Beauty and the Botanist

We take a journey through plant-inspired skincare with the latest beauty essences from Clarins.

Portrait of Tammy Strobel
We take a journey through plant-inspired skincare with the latest beauty essences from Clarins.
Images Clarinsl
Images Clarinsl

From the beginnings of human history, plant-based beauty has always been practised and revered. Nowadays, the ancient beauty secret of plants are taken for granted as part of our daily rituals, and modern technology has unlocked the nourishing secrets of many more plants, from exotic fruits and flowers, to nuts, seeds, and algae.

With labs that study over 1000 plant ingredients and their beauty-boosting potential, Clarins is leading the way.

In 1954, Jacques Courtin-Clarins created his first plant-based formula, a tonic body oil designed to be used during massage therapy.

Fast forward 60-plus years later and his namesake brand annually produces 7400 tons of beauty lotions, creams, oils and more, all built around the restorative power of over 200 plant derived active ingredients.

For Clarins, the dedication to plant ingredients also goes one step further than just bottling plant goodness; the latest buzzword at the company is “bio-inspiration”, which is all about designing formulas that are inspired by natural phenomena.

“Our philosophy is all about plants,” says Olivier Courtin-Clarins, son of the original creator of the famous Clarins body oils, and Managing Director of the Clarins Group today. “We do not pursue what is fashionable; our values and knowledge are all about plant extracts.”

A plant for every woman

The latest products to distil those values and knowledge are the Anti-ageing Treatment Essences, a trio of essences designed for different skin ages. As we learnt, when your skin is moisturised, it is better able to absorb the goodness of your treatment products. Rich in plant extracts, the Treatment Essences have a soft, liquid texture to rehydrate your skin after you cleanse, and prepare it for your serums and moisturisers. Here’s what we learnt about these anti-ageing genies in a bottle... 

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20s Multi-Active Treatment Essence

Targets: Vitality

In your 20s, your skin’s main enemies are lifestyle problems such as lack of sleep and stress. Environmental aggressors like pollution can also contribute to fatigued, dull skin.

Key plant ingredient: Teasel

High in antioxidants, teasel extract helps boost the activity of the skin’s fibroblasts, which are important cells in our connective tissue that produce collagen. Acerola targets brightness and radiance.

Texture: Light and refreshing

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30s Extra-Firming Treatment Essence

Targets: Bounciness

At this age, skin ageing starts to become a bigger concern. Fine lines make their appearance, and skin begins to lose its youthful elasticity.

Key plant ingredient: Lemon thyme

Lemon thyme prevents the slackening of the skin and green bana na helps to reinforce skin structure. The formula also contains hyaluronic acid to combat moisture loss and plump up skin.

Texture: Smooth and hydrating

Super Restorative
Treatment Essence
Super Restorative Treatment Essence

40s Super Restorative Treatment Essence

Targets: Smoothness

The skin’s ability to regenerate declines, resulting in more wrinkles and more dead cells accumulating at the surface of the skin, which can block the absorption of active ingredients.

Key plant ingredient: Pueraria Lobata

Also known as kudzu, the plant has an incredible rate of growth. For the skin, this translates to an ability to boost water retention, cell renewal and collagen synthesis, resulting in firmer, smoother skin.

Texture: Rich and velvety

Tip: Use the Treatment Essences before your serums and after you cleanse/tone!
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Treatment Essence 101

Marie-Helene Lair, Scientific Communication Director for Clarins explains it all.

Why do I need a treatment essence?

Young skin is a very good protective barrier. It is an ideal skin, but very compact – you can think of the classic image of the wall, with bricks and mortar. [This can make it hard for active ingredients to penetrate the skin barrier.] In this formula you have two kinds of active ingredients – one to unlock the skin according to the age, and the other to act in perfect synergy with all the creams.

How do I choose the right lotion for me?

You have to look at the needs of your skin, your skin age, and go according to your lifestyle as well – do you go into the sun, do you smoke, and so forth. Very often, the real age on your passport is not the age of your skin. So that’s why it’s not so easy to choose the right lotion if you follow only the age on your passport.

“Nature is the oldest and beyond laboratory.” Marie-Helene Lair, Scientific Communication Director for Clarins