Review | Clarins Blue Orchid Face Treatment Oil (Huile Orchidée Bleue)

Some time back, I experienced a bad facial rash – I believe it was caused by hormonal changes or an allergy – exacerbated by the serums and masks that I’d been using.

The rash was accompanied by roughness, red bumps, flaking skin…and itching. Gah, the itching! Even the memory of it makes me shudder. As you’ve probably already guessed, it was a dismal bout of eczema (On the face! Ugh). I get this sporadically but this last instance was especially nasty.

I was leery of irritating my skin further, so I steered clear of new skincare. The flaking was alarming but it clearly indicated a need for soothing moisture, so I reached for Clarins Blue Orchid Face Treatment Oil one night. I’d used it occasionally in the past and liked it, though it was a touch rich for me. This time, it was perfect for my purpose, the oil immediately palliating my poor eczema-ravaged skin.

My skin no longer looked dry and crusty, so emollient this is. More importantly than the appearance, the flaking, dryness and redness also vanished. Morning brought a happy discovery: Smooth, rested skin and facial pores that looked smaller – my face was hardly a shadow of its former self the night before.

Anti-aging care for Dehydrated Skin. 100% pure plant extracts. Zero preservatives. This best-selling oil contains extracts of Rosewood, Patchouli and Blue Orchid to tone, revitalise and restore radiance to moisture-depleted skin. Hazelnut Oil helps prevent moisture loss and the formation of fine lines. Non-staining.

– Clarins

There’s a misconception that facial oils will cause acne but not all do. The formulation of the product matters and this one contains softening plant oils that are easily absorbed by my skin – it does not leave my face feeling or looking greasy. The moisturising oils also do not clog my pores and I’ve not seen pimples or bumps on my face post-use.

The formula of this face oil is so good that I’ve actually used it to prep my face for foundation. I intend to mix a drop or two of it into some of my liquid foundations one day, to improve their texture.

The soothing efficacy of this facial oil, together with its calming scent, makes this a thorough winner and a must-have in my skincare stash. I will certainly replenish it when I’m done with my current press sample bottle.

A good friend who tried to purchase it at Tangs Orchard a few days ago told me today that it’s currently sold out – proof of its effectiveness, I suppose!

This product was recently revamped with a dropper stopper cap atop its glass bottle, happy news for people who love this. Why? Well, the old packaging was quite a hazard: The oil previously came in a glass bottle with only a screw top cover, which meant that over-pouring frequently occurred. The back-flow would leak down the sides of the bottle too, even on days sans messy spillage, making it an accident waiting to happen. Can you imagine how the bottle could potentially slip out of the hands because of the slick surface and break?

I’m so glad they’ve added a dropper (aka a Pasteur pipette) to the cap – not only is the bottle cleaner now, I can also better measure out the amount I need.

I haven’t tried this with other skincare products (toners, serums, moisturisers) just yet – I love it neat! – but will experiment in time to come. The brand does recommend that you use it while your skin is damp with their Toning Lotion.

Ultimately, I’m simply relieved that this has saved my skin. If you have dry or dehydrated skin, it might help you too. Should you have concerns about facial oils, do ask the Clarins counter for a sample sachet to try first. It might surprise you in a pleasant way! :)

In Singapore, this wonder product retails at S$65 for 40 ml.

Image source: Clarins