What I'm Using: Clarins Beauty Flash Balm

Hi! We had awesome weather here this weekend; approaching the 3rd week of winter but are fortunate enough to get plentiful sunlight & warmth today! Mister Sunshine is really kind to us! So anyway, here in Melbourne we're having the Queen's Birthday long weekend, so public holiday for most of us tomorrow except for university students who'll be sitting for  exams.


My honey bear is 1 of the unfortunate few. He'll be battling 2 exam papers tomorrow, 1 in the morning & 1 in the afternoon; so he's currently feeling stressed out & hard at work with his revisions! I'll be getting up real early tomorrow morning to make him a simple meal to take with him to university to enjoy over lunch. Must remember to set the alarm (i'm always a scatterbrain, forgetting to do this & that)!

So back to topic: I haven't been able to have a good night's sleep the past couple of days, it's been filled with nightmares of all sorts, for some unbeknownst reason. Lack of sleep coupled with my recent massive junk food intake has taken their toll on my dehydrated-combination-type skin, making my complexion look dull and lifeless, with visible fine lines appearing at the area between my eyes, nose, & cheekbones (i'm not sure what's that area called but i guess you know which area of the face i'm referring to!) Exfoliating my skin helps to brighten up my complexion a little and to smooth out the rough edges but i exfoliate only twice a week, bearing in mind that over-exfoliating dries out the skin too (skin usually is drier after exfoliation, so do remember to apply moisturizer or to use a hydrating mask!) What about the other days when i need help with my dull and/or tired looking complexion? I use Clarins' Beauty Flash Balm!

I bought this tube of Clarins Beauty Flash Balm from KrisShop onboard the SQ flight enroute to Singapore last December. I was flipping through the KrisShop catalogue and came across this product which was introduced as a product which Clarins swears by for its effectiveness and quality. Prior to purchasing this product, I had absolutely no idea that it had won magazine beauty awards or that it had a cult status or that it had a cult following or that it was well-acclaimed within the beauty world (i know, i know, so sua-ku right!? ----- *Note: sua-ku is Singlish, & it means backward/uninformed). 

So according to Clarins, the beauty flash balm provides immediate radiance through its brightening and tightening effects. It contains olive extract and witch hazel which have tightening properties and algae extracts which have revitalizing properties & is a beauty booster that eliminates signs of fatigue by evening out facial features, hence making skin look rested and smooth. And if used under makeup, it's supposed to promote radiant complexion, help make up last/stay on for longer, and to make makeup look luminous. 

"Do not rub in": I didnt quite understand what that meant; the instructions on the back of the tube were not clear. So i did my own figuring out.

At first i tried smoothing it out on my face using light left-to-right strokes (on the forehead), by using upward strokes (on cheeks), and by using from-the-inside-to-the-outside strokes on the nose cum cheekbone area. I soon figured out that light strokes like what i did also amounted to rubbing the product into the skin.

I googled and found that some users pat the product lightly/gently on skin before application of makeup. So i tried that as well.

When i was using the light stroking movements, i felt like there was a layer of oil on the surface of my face, since the product is actually quite thick and creamy. I have combination skin so i tend to prefer products that are milky or in a gel form because they make my skin feel more refreshed. It didnt feel like the product was being absorbed into the skin when i was applying the Beauty Flash Balm using light stoking movements.  And since it wasnt getting absorbed properly, the Beauty Balm felt oily on the skin, especially around my T-zone area & the area between the nose, eyes, & cheekbones.

When i patted the product onto my face, less product remained on its surface because more got absorbed into the skin. The face felt less oily & it didnt feel like there was a thick layer of fatty oil on my face. Hence it's more comfortable. The heat generated from the patting also kinda melts the product, allowing for better absorption. My skin looked like life had been pumped into it! I wouldnt say there's a glow on my face like some other users have claimed to notice; but i'll definitely say this product made my skin look healthier and more hydrated, like i've been eating lotsa fruits and drinking heaps of water (although the fact is that i've been munching on alot of junk & drinking endless cups of coffee)! Foundation blends in easily with the Beauty Flash Balm and makes makeup look very natural. I use this sometimes as my makeup base, especially on days when i have not had a good night's sleep. This Beauty Flash Balm does not work wonders; it depends on individual skin conditions & types; for me, it's definitely equivalent to Tinkerbell's magical dusting!

Beauty Flash Balm is of a creamy orange colour, which isnt reflecting well in this picture, which was taken without flash.

See how thick & creamy it is?

This picture was taken with flash & reflects more accurately, the product's creamy orange colour. The product comes outta the tube a creamy orange but colour goes away immediately upon contact with the skin.

Picture also taken with flash and also reflects the thick & creamy texture of product.

If using the product as a mask, apply a thick layer & leave the product for 10-15 minutes. During this 10-15 minutes, try to lie in bed and relax over some music. Take deep breaths & inhale the soothing and mind relaxing fragrance of the product. It smells so good and makes me feel so relaxed. Fragrance is not overpowering, so dont worry! Just have to relax and enjoy.

I usually cleanse my face, apply toner, then apply a thick layer of the product onto my face. Remember to apply toner 1st! It helps the product to spread onto the skin beautifully. The product is thick & creamy, so having face a little moist before application really helps a great deal. Oh and product feels cool on the face, as if I had placed many slices of cool cucumbers on my face! It's quite an amazing feeling really^^

Then after 10-15 minutes, I'll use cold water to just gently rinse off the excess (don't need to use cleanser). As you're rinsing off the excess with the cold water, you'll realize that your skin feels so smooth to the touch! Then I'll pat dry my face and go ahead to apply my serum & moisturiser. Skin not only feels smooth, it also feels like water has been pumped into it; my dehydrated skin no longer feels tight from being dried out and drained of moisture.

I must say i really love this product! I do not use it regularly; I use it only when i really feel the tightness in my face; when it feels utterly dehydrated; and when i feel like i look like a zombie because i havent had sufficient or quality sleep. So it's kinda like my special magic potion, to be used on special days, on days when i want to feel special, whenever i feel like giving myself alittle pampering, and whenever it's of absolute necessity to look very much alive!

The tube contains 50ml of product & I bought it onboard my flight through KrisShop for SIN$60.

And now i'm off to put on some mask & relax over some drama!

Thanks for visiting & enjoy the public holiday tomorrow!

(moving words on emoticon reads:

"Beautifying, DND")