin that tends towards an oily t-zone and I think it a bloody miracle product!

[Pandsbear]

I always have a tube of it on the go - often the ones from the offer packs - and find it works for me. Just makes my skin look more even and less grey. Don't use it every day but a few times a week depending on how I look first thing in the morning. I am the wrong side of 40 mind you and need a bit of a boost .

[badtasteflump]

Ooh ifancy I never think about how long I leave it before putting my make up on afterwards - I'm expecting miracles tomorrow if I make sure I put my foundation straight on afterwards!!

[shoeprincess2]

Englishgirl- the Nivea express hydration primers are fantastic. I bought the normal/combination one when it was a third off at Sainsburys (so cost about £3.30). It really helps keep my makeup in place and I would go so far as to say that it is better than my MAC prep and prime stuff. I used to use the Clarins Flash balm, but as others have said, it made my skin look super oily and actually sat in my pores and exacerbated them. I used it as a mask, but then I have better products for that, so ended up throwing it away!

[ifancyashandy]

Report back!

[DewDr0p]

Oh I quite like it. Makes me look all radiant. Would use for a night out not every day though.