Christina Applegate @ 61st Primetime Emmy AwardsJoanna was inspired by Christina’s dramatic, sweeping gown when creating her makeup look. The vintage glamour of the navy stunner called for simple makeup that still made a statement. With her hair pulled back in a chic chignon, makeup artist Joanna Schlip for Clarins was able to play up Christina’s eyes with a sexy retro smolder, while keeping her skin fresh and lips softly pink. Like the dress by Basil Soda, Christina’s makeup exuded a Brigitte Bardot 60’s cool, with a modern twist.
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Skincare: To create a radiant glow, Joanna prepped Christina’s skin with three steps: First she cleansed with Clarins Water Comfort One Step Cleanser. She then applied Clarins Multi-Active Day moisturizer, followed with Clarins Beauty Flash Balm for smooth, hydrated, radiant skin.
Face: Since Christina has naturally beautiful skin, Joanna kept her face mostly bare with a light wash of Clarins True Radiance Foundation. She fished with a dusting of Clarins Loose Powder in Translucent.
Cheeks: For a natural but luminous flush, Joanna applied Clarins Instant Sun Light Shimmer Palette on the apples of her cheeks, sweeping up to the hairline. The shimmering highlighter reflected the California sunlight on the red carpet, giving a healthy, peachy-pink glow.
Eyes: Joanna reflected the drama of Christina’s dress with a smoldering eye. Using the dark gray shade from Clarins Colour Quartet for Eyes in So Chic, Joanna gave a smokey depth to Christina green eyes. To add definition and drama, she applied Clarins Eye Pencil in Black around the upper and lower lash line and inside the wet line, then finished with three coats of Clarins Wonder Perfect Mascara in Black.
Lips: For a soft, modern pink mouth, Joanna applied Clarins Lip Definer in Bay Rose, and then added a hint of gloss with Clarins Colour Quench Lip Balm in Rose Pink.
It’s a Toner, Not a Lotion: Clarins’ Super Restorative Wake-Up Lotion
Clarins Super Restorative Wake-Up Lotion($40.00 for 4.2 oz.) is indeed a toner. I must admit that I had to read the product’s tip sheet before realizing it was a toner and not a moisturizer. (Hey, I associate the term “lotion” with moisturizer, what can I say?) I will even go so far as to admit that I used this a few times as a lotion, but I am happy to report it did not cause any ill effects (e.g. breakouts). Funny enough, my skin didn’t feel like it even missed a moisturizer!
Which leads me to tell you that this is an excellent, non-drying, non-irritating toner that works well to re-energize the skin with the slight cooling nature of the product. The toner is a gel-based toner, rather than a liquid toner. Clarins recommends applying it with a cotton ball with “light, tapping movements,” and I’d say that’s a fair technique. You can substitute cotton balls with cotton pads or sheets as well.
Whenever I’m reviewing a product, I like to see what a company says about their products and what ingredients they tout as amazing, just because it helps keep me aware of what the product is supposed to do. Clarins lists the primary ingredients in the product as well as what they’re designed to do–something I like. Perhaps not always entirely believable, but I appreciate it nonetheless.
Pueraria Lobata – helps boost cell activity and collagen production, while soothing the skin.
Green coffee extract – rich in caffeine, energizes skin, helping it look more vital and radiant.
Ginseng root – reinforces energizing action of caffeine, adds vitality.
Oat Sugars, extracted from the plant’s seeds, work as a natural skin-tightening agent, and help smooth appearance of imperfections on skin’s surface.
Butcher’s Broom (Ruscus) – helps eliminates toxins and reduce puffiness.
When applied, the product does feel a bit sticky, but it absorbs/fades within a few minutes, so it’s not a major concern for me, but it is a mild annoyance. My skin does feel clean and refreshed after using this product, and this toner is more about tapping it on than wiping away anything. I think this product is suitable for those with sensitive skin, but those with extremely sensitive skin may not find this suitable. It’s lightweight, goes on easily, and doesn’t leave skin feeling dry or tight.
Product: 8/10
Value: 7/10
Ease of Use: 8/10
Packaging: 7/10
Recommendation: Easy to use and effective are two great ways to describe Clarin’s Wake-Up Lotion (aka Toner!). It doesn’t strip skin of its natural oils or leave behind tightness (often confused with “clean”), which is something I consider a must-have in any toning or skincare product. The value is so-so, with $40 being a steep investment for a toner, but the bottle is large enough to give you approximately two months’ of use, perhaps more. It’s a good, solid toner, and Clarins’ fans will enjoy it.
