Holy Grail Beautyy . . .

• Cruelty Free NO
• Fragrance Free NO
• 30 mls
• Pump bottle
• Expensive at $85 AUD

My skin is oily/combination, fair with freckles and 38 years old currently.


I have never used Clarins products before so this was a new experience for me with the brand.  I actually won this serum in an Instagram competition with Clarins Australia.

Beauty Guru

I had just finished my Lancome Genefique Sensitive Full Concentrate and this prize came at just the right time! I believe this is an updated incarnation of the original serum.  This version contains approximately 20 or so plant extracts

The bottle is a pump action one with two settings one for a small drop of product and the second setting for a larger drop of the product.  There is two separate products that are contained within the component which combine when you press the pump and then you mix the liquid with your finger before applying to the face.

I ended up using the larger setting and it lasted two months at least.  I used it once a day at nighttime on my face, neck, decolletage and tops of my hands.  It definitely feels nice when applying to the skin but I am undecided as to whether it made that much of an impact on my skin. 

 It does contain sodium hyaluronate so your skin will appear plumped up and there is ton of plant extracts including plants that are known skin irritants such as Perilla seed oil which is part of the mint family (if you want to know more about any of the ingredients listed just click on the name and you will be directed to an information source *not affiliated*).  It contains a large amount of fragrance and is listed way up in the first quarter of the ingredients list which is also not what you want in this type of skincare and with the price of this product it shouldn't be included.  Personally, I would rather it smell unappealing or of nothing at all. 

It also contains mineral oil which a lot of people have issue with on their skin and from a consumer ethics aspect.  It doesn't cause irritation on my skin but with the fragrance as well its not a good mix.  Some of the more proven beneficial ingredients such as Vitamin C are on the bottom of the list which means that their concentration in this serum is low to almost non existent.  Even with all the botanical extracts most of them are of average benefit and are only big in skin conditioning or are emollients and which would make this an expensive, fragranced, and light moisturiser. 

I do not recommend this product for purchase.  I didn't notice any particular changes that this serum did for me, and I have gone back to The Ordinary Matrixyl 10% + HA which I saw an improvement in my skin again in a few days.  Interestingly, the Clarins serum also contains Matrixyl but at what percentage I do not know.  I do recommend trying The Ordinary's Matrixyl 10 % + HA instead for a fraction of the price.

This product could have been improved by removing the fragrant ingredients; the ones that are there purely for scent purposes, the mineral oil base, the Perilla seed and the Parsley extract in this serum is also known to have adverse topical applications.  For $85 AUD you don't need this product.


Ingredients