What is great about this product…
I had heard a lot of chatter about the Clarins Beauty Flash Balm prior to receiving it for review – mostly regarding the fact that Gwyneth Paltrow is a huge fan – so I was certainly interested to see what all the fuss was about. At first I was unsure how to properly use this product (see the ‘what is not so great’ section below) but I’ve been using the Beauty Flash Balm after toning in place of moisturiser and right before applying my foundation, and I am loving the effect it gives. It’s similar to a primer (which I normally loathe) in the fact that it seems to even out the complexion and make everything look rather flawless. Two of my girlfriends complimented me on my makeup the first night I tried this technique out – so thankfully it wasn’t just me imagining things in the mirror. One thing in particular that I did notice is that my oily skin wasn’t as shiny at the end of the night when I used the BFB – I am putting this down to the fact that one of the key ingredients is Witch Hazel, which has natural astringent qualities. Despite it being heavily scented with the infamous Clarins “creamy” smell, my skin did not reactive in a negative way at all. I will definitely be repurchasing this product after I finish the tube and will definitely take it along with me next time I travel!
What is not so great about this product…
Before I had the clarity of mind to consult the ladies over at the Adore Beauty forums as to how best apply this product, I decided to give myself a 10-15 minute facial as the instructions suggest to do. Note: This product is best applied to DAMP SKIN. I applied it to dry skin, left it for 15 minutes and removed the excess with a tissue, only to find that the product continued to “pill” on my skin. On damp skin, it’s a great product, on dry skin – not so much. I would also suggest trying out a sample of the Beauty Flash Balm before purchasing a full size, because from what I’ve seen in regards to reviews of the product, the reception is around 50/50 as to whether it’s good or not. Having said that, Beauty Flash Balm has just celebrated 30 years of continued success worldwide, and there is one tube sold every 20 minutes around the world. So yeah, it’s definitely doing some good things!
My Rating: 8/10
The Clarins Beauty Flash Balm retails for $60 AUD and is available at leading department stores, Clarins Gold Salons, select pharmacies or online from Australian online beauty store Adore Beauty.
