A fact I don’t advertise a lot is that I’ve been battling chronic dryness, peeling flaky skin and clogged pores on my face since December 2012. I don’t really want to talk about depressing things like weird breakouts and flaky skin especially when I don’t know the cause nor cure. I’m not sure what happened or what I used, but nothing in my regular repertoire seemed to help. One evening, at my wits end, I decided to do something drastic (by my standards).
On my dresser sits a bottle of Clarins Lotus Face Treatment Oil. Its been sitting there for months. I used it now and again but never really derived or noticed much benefit from it. In fact, I have a feeling it gave me clogged pores. You will notice that its the old packaging that comes without a dropper. By the side is a sample I got of the oil which comes in a miniature of the new packaging with a dropper. I believe the new packaging has been in place for about a year at least now.
The Clarins Lotus Face Treatment Oil is targeted for those with oily-combination skin and it is supposed to help “purify” the skin while keeping it hydrated. There are 3 versions of the Face Treatment Oil – Blue Orchid (anti aging and dehydrated skin), Santal (dry to extra-dry skin) and Lotus (Oily-combination skin). I was recommended Lotus because its the lightest of the 3 and because it would suit most.
As I said before, I used it off and on without much glowing success but this time, I decided I’d do something a little different. I’d use just this Lotus Oil. Nothing else. Lets see what it can do. I honestly did not have much hope, but I had nothing to lose. Incredibly, I started seeing results!
What I do in the evening after my shower and washing my face, is to mist it with a floral water. I still use the ones from Melvita, to dampen my skin. Then, I pour a generous amount of oil into the palm of my hand, and apply to my face, massaging it in as I go.
For normal use, you are supposed to use maybe just 2-3 drops, warm it up in your palm and apply it to skin. It then sinks in quite quickly without leaving skin looking or feeling oily. I don’t do that. I apply quite a lot and use it like an “oil mask” so I go to bed with a sheen of oil on my skin. It does not bug me because I go right to sleep and I sleep on my back so it does not stain my pillow or blankets.
I did this nightly for about a week and that’s when I started noticing in the morning that my skin was starting to look clearer and better.
I had this terrible cystic pimple by the side of my mouth that was large and hard and refused to go away despite all my ministrations. A week of being doused with the oil and I noticed that it had shrunk. Its been about 3 weeks now, and the pimple hasn’t gone away, but its almost unnoticable now, and the mark is fading.
Marks and uneven flaky skin around my chin area started to go away, and my skin stopped looking flaky and dry. Clogged pores appeared to unclog. Spots that were starting to form subsided and went away without marking the skin.
My skin was starting to heal and look better. Clogged pores and blackheads on my cheeks and nose started to reduce in number. I have a rough before/after below to show you the improvements I experienced after about a week. Its not perfect of course and there are new eruptions (when will this end?!) but I’ve marked out the areas that I experienced positive results.
(1) The large hard cystic pimple has reduced and although still there, isn’t as obvious (2) Clogged pores and uneven skin tone have evened out and are less clogged (3) The pimple mark has gone away (to be replaced by a new one just under but I’m onto it!) (4) clogged and open pores are under control
As I said, by no means do I now have perfect skin. Its just been 3 weeks that I’ve embarked on this crazy idea but it seems to be working for me. The skin on the rest of my face appears smoother and is less prone to breakouts. Areas with clogged pores seem to be less. My skin doesn’t feel as “tough” on the surface and now feels almost softer to the touch.
Its not all perfect though. I don’t seem to derive as much hydration from this as I should so sometimes when I wake up, my cheeks feel a little dry. Yet when I go to bed, I have all this oil on my face that I don’t feel like applying more stuff just on my cheeks. So I’m a little torn as to what to do, so I try to make up for it in the day where I do not use this oil, but I use hydrating products instead.
I must mention the scent. The scent is very strong of essential oils although I can’t put my finger on which, but I find it calming and soothing. Not everyone does so you really have to try it at the counter or get a sample and see if you’d like it.
I don’t recommend this method to everyone though. You have to be quite desperate and be able to tolerate an oily face if you want to give this a try. I derived benefits from it, and I am quite pleased but now that my skin seems to have rebalanced, reset and rebooted itself, I may start cutting back on the oil around my chin area. I suspect that its now starting to clog my pores! I know. You just can’t win! 😛
When I used it before this, in small quantities, I did notice that it did clog my pores a little with regular use. When I was doing my “oil mask” it helped the existing clogged pores but now that my skin is clearer, its start to clog it. So, I may start cutting back to alternate days or twice a week now. But while it lasted, I’m glad I took the plunge, because I was at my wits end and this helped!
In a nutshell
The Clarins Lotus Face Treatment Oil is a light oil with a strong geranium scent. It is quite oily to the feel, but when warmed and applied on skin, it sinks in quite quickly. I found that when I used it too often, it had a tendency to clog my pores. However, when I used it in generous amounts on my troubled skin like a mask, it helped to calm down my skin, even out skin tone and marks, reduce pimples and cystic acne spots and unclog pores. It almost seemed as if it was giving my skin a reboot! I do not find it hydrating enough but I do have combination-dry skin while this is suited at those with combination-oily skin.
Pros: Used intensively it helped my problematic skin through a difficult patch, Rebalanced my skin, A little goes a long way, I like the scent
Cons: Clogs my pores if I use it too often on normal skin, Scent is strong and may not be to everyone’s liking
Who will like this: Anyone who is comfortable using oil on face, Anyone trying to rebalance their problem skin
Here are the ingredients.
If you want it to absorb more quickly and better into your skin, apply it directly onto damp skin, or mix in some toner (Clarins recommends their toning lotion) and pat it and massage into skin. The liquid will thin out the texture and help it absorb more quickly. Also, be sure to warm it up between your palms before applying to skin. It helps it go on and absorb better.
Have you tried using this Clarins Lotus oil and if you have, did you like it? Have you tried any of the other Face Treatment Oils?
I can’t use this too often now that I’m done rebalancing my skin so I’m keeping to a twice weekly “Lotus oil mask” from now on and slowly going back to my regular skincare routine. I have been toying with the idea of trying the Blue Orchid one for anti-aging and dehydrated skin. Sounds right up my alley!
Paris B
Clarins Face Treatment Oil comes in 3 variants – Lotus (oily combination skin), Blue Orchid (Anti-aging and dehydrated skin) and Santal (dry to very dry skin) Price: RM158 Availability: Clarins counters
Lily says
I haven’t had much luck with face oils, unfortunately. I have to use the minimum amount, or I’d have clogged pores. The SA at Clarins told me to use their face oils in place of moisturizers. I still haven’t had the guts to try it yet. When my normal combination skin suddenly got dry and flaky with zits and all, I knew something was very wrong. My skin never gets dry. I exfoliated, changed up my skincare to something soothing and gentle, and my face is now much much better. In fact, it’s better than before. I think this routine might be working 🙂
Paris B says
Sorry to hear face oils don’t work for you, but I suppose that’s the thing with skincare. So many different options out there! 🙂 The Clarins oils are basically moisturisers, but for me, I didn’t find the Lotus one hydrating enough. Helped when I had a problem but now that I’ve addressed the problem, doesn’t work as well anymore haha!
Petrina says
Hi Paris – I have this oil too – untouched for about 5 years now and just wondering how old yours is? I’ve been using it as a body oil as I thought maybe its been around too long for the face but you’ve had yours for a while too?
Paris B says
Hmm if it doesn’t smell rancid, I don’t see why it shouldn’t work. I’ve had mine for a while – about 2 years plus? Doesn’t smell off, and seems to work fine but at 5 years, maybe using it on the body maybe a better bet 🙂
rose says
I’m 30 yrs old and have been suffering from pimples on my left cheek and chin area, most of the time cystic-like and they are so inflamed and stay there for weeks (sometimes months!) I don’t know whether it’s hormonal or stress or my diet, I think I’ve them all. It made me so stress, and I’ve tried so many products with no improvement. Until 1 day i googled with the key word ‘how to treat hormonal related acne’ and turned out that everyone’s raving about cod liver oil. Now I’ve been taking it for more than 1 month and my skin improves significantly. No more pimples (really!) and if at times there is, it’s not so inflamed anymore and treatable with pimple creams within days. Just sharing, probably anybody wants to try, nothing to lose 🙂
Paris B says
Thanks for sharing your experience and cure, Rose! 🙂 I take fish oil quite regularly but not cod liver oil 😀
Tammy says
Hi Paris. So sorry about the flaky skin problem! I had the same problem for about 2 years during winter times while in London. Once the skin started ‘flaking’ it’s so hard to stop that. I started using Aromatherapy Associates this year. Their oil is truly amazing. I used a ‘sandwich’ method: oil first, then serum, then moisturiser, all by the same range. And I can say this year my skin was really hydrated and moisturised. No flaking at all despite the very dry and cold weather this year (central heating turned on non stop) so you mind want to give it a try ‘if’ next time you have dry/flaky skin problem!
Paris B says
Hi Tammy, thank you so much for the sandwich tip! I may have to give it a shot the next time I run into a problem, because it actually sounds doable. I suppose a thin layer of each is necessary?
Marla says
Do you know how this compares to tarte maracuja oil? I just love tarte’s product and I really feel it has helped reduce my acne, and helped reduce my fine lines and wrinkles.
Paris B says
Hi Marla, I haven’t tried the Tarte Maracuja oil although I hear its quite a good product! Its good to know it works well for you!
Kay says
Hi Paris, I’m glad this product is working for you! I had severe cystic acne until I was about 27 and after that everything cleared up. I try to keep my skin care simple and gentle and it seems the less I change it up, the better it behaves and looks. Occasional attempts to push it too hard to make it even “better” often backfire, creating irritation, flakiness, or even a pimple, damage which requires time and gentle treatment to heal. I think may of us aspire to get the best skin we can but there are limits to what is possible and often less is more in the long run.
Paris B says
Hi Kay, thank you for sharing your experience! You are right you know. I am trying to keep to as simple a routine as I can now which is bad from a blogging point of view, but good from my skin point of view 🙂 The only thing I can say is that I’m glad I listen enough to my skin to know when something doesn’t work and that is ultimately the most important thing of all! 🙂
Beauty Box says
You’ve made me very curious about this oil. I do use oils on my face and I’ve got oily/combo skin but I only use oils in winter. I haven’t tried using oils in summer even with the AC on. Though I find oils are miracle workers to help moisturize dehydrated skin. But you are right, oils can clog your skin if it is not needed.
Paris B says
This Clarins oil isn’t very heavy if used sparingly, not crazily like I do haha! But I can imagine that oils will feel much more comfortable on dry winter skin. In our hot humid weather, it won’t feel as comfortable.
Esther says
Try neogence hyaluronic acid DNA anti wrinkle cream. I used to have a dry patch on my forehead but after using this for a few days, the dry patch is gone!!
Paris B says
That sounds interesting! I’ll try to check it out, thanks. I do really need something to combat and calm skin more than treat dry patches though. Especially if the dry patches are to do with irritated skin and not just random dry ones.
eviee says
THIS IS LIFE CHANGING.