Is it worth investing in a full set of Clarins?

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I had my makeup done yesterday by the woman on the Clarins counter and I really liked the result. I'd been the weekend before for a new foundation and she gave me loads of skin advice and testers so I've been using them all week and am very impressed.

Realistically I don't look after my skin well at all but feel I should start now at age 30. Is it worth splashing out the full set - hydraquench serum, face wash, blusher, lippie? That'll be over £100 but I'm due a bit extra in my pay this month...Also she gave me a ton more testers including the lovely facewash which I think will last me 2 weeks, by which time I'll be paid.

Any thoughts on Clarins?

If you can afford it, I wouldn't hesitate! I've tried lots of high end brands but keep coming back to Clarins. Make friends with your consultant ( get added to mailing list too) and the rewards / freebies are fantastic! Post back a couple of weeks later if you buy and let us know what your thoughts are ?

Brilliant, I will do thanks!
It's a fairly terrifying amount to spend, I know, but I'm sick of buying crap then wondering why I get home from work to find my make-up's half way down my face.
She gave me her number and she's got mine. She said that with her regular customers, if they run out of a product and can't afford to buy until the end of the month, she gives them enough in testers to keep them going which I thought was quite nice!

If money is an issue, then you would be able to find other, lesser-priced brands that suit you equally well. So don't feel that you need to buy everything from Clarins - there's no benefit to be gained from using the whole of a range. But if you like it, and can afford it, then sure, why not.

But do remember that she gets commission, so of course she will promise you stuff...

There are lots of good offers on Clarins products - I'd keep an eye out in the papers and buy when they are running a promotion. Lancôme are the same.

I'm a bit concerned that she started you off with a cleanser and makeup as they are better known as a skincare brand (and a cleanser won't stay on your face for too long). Give your samples a full trial, ie, use them up, and then you will know whether it is worth it. She is, however, clearly into building a relationship with you, and that's both good and bad. There are perks, like lots of free samples, but also some pressure, she is already implying that she is looking forward to seeing you there regularly. Some cosmetics salespeople have a monthly quota, so she may be thinking of her sales numbers too. That said, if you found products that work after a full trial and suit your skin and coloring, you may save money in the long run by sticking to what you have now. But budget cosmetics have become awfully good too.

It's such a personal thing isn't it? All I would say is that as a PP mentioned you don't have to get everything from the same range. If you love it, it works with your skin and you can afford it then go for it.

My latest mistake was a Dior blush. £££ and I didn't love it. I chucked it and bought a Bourjois one that was cheap as chips. I would spend good money on a serum and a foundation. The rest is up to you.

Don't bother with the Clarins Double Serum. It's mineral oil based which means the £50+ price tag is just rude.

I am particularly concerned about the 'if money is tight at the end of the month I will tide you over' bit - she is playing it like you owe her something, that is a sales technique, nothing to do with skincare.

Expensive cleeanser is never worth it - it spends seconds on your face, how much can it do apart from clean?

There are lots of cheap effective non-foaming cleansers wich will be fine.

Really appreciating the advice here, thanks. She wasn't pushy but there definitely was a feeling of "becoming a regular" which I can see now. Thanks for the tips about which products to economise on. I had secretly been thinking I could swap the facewash (£27!) for that lovely Apricot Scrub stuff (£3.50)
Picachew the blusher was something I particularly liked - it was a cream but rubbed in as a powder....if you get me. And it was very subtle. Do you think a Bourjois one would genuinely do the trick? I don't want to be wandering the streets looking like Aunt Sally!

The best blusher I have ever used is a boots Natural Collection one. I use that as well as their waterproof mascara which has also been raved about on here. It's better than Benefits they're real, I have both.. Also the Boots Natural Collection is all 1.99 and if you don't rate it, take it back to Boots for a refund as its their own make.

I certainly would spend ££ on make up like blusher. Foundation is another story, and proper good skincare, but not blusher or lipstick etc because there are so many decent cheaper ones now that really do last.

Sorry that I am such a skeptic but if she is using psychological sales techniques I can see this coming in the near future: "Oh I haven't seen you for a while! Oh my, you need some first aid for those enormous pores! Let me give a sample, this is a hero product, this is an emergency! I'm sure you have been very busy, have you gotten enough sleep recently, I have just the thing for tired eyes and fine wrinkles..."

Buy the blusher, anything you pick will last forever so you are better off with something you truly love. And buy it online

Oh I haven't seen you for a while! Oh my, you need some first aid for those enormous pores!
If she said something like that I'm afraid she'd be getting a swift kick to the crotch! No, you are right though and I am taking it on board thanks. Although I'm lucky to be at a place where I can afford more expensive products, I'm not a fool and am even quite good at saying "no" these days!

Please don't get the apricot scrub. It will chew up your skin even if you can't see it. Buy the Clarins exfoliating toner and use twice a week as your exfoliator. Scrubby apricot kernels will be a really bad thing.

Buy the blusher if you love it! Don't buy the apricot scrubby thing. D'ya hear me?

I don't find Clarins as pushy as EL or Clinique but even though am using a Clarins foundation at the moment I don't rate the makeup. The cleanser though-absolutely. I have done a complete volte-face thanks to you-know-who (Frugal and Kundry know who ) and am now spending more on the 'prepping' the canvas, and less on painting it. So more on cleanser, toner, serum, less on makeup and actual moisturiser.

Message received loud and clear re the apricot scrum!!
Sangria I like that idea of prepping the canvas! Got to pop to Tesco soon - might just grab a relatively inexpensive blusher and see if it's useable.

You can always try your current lipstick on your cheeks! I tend to use a powder blusher.

I'm the same as Drank. I spend £££ on skincare rather than make up. My HG foundation is YSL Fusion Ink as I like a velvet finish rather than dewy. I like Clarins' make up too.

I'm not into the idea of buying everything from the same brand. That said, if you want to pick one brand Clarins is a good pick. Any product I've had of theirs has been very good.

Try using a flannel (freshly washed each time) rather than an exfoliator as it will have the same effect.

Clarins exfoliating toner is meant to be fab - you should be doing all your exfoliating with acids, like their toner, not scrubs or particles like the apricot scrub which either damage your skin or don't do anything at all.

But £27 for a cleanser is a lot unless it's a giant bottle that lasts all year.

Of the skincare I'd go for the Hydraquench serum, the Exfoliating toner and then get a cheap cleanser and moisturiser from somewhere else. Plus you need a SPF for the daytime.

The most important item of makeup is good foundation followed by mascara. Dior and Chanel do better foundation and Lancôme and Dior do better mascara.

For blusher and lippie Bourjois is similar quality but a fraction of the price.

It's certainly not worth buying expensive face wash. And I've used their cleansers and toners and I didn't find them very good.

Their serums and intense moisturisers are quite good. I think you can get better from other brands, but the Clarins will do the job.

So, in short, good moisturiser and/or serum yes, everything else you can get better. Or you can get similar for much less.

Agree re apricot scrub. I was a devotee to clarins for the past 4 years. Mil gave me a starter kit a month before wedding to "sort out my skin" it didn't need sorting at the time and I haven't used anything but since.
Fast forward to 4 months ago when I bought apricot scrub. And it had ruined only one side of my face. It's red and blotchy.

Clarins lady in my local boots store sorted my skin out by telling me I was a poor thing and selling me a lot but it has helped. And skin is almost back to normal (except for a small patch of redness next to my nose).
Apricot scrub is an excellent hand and foot scrub though....

The woman who did my eyebrows tried that "oh my those spots" act on me in attempt to flog me products/treatments. I've never been back to her since...

So here's my contribution: I'm 52 and over the years have tried everything. Every brand (it seems....) and at every price point. I started looking after my skin in my mid twenties.

I'm in the "why spend a lot on the cleanser" camp. I use L'oreal face wipes. They work. It costs peanuts.

But I'm in the "spend a lot on......" camp for:
Moisturiser - find the one that isn't greasy or leaves a film on your skin. Spend what it takes.
Foundation - I will pay almost anything for a good foundation that works on my skin. Having said that, I'm currently using one from Smashbox.

I buy cheap mascaras. I'll buy blusher (and eyeshadow) from Bourjois, but if I prefer the colours on the Chanel stand, I'll buy from there too.

Be gentle with the facial scrubs, and don't over-use. At some point in your thirties, start booking in for a facial. And go at least every 2-3 months. A good beautician will also tell you whether you're getting skin damage, or your skin is dehydrated or whatever.

I don't spend a lot on cleanser but I do buy products which cleanse my skin and not just rub my makeup around my face.

Second the camp of "don't buy facial scrubs" - the Clarins exfoliating toner is very good.

I have a couple of items of Clarins skincare which are absolutely brilliant for my skin (Beauty Flash Balm and Blue Orchid). Other products I use are by Clinique, REN, Alpha H, Una Brennan and Superdrug own brand. The latter two are very affordable and the first three are normally on offer.

If you really like Clarins, have a look on StrawberryNet. You should be able to get the same products discounted. Or use Google Shopping to find the best prices.

I am wary of buying makeup from known skincare brands. I spend on foundations (Laura Mercier and Armani Luminous Silk current favourites) as well as bronzer, eyeshadow and lipstick (mainly Bobbi Brown or MAC) but cheaper everything else.

VeganCow yes, the Boots Natural Collection blusher is fantastic. I've worked my way down the £ from Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge via the Bourjois intuitive cream to powder one and Miss Sporty Good Morning Baby (cream/gel) to Natural Collection. All very good blushers but for £1.99 the NC one is amazing.