Clarins Hydra-Essentiel

We are finally in the midst of proper winter here in Cape Town. Much needed rain has fallen (although nowhere near enough), and there is snow on the ground on the higher lying areas.

Whenever the weather turns cold, I reach for the Clarins Hydra-Essentiel range. It’s been by cold weather go-to for years now, and it never disappoints.

There are six products in the range (read about them all here), but the two I use are the Intensive Moisture Quenching Bi-Phase Serum (R645) and the Silky Cream (R560). There is a SPF15 version of the cream, too, but 15 is far too low for me, so I use sunblock over the top instead.

It’s a rich cream that melts into the skin, leaving feeling nourished, soft and comfortable. (Those of you with dry skin will know what I mean.) It absorbs relatively quickly; not super fast – it’s a rich formula after all. But once settled, it doesn’t leave behind any sticky residue like some rich creams do, and it plays well with sunscreen and make up. No pilling or lifting at all.

The serum is the skin equivalent of a ginger juice health shot. It instantly plumps, hydrates and boosts even the most dehydrated of skins. (Don’t know the difference between dry and dehydrated skin? Read this – even oily skins can be dehydrated.) The lightweight formula contains an active ingredient taken from a Madagascan plant known for its climate adaptability. This enables your skin to retain moisture better than before, and helps to prevent further environmental stress on the skin.