It's a Toner, Not a Lotion: Clarins' Super Restorative Wake-Up Lotion
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.
- Hibiscus extract – remove excess dry skin cells and brightens skin.
- 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.
Availability: Clarins, Nordstrom.com
, Sephora.com
“I associate the term “lotion” with moisturizer, what can I say?”
I can only understand! “Lotion” in France (also called “lotion tonique”) means any liquid (like a flower waters in its simpliest form) that you apply on the morning to wake up your skin or after the cleansing milk. I didn’t understand at the beginning what Americans meant by “lotion”. Then I understood yours “lotion” was a “moisturizer milk” for me and that what I was calling “lotion” was “toner” for you. 🙂
Thank you for explaining this to me — it makes WAY more sense to me now why there’s some confusion, lol!
$40 for a toner. I thought I was in the stratosphere with $35 for DDF’s 10% Glycolic Tonic. Whew!
lol!
This sounds like the La Mer Radiant Infusion. It is really cooling when you put on your face, it feels nice. It’s not a toner though. It is gel-based as well. It’s $95 though I believe. I didn’t notice dramatic results so I gave it away to a friend 🙁
Whew, that is a pricey product! But it is La Mer 😉