Here we go: 3 weeks of use so it’s time for a product review.
Clarins Blue Orchid Face Treatment Oil is a naturally based oil with a moderate scent developed for dry skin types. Alternatively, they do have the Lotus face oil for oily skin and the Santan face treatment oil for dry to extra dry skin types. Now on the scent note, when I smelled this at Ulta it had a strong and rather unpleasant scent and it was clear. Obviously from the photos this is not clear. So hopefully this doesn’t photodegrade. It shouldn’t given the ingredients list but if it does go clear I’ll let you know. Since I purchased this myself I know I got and am testing what is meant for consumer consumption, not a PR prototype. Maybe Ulta got something odd or someone was doing something screwy who knows.
Edit (10/7/2019): 1 year later, it still hasn’t turned clear and the demo at my local Ulta is still clear. So I have no idea what’s going on.
The packaging is clean. The Clarins packaging is always simple white box with red script or vice versa. The glass bottle is thick too. I’ve already done the drop test onto tile floor and it was fine. The plastic dropper feels like its high quality and going to last. Often these dropper types don’t seem to be able to withstand oils and will degrade over time before you have a chance to use the complete bottle. When using droppers, squeeze the plastic piece before putting the dropper into the oil. You don’t want to introduce air into the oil. It will help to maximize the shelf life of you product.
The oil is fairly thin and as you can tell easily moves around my skin. This is actually a really good thing when it comes to application. Thinner oils more easily move across the skin forming a thin, uniform layer than thicker oils. Thicker oils also have a tendency to settle in the pores whereas thinner oils for some reason don’t do that. That’s how it seems to work for me at least. Thick oils also don’t sit evenly across the skin and so areas can have too thick of a layer, where others may be too thin which leaves skin drier giving inconsistent, patchy results.
How I’ve used it:
Using 4-5 drops, I rub my hands together and starting with my cheeks I pat the oil onto (yes ONTO not INTO) my skin then hit my forehead followed by my neck and remaining goes on my chest. I’ll go about the rest of my getting ready for bed routine, brush teeth, moisturizer on the body, dry hair, etc. and then return to the face to see how the oil has been absorbed into the skin. If I missed a spot or my skin still feels dry I’ll use another couple of drops on my fingertips and pat those areas. I’ve switched to patting in my skincare. I’m not 100% sure it works better but I do seem to get a more uniform coverage.
Edit (10/7/2019): I’ve added a cream moisturizer over top that helps penetration of the oil even better. In a nutshell, I’m treating it as a booster for my moisturizer. This is a change I made during the Summer of 2019. If you want to read the update see How To: Face Oils.
Here are the listed ingredients and their common usage in skin care:
- Corylus avellana (Hazel) Seed Oil – light weight oil from the hazel nut seed. Can be found in the cooking aisle, but used in skincare due to its high quality fatty acids, can decrease overactive sebum productions and control acne breakouts.
- Pogostemon cablin Oil – also known as patchouli oil. I’m assuming this is the essential oil which means this product is VERY much made up of hazel seed oil (>90%) but without knowing what part of the plant this was extracted from it’s impossible to tell.
- Parfum/Fragrance
- Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil
- Tocopheryl Acetate – vitamin E, preservative primarily but great antioxidant.
- Orchid Extract – antioxidant
- Linalool – natural fragrance
- Limonene – antioxidant and fragrance, natural. In high amounts can oxidize on the skin and cause irritation
- Coumarin – synthetic form of a plant derived compound, Used very commonly in perfume but also used medically to decrease edema
- Eugenol – essential oil used primarily as a fragrance. In high concentrations can cause sensitivity to the skin when it oxidizes in air, however it’s the last ingredient on the list meaning it’s the lowest concentration. It’s most likely safe but sensitive skin types will probably want to skin test.
All in all I’m really happy with this product. If you’ve read my post Winter Skincare Must Haves 2018 you know that I’ve added this to my standard routine for this fall and winter. I haven’t seen any skin sensitivity and I’ve used this after dermaplaning when my skin is incredibly sensitive. I have followed the directions and only used this product at night. When I wake up in the morning my skin is still the same level of glisten as it was when I went to bed. If this is >90% hazel nut oil I’m tempted to go buy some hazel nut oil from the supermarket and see if I see a difference. What you use from a culinary standpoint is likely less refined than what you’d use for skincare, I’m still curious.
Even if you have oily skin, I’d take a look at the Lotus Face Treatment Oil. Even oily skin needs hydration and this oil is so much thinner than most face oils and such a simple ingredients list it might work well. You can always get a couple of samples and a LITTLE does go a long way. If you have oily skin don’t use more than 3-4 drops and then rubs your hands together and pat concentrating first on your cheeks and forehead then move to the rest of your T-zone (chin and nose). This will keep the highest concentration outside of the highest areas of oil production, yet still provide the needed moisture to help balance your skin.
If you use this sound off below and let me know what you think. Did you have odd, demonstration bottles too? I can’t figure that out personally.
Stay clean, stay hydrated, and stay gorgeous.
-XOXO-
Andrea
