Clarins Beauty Flash Balm = Emperors New Clothes?

[3timesalady]

I can't see any difference. Nothing. Nada. Am I doing it wrong or is Mr/s Clarins sitting in their expensive office laughing at all of us?

Well bugger me sideways, I applied loads, left it to sit on my skin, immediately applied foundation & I do indeed have brighter fresher looking skin.

I've been doing it wrong all this time. What a wally.

Glad you like it- I love it and it works, but as you say, for some reason you got to do it this way!

I never got the "Flash Balm". I tried...and tried and then tried some more.

It always made my foundation (or whatever I put atop) roll into little balls so, instead of looking fresh and youthful I looked like I had a skin disorder. A flaky skin disorder.

I gave up in the end.

I'd take it back and tell the Clarins lady that it is not for you and will she exchange it for something more suitable? They're pretty good with stuff like that. They want to keep your custom, so try it.

i don't get the not rubbing it in thing-don't you end up with loads of stuff sitting on top of your skin? or is that in fact the idea? i've got some but I've obviously been doing it wrong

I used to be a Clarins advisor a few years ago and they should have told you about it when you bought it.
You can't really use it with a powder foundation because as a few have said it needs to be still wet on your skin when you apply your foundation/tinted moist.
Put a large pea sized amount on, smooth it over your face (don't rub it in) then quickly apply your foundation in the same way, BFB is filmogenic so if you let it dry you will notice it rolls off like pva glue! (best example I can think of!)
Once it dries the results should be very good, it is an amazing product if you use it right, and it keeps your make up in place all day.

catissleepy Propercrimbo describes exactly as I did it - and miraculously it has worked. Try again! I had a tube a few years ago that i returned to Clarins & swapped for something else, got this tube for Christmas as a gift (nice thought etc) and have tried since (daily!) to see a difference. This leave-on-wet+foundation way is genius.

I'm a happy bunny now :o

Can i hijack a wee bit please? propercrimbo - I've used BFB for years (and actually have always noticed a difference, even in my youth when I didn't wear foundation I would use it to brighten my skin and then lightly powder an hour later or so)

I've been using it 'correctly' for a while now - but then I read (maybe here) that it dries skin. Is that true? I stopped using it so frequently and the dry patches on my nose HAVE cleared up but then it's no longer -8 outside either so I don't know what's helped.

have just slapped some on inspired by this thread - it def makes a difference to me.

ah yes propercrimbo "rubs off like PVA glue" this is what happened when I used it. Guess I applied it wrong then but it put me off, seems a bit mask like?

I always get comments on lovely skin etc when I use it. Must put foundation straight on & best with liquid foundation applied with fingertips.

BadPoet - the tightening ingredient is witchhazel, so you shouldn't use it every day, it also isn't as effective if used everyday either, it's something you should use as a pick me up maybe once or twice a week at most.
If used at this level it shouldn't dry your skin at all, could it have been something else drying your skin out, or do you think you were using it too regularly?
Emo76 - I agree the principal seems a bit mask like but it shouldn't feel or look it, the thing I find is you actually need less foundation than you would wear normally with BFB underneath as it tends to look slightly heavier, so I always use slightly less.

Yes, I probably was using it too frequently - pre-Christmas, too many late nights and trying to look less haggard. It wasn't every day but maybe 4 or even 5 times a week. It could also have been the very cold weather drying my skin.

Thanks and thanks to 3times - glad you are enjoying using it now!

LOVE BFB! It keeps my make up all day and all night (scanky me, never take my make up off!)

Tried it once & hated it. As I had heard so many good things about it I just assumed it was my own skins fault it didn't work.

Oh I love it. I apply my foundation immediately after and I GLOW! Everything stays in place until I wash it off.

I couldn't see any difference either, but perhaps if your skin is firm in the first place, then you'll not notice any dramatic effects.

My skin isn't saggy, more dull, and it can definitely do with a dose of glowiness now and again.

it's shit. Totally Emperor's New Clothes to me, but Lisa Eldridge is ace, so maybe we're missing a trick

I mixed a bit with foundation yesterday and I was ravishing dahlink

totally agree
its just witch hazel innit

you lot who rate it
put one half of face on over it and then the other

no diff

i DO LIKE the loreal primer though
but ££

hmmm am a bit pput off the l'oreal primer when I saw my mug in magnified mirror...looked a bit too cakeface

you oculd see a diff? wow

If you apply BFB right it realllllllly makes a difference. But applying it is so chancey I feel like its equal to an algebra equation (i.e.headfeckingly tricky).

1.Put on

1. Don't rub in
2. FAST!! Put foundation on top

4.FAST!! blend

((5. Die from stress but with tightened/brightened face))

So - can anyone tell me is there any point at all in using it if you don't then put on foundation?