It’s no secret that I am a fan of Clarins skincare (see here and here for proof) so when I read about their One Step Cleansing Waters, I had to get my hands on the bottle.

I’m possibly a tad over the top when it comes to cleansing my face; maybe it’s because I live in the Big Smoke or maybe it’s because I had bad skin when I was younger but I’m all about cleaning my face until it is 100% clean.

My usual night skin care routine is made up of a wash Clarins Gentle Foaming Cleanser with Cottonseed for Combination Skin or Freeze 24/7 Ice Crystals Anti-Ageing Prep & Polish followed by Clarins Toning Lotion With Iris for Combination Skin but to see if the One Step Cleansing Waters were any good, I left out the toner and used the waters instead.

You can use the One Step Cleansing Waters instead of cleanser but after a day at work and a face full of make-up I find I have to use at least 3 soaked cotton wool pads to get my face really clean which seems wasteful when a squidge of cleanser can do the job in half the time.

The first thing to note about the One Step Cleansing Waters is the smell; it smells so good! Like peach, coconut and sweets! Ingredients include a coconut derivative which dissolves surface grime and light make-up, moringa seed extract to detoxify, isphagul and provitamin B5 to soften and hydrate, peach essential water which helps to improve skin softness, suppleness and comfort and mint essential water which purifies, reduces redness and tones.

Even though (I like to think) I wash my face thoroughly, one soaked cotton wool pad of Clarins One Step Cleansing Waters and I’m shocked at how much dirt is still on my face! Even though I am technically washing my face twice, the cleansing waters don’t leave the skin feeling stripped or tight, just tingly clean. It’s very refreshing on the skin and gentle enough to use morning and night.

Although the bottle is a tad big to lug around in your hand bag, I think it’s perfect for a post gym refresher or for cleaning your face in the office toilets before you head out for drinks post work.

I really like it and I think my skin looks and feels better for using it. Yet another well done Clarins!

Clarins One Step Cleansing Waters - £19.50/200ml

I am a huge fan of Clarins’ skincare; every product I have tried not only feels beautiful against the skin it also does a great job moisturising/protecting/hydrating etc.

The new Clarins Double Serum Complete Age Control Concentrate has had beauty editors and bloggers all in a frenzy with one magazine listing it as one of the years’ 10 products that will redefine our idea of what beauty is capable of!

What is all the fuss about? It’s well known that water and oil don’t mix but Clarins have somehow fused the two together – along with 20 of the most powerful known plant extracts – into a wonder serum that is instantly absorbed by the skin. The skin on our face is up to 70% water and 30% oil so using a product that closely mimics our skins natural make up means wrinkles are minimised, skin is firmer, more elastic and even-toned and pores are less visible.

Although brown skins tend not to wrinkle as fast as Caucasian skin, we are all affected by environmental factors and stress linked to lifestyle which can lead to loss of firmness, fine lines, diminished radiance and luminosity and more visible pores.

In consumer tests, after just one use, the results were amazing:

• 88% smoother skin
• 82% more radiant skin
• 73% more toned skin

Four weeks later, these same women said:

• 88% less visible pores
• 88% more even complexion
• 86% firmer, more elastic skin
• 79% reduced wrinkles

This serum hydrates, nourishes, protects, oxygenates and regenerates the skin. Is there anything it doesn’t do?

I don’t have any wrinkles (yet!) but as I’m the wrong side of 25, I have noticed my pores are larger and my complexion not as smooth as it used to be. After just one use, I could feel and see a difference. My skin felt dewy fresh, very moisturised (even in this harsh weather) and like all Clarins products, it smells gorgeous and is a pleasure to apply and wear.

A little goes a long way as two pumps in the morning and two again in the evening (before your usual moisturiser) is enough to do your whole face and neck.

Try it, you won’t be disappointed.

Clarins Double Serum Complete Age Control Concentrate – £55/30ml

Inspired by the multi-coloured tones and satin feel of the beautiful Iris flower, the new Clarins Spring 2013 ‘Rouge Eclat’ make-up collection is made up of the following pieces:

Limited Edition Face & Blush Powder – £30
Mineral Loose Powder – £30
Limited Edition
Eye Quartet Mineral Palette – £30
Jolie Rouge Brilliant Lipstick – £17 (in watermelon and sweet plum)
Gloss Prodige – £15.50 (in water lily and limited edition vibrant rose)

I tried the Jolie Rouge Brilliant Lipstick in Watermelon and the Gloss Prodige in Vibrant Rose.

The lipstick works really well against my skin tone; it leaves a nude, shimmery, sheer finish, a rather subtle wash of colour and it’s something I can see myself wearing every day.

The Gloss Prodige is very glossy and sparkly but surprisingly not sticky or gloopy. It contains Clarins Maxi Lip™ peptide with hyaluronic acid which is meant to give extra plumpness to your lips, but as I’m not lacking in that department, I can’t vouch as to whether that’s true or not. It smells and tastes great too (let’s be honest, the smells makes a difference and a lot of our lipstick/gloss ends up in our mouths and not just on it).

Of the two, I certainly prefer the lipstick but for days when I don’t want to wear a lot of makeup or just want a slight sparkle on the lip, the gloss will come in perfect.

www.clarins.co.uk