Think of this as a First Aid bandage, for stressed skin. Something to reach for when winds have ravaged your cheeks or you’ve been exposed to city pollution, leaving that film of particulate grime on the face. Or maybe – ‘cos we just tried this – when you’ve been poorly. (Astonishingly, the ENTIRE Beauty Bible team has just been poorly at the same time.)

This is a new addition to the Clarins Calm-Essentiel line, specifically targeted at sensitive skins and based on ingredients of over 95% . It calls itself a balm but actually, it feels like an ultra-soothing cream –

In 2021 Clarins launched Calm-Essentiel, an innovative new skin care range formulated with ingredients of over 95% natural origin specifically developed for sensitive skin. It’s designed for multi-use: anywhere on the body or face that’s delicate, damaged or weakened.

The active ingredient is ‘a purified molecule from the flowers and leaves of clary sage called sclareolide, which works in affinity with the skin and helps to soothe and protect it,’ they tell us. The molecule calms hyper-reactivity – and as we’ve found, literally instantly takes the heat and touchiness out of the targeted area. (Jo was suffering from super-itchy eyes, mid-virus, and while she didn’t apply this all the way to the lashes, it really felt cooling super-soothing when tapped into the eye zone.) Dryness, redness, itchiness, chapping, heat, tightness, irritation or roughness – this targets the lot.

There’s no discernible fragrance, while the texture’s quite lovely: it leaves a velvety yet not heavy barrier on skin.

So we say: keep Calm-Essentiel, and carry on.

£28 for 30ml – buy here

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