This oil is perfect as a last step in my moisturizing routine and it works well for facial massage. A very pleasant user experience and a non-sticky feeling have made me come back to this product, despite its hefty price tag.
Table of Contents
What I enjoyed about it
- Really moisturizing without being heavy
- Helped treat my dry patches
- Feels luxurious
- Gets into the skin quickly
- Good for face massage
- Gives my skin a beautiful glow
What I disliked about it
- Expensive
- Essential oils might not be suitable for everybody
In every drugstore there is a specific aisle I don’t normally frequent – the expensive fancy brands, a la famous, mostly French, companies like Biotherm, L´Occitane and Clarins and so forth. One reason for that is simple: the price. On the other hand I find it a bit hard to believe that these products are worth this price. Yes, they all make some great claims, but are these expensive products actually going to have an effect on your skin?
However, since I’ve received a sample of the Clarins Blue Orchid Face Treatment Oil with another purchase I can definitely see the appeal. Being a skincare enthusiast, I was instantly curious to try it. My skin was at that moment really dry, flaky and sensitive and this miracle oil promised to be the solution to all of my most pressing problems. Was it? Well, it did well enough to convince me to buy a full-sized bottle.
Clarins Blue Orchid Face Treatment Oil – the claims
Straight from Clarins´ website, the Blue Orchid oil is supposed to:
- revitalize and tone your skin, combating the effects of extrinsic aging factors such as stress, lack of sleep and a hectic lifestyle;
- soothe skin, providing an at-home spa experience based on the addition of several aromatic essential oils (such as Hazelnut, Patchouli and Blue Orchid, of course) – ”nature´s way of revitalizing dull skin”;
- hydrate and soften the skin, thus reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
The ingredients
- Hazelnut oil, main ingredient of this formulation. It is a light oil, easily absorbed into the skin (think of it rather like jojoba oil than olive oil, for example). It boasts antioxidants, such as vitamin E and tannins, as well as essential fatty acids. It makes skin nice and soft, as well as supple and bouncy.
- Patchouli oil, present in many perfumes, it is also sometimes used as an aromatherapy agent. Many people claim to accrue health benefits after regularly using it, but the matter has been insufficiently studied.
- Sunflower seed oil, the same one commonly used in the kitchen. Like many oils, it is great at moisturizing and sustaining the skin barrier. The unrefined version of it contains an abundance of fatty acids which are integral in the composition of ceramides, which make up our moisture barrier. As a plus, it is considered less likely to clog your pores and thus is suitable for acne-prone skin.
- Tocopheryl acetate, a derivate of vitamin E, which is an antioxidant commonly used in beauty products. It is more stable than the pure form, but at the at the same time less potent than it.
- Different aromatic compounds, such as Orchid extract, Eugenol, Limonene, Linalool and Coumarin. Some of these compounds are required to be listed by law in the EU because of their allergenic potential. If you know yourself to be sensitive or allergic to essential oils it would be best if you skipped this product.
About my skin type
- Acne prone
- Combination skin type – oily around nose and normal to dry everywhere else
- Sensitive
- Skin barrier constantly under attack from strong active ingredients, which often leads to sensitization to a lot of skincare or makeup products
- First signs of aging starting to appear
What I liked about the Clarins Blue Orchid Treatment Oil
Between all 3 Clarins facial oils on the market, I happened to receive a sample of the one that I needed the most at that moment. Now I have used that sample up, bought a full-size bottle and only have a few drops left, so I feel I can state my verdict on this product. The Blue Orchid Oil is designed for dry, dull skin. When my skin is acting up and being really dry, I mostly start to get flakes around my chin and mouth area. This requires simplifying my skincare routine and layering on moisturizing products. I would use this oil every evening, after I had applied thermal water and a moisturizing cream and I have found it sealed in the moisture beautifully. But the best part of it all was that it did not make my skin greasy or sticky and it didn´t stain my precious silk pillowcases. It absorbed quite quickly into the skin and I would wake up in the morning with a beautiful glow. It was so versatile and light, but effective, that I would even sometimes use it in the morning and it would work beautifully under sunscreen and makeup.
The scent is quite strong but to me it is not unpleasant. I didn’t really notice any aromatherapy-related benefits, but I did not buy this product for that reason. The bottle is cute, looks luxurious and comes with a dropper, which is much appreciated. I only use a few drops, patting it on my skin before calling it a day. This product is a treat and every time I apply it I feel like I am spoiling myself. It feels so good to massage your face with this at the end of the day!
As for diminishing the appearance of my fine lines (don´t really have deep wrinkles as of yet), any kind of good moisturizer can do that, even much cheaper ones. But this oil does deeply moisturize your skin, so any dryness-related crepeyness can be improved.
What I don’t like about the Clarins Blue Orchid Face Oil
- It’s expensive. Although I like the product, the cost is definitely prohibitive to me and to many people. I could only justify it as a treat for myself, but then again I always seem to want so many of these treats I need a second job just to keep up with them.
- Essential oils in this product can be irritating to some people and might trigger allergic reactions, making it not suitable for those who know themselves to be allergic to them.
Conclusion
I have a conflicted feeling of love towards this product. I love the effect it has on my skin. It works. I feel fancy and spoiled when I apply it. On the other hand, this is a very expensive product, but I think given the occasion I would happily keep using it. This oil has helped me a lot when my skin was dry and tight and it is one of my most prized skincare possessions. It would also make for a great present for the woman in your life who likes to pamper herself. I will cherish the last little drops for the rest of their short life.
