Irish women have particular concerns when it comes to their skin, says Bronwyn Conway, national training manager at Clarins Ireland. Redness, puffiness and ageing top the list and, therefore, products that will protect against the external aggressors, which accelerate the ageing process and harm the skin, are what women, and men, seek out when they speak to Conway. She has more than eight years’ experience with the Clarins brand, which has an extremely loyal fanbase in Ireland.
Conway is speaking at an in-store event for Irish Times readers at the first standalone Clarins boutique on Dublin’s Wicklow Street.
Every touch and detail, from the lighting to the alchemy of aromas, stabilised plant extracts displayed in glass jars and uncluttered displays are perfectly Clarins, with the iconic red hue of the Gallic brand matched by the red rope that greets customers.
Guests are treated to bubbles and given an opportunity to explore the space. The buzzing group contains a variety of ages, all genders and is a cross-section of long-time and newly converted fans of the products.
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Sister-in-laws Maureen and Susan Reynolds arrive together to enjoy some pampering and to hear industry stalwart Conway speak. Maureen says she is looking forward to a mini-treatment, while Susan speaks of her love of the brand, praising its accessibility in the Irish market.
“Irish women have a very specific skin type, and we need to protect against everyday pollution and UVA rays,” Conway says.
“There are no miracles, just results. Some people think that Clarins don’t use active ingredients; they do, but they do it in line with the Clarins ethos – they will never sting or strip your face,” she says, while describing an effective daily cleansing and toning routine. She then introduces a new product, Beauty Flash Peel.
“We had a strong launch last year with Beauty Flash Peel. This is a product that has universal appeal. With this product, you can exfoliate your skin twice a week and it will eliminate the need for a harsh salon treatment because it dissolves the surface dead cells in a way that’s not going to traumatise your skin, because we do only have one face and it must do us quite a long time.”
It’s not just new products getting attention, Conway suggests following up the Beauty Flash Peel with a classic Clarins product – the Beauty Flash Balm. This is a gem of a product, which has been given as a gift and used for a multitude of purposes over the years.
“This product is such a multitasker. You can use it as a primer underneath your foundation. In the summer months, if your foundation feels a bit heavy, you can mix a bit in your make-up; you can use it as a face mask: apply it to your face and neck for 10 minutes and take off the excess. Mix a little in with your night cream ahead of an event where you want your skin to look luminous and radiant. I use this combination once a week – the peel followed by the flash balm – and, I promise you, when you wake up in the morning, you look like you’ve had a facial the night before.”
After moving on to eye care, Conway passes several products through the crowd to sample, but the most impassioned segment of her talk centres on the high natural, origin ingredients Clarins use, particularly the use of flower acids and haranguana, a retinol replacement that is sourced from a fair trade programme in Madagascar.
Benjamin Vouard, marketing director of Clarins Ireland, has been with the company for 17 years and is passionate about its ethos and attention to detail. Mingling with the crowd, he points out an art installation depicting a blue sky speckled with delicate clouds, which is positioned at eye line when lying on the treatment bed. He says it was created to evoke a feeling of relaxed contentment in the client. He explains how every aspect of the spa experience is tailor-made, from the lighting, music and products formulated with plant extracts.
Clarins was founded in 1954 by Jacques Courtin-Clarins, an entrepreneur whose medical career was cut short by the war. It seems this is a man who understands women, inventing coveted methods and products, first through water, then air and plants. His success in cosmetology is arguably unrivalled, with an empire of 6,000 employees in 157 countries built in 50 years. His motto, “Do more, do better and enjoy doing so”, is elegantly engraved across a bare white wall separating the boutique and treatment area.
Guests listen to a talk by Conway on skincare with an emphasis on Irish women and their specific needs. It was a beautiful success – coincidentally also the title of Jacques Courtin’s book describing the Clarins origin story.
Treatment experience
If you’re like me, your skin probably takes a battering during the winter months. The excesses of Christmas, mixed with heating on full tilt and the inclement Irish weather, can be a lethal combination for your face.
My skincare routine is usually quite good. My mum and Heat magazine drummed into me from a young age the need to take make-up off at night and to wear SPF, even in winter. Yet when I arrive in Clarins’ new spa on Dublin’s Wicklow Street, I envisage the therapist telling me she has her work cut out for her.
Once on the massage bed, Breda gives my skin a thorough examination and says that, despite some patches of dehydration, it looks plump and in good shape overall. So far, so good.
The Power Hydrator is a targeted facial that gives a more radiant, glowing appearance, and is just what the doctor ordered after a long and busy January. This treatment freshens and smooths the face, eye area and décolleté, as well as hands and arms. It targets signs of tiredness and stress, to leave you looking much more rested.
Breda uses the SOS Hydra Face Mask, followed by Beauty Flash Balm and Total Eye Revive on my face. The Clarins products used are light and luxurious and have a light scent that isn’t overpowering. Post-facial, I wafted off down Grafton Street, looking and feeling well rested and several years younger.
Book online at Clarins Boutique & Spa, 33-34 Wicklow Street, Dublin 2.