Clarins After Sun Moisturiser

...purchaser, to a ripped off Clarins person. But is it really worth the extra money?

•• The look ••
It comes in a bright orange box, proudly displaying the Clarins name. In case you are having trouble finding it (if I manage to convince you to try some) you need to look out for the words “Baume Apres Soleil Hydratant Anti-Moustiques” as the English version (After Sun Moisturizer Anit-Mosquito Formula) is in much smaller writing ...
...you are already tanned. Clarins also do other sun care products, including sun protection, self tanning and, interestingly, an after sun that shimmers. Perhaps one to invest in if you are in a mossie free zone or indoors. If you want to know more about achieving a natural, safe tan, apparently you can ask your local Clarins specialist for a Clarins Sun Care Guide, but I guess this will really just be trying to flog you more products. Clarins products ... more

The wonderful weather we have been having recently made me dust off the cobwebs from my after sun lotion, and this sparked enough enthusiasm to make me write an opinion on it. I have discovered a wonderful new after sun, which has converted me from a cheapie Boots after sun purchaser, to a ripped off Clarins person. But is it really worth the extra money?

•• The look ••
It comes in a bright orange box, proudly displaying the Clarins name. In case you are having trouble finding it (if I manage to convince you to try some) you need to look out for the words “Baume Apres Soleil Hydratant Anti-Moustiques” as the English version (After Sun Moisturizer Anit-Mosquito Formula) is in much smaller writing at the bottom. Inside you will find a plastic tube in the same colour and a leaflet in lots of languages detailing all of their sun products. It is surprisingly small for the price, containing 150ml of cream – much smaller than the normal ones I used to buy from Boots. It has a flip top lid (great, I can’t lose it!), which you can stand on its end when it is nearly empty and get every last drop.

•• The claims ••
The box says that is will prolong your tan, soften the skin, make it supple and smooth, protect against free radicals and keep mosquitoes at bay. Apparently they don’t like the essences of lemon, geranium and eucalyptus. Checking on the internet, I managed to find more about the ingredients. It also contains aloe (moisturizes, soothes, softens), chamomile (soothes, softens, relaxes), shea (protects, moisturizes, anti-free radical, softens, nourishes, revitalizes), rosemary (moisturizing, revitalizing), siegesbeckia orientalis (calms, heals, anti-inflammatory, anti-free radical) and linden (emollient, soothing, calming, relaxing, anti-free radical). So does it work?

•• The trial ••
If there is a mosquito in the whole of the country I am staying in, it will normally find me to bite, so this cream had a lot to live up to. I am also a bit of a sun worshiper, with quite pale skin, so again, it would have to work hard. I took my tube to Egypt last September and gave it a go.

The first thing that hit me was the lovely smell. Normally anti-mosquito creams stink! This one, however, has a citrus smell tinged with something a bit stronger (probably the eucalyptus) – very refreshing. One thing I should mention here is that it might clash with weak perfumes, but then would you really want the mossies to smell your perfume and come and bite you, rather fly past you on to the next unsuspecting soul due to the lemon repellent?

The second thing that struck me was the richness of the cream itself. It is a thick white cream, with the consistency of a rich night cream. Previous after sun creams were quite runny and took a while to rub in and then soak into my skin. This one is different. You have to squeeze a lot harder to get it out of the tube – no pouring here. It rubs in easily and soaks in your skin within about a minute (I used to have to lie around naked for up to 10 minutes with the Boots Soltan after sun). It leaves your skin, as claimed, soft, supple and smooth, making you feel pampered and luxurious. I have not tried it on burnt skin, as I try to be careful in the sun, but I can't imagine it irritating mild sunburn. Anything stronger should be treated with calamine lotion. It is certainly the best after sun product I have ever used (and I’ve tried quite a few).

I did feel that my tan lasted slightly longer than it normally would have, but I must confess to going back to normal body moisturiser when I got back to the UK, as I hardly needed the mosquito repellent in early October!

I normally get about 5 insect bites per day on holiday, but throughout my whole week in Egypt, I only got about 3 bites in total, and they could have been on the way back to the hotel after diving, before I had any after sun cream on. I would therefore say this was a success in terms of not looking like I came back to the UK with chicken pox. Result!

•• Other things you should know ••
This cream should not be used on children under 3 or on skin that is sensitive to the sun, e.g. burnt face or body. It is hypoallergenic and dermatologically tested. I have had reactions to sun products in the past, but I was fine with this cream. The instructions advise you to have a cool shower before applying the cream using light sweeping movements. Remember that you should always apply after sun following sub bathing, even if you are not burnt (the only time my other half bothers!) or if you are already tanned. Clarins also do other sun care products, including sun protection, self tanning and, interestingly, an after sun that shimmers. Perhaps one to invest in if you are in a mossie free zone or indoors. If you want to know more about achieving a natural, safe tan, apparently you can ask your local Clarins specialist for a Clarins Sun Care Guide, but I guess this will really just be trying to flog you more products. Clarins products are not tested on animals.

•• Availability and price ••
I’m afraid this great product has an RRP of £14.50, but I found it up to a few pounds cheaper by searching for it on the internet, e.g. at www.buycosmeticsdirect.com, but with the postage costs, it may not be worth ordering. It is also available from most department stores (e.g. Debenhams) and Boots – basically anywhere you would normally be able to buy Clarins products. Unfortunately, it does not last particularly well. I have used about two thirds of the tube, applying it once a day all over for one week in Egypt. I would have had to take two on a two week holiday just to be sure. Compared with as little as £2.95 for the really cheap after sun brands, you can see how much Clarins are charging for their luxurious cream, but we only have one skin, so I guess we should try to look after it if we insist on frying it in the sun.

•• Conclusion ••
Well my theory is that if I can afford a sunny holiday, then I should make the effort to afford to look after my skin. I will therefore be continuing to buy this wonderful cream, despite the price. I will therefore give it 4 stars - 5 for the product, minus one for the price. It would be great for the few sultry summer evenings we get after a day in the sun, as you are not likely to get bitten if my trial was anything to go by. Go on, indulge yourself!
 

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