We celebrate Clarins' 70th anniversary and present the company.

In 1954, Jacques Courtin-Clarins opened the first Clarins institute in the heart of Paris. The basic idea was already to create pioneering French beauty products based on nature's most effective ingredients. The founder wanted to advance beauty by making it more authentic and more natural. His greatest quote: 

For Clarins, beauty only has meaning if it is accompanied by generosity, kindness and humanity.

Today, 70 years later, Clarins is still in the hands of the Courtin-Clarins family. The company remains faithful to the conviction of its founder: that nature holds the secret to lifelong beauty for all.

Over the last 70 years, Clarins has created a number of beauty classics that have achieved cult status:

• 1965 Tonic Oil: a firming body care oil that invigorates the senses, made with 100% plant extracts. 
• 1978 Extra-Firming: The firming cream with kangaroo flower extract, which makes the skin visibly smoother and more supple.
• 1985 Double Serum: The #1 best-selling serum with 21 powerful plant extracts. For Clarins, it is the ultimate symbol of the double promise: Excellence and Innovation.
• 1987 Eau Dynamisante: The first Clarins eau de toilette to combine an invigorating fragrance and plant extracts. Clarins pioneered a new cosmetics trend and today still offers the most famous of skincare fragrances in different variants.
• 2015 Lip Comfort Oil: a lip oil that nourishes, plumps and illuminates lips with a touch of colour. 

Naturally, Clarins didn't fail to put together a box featuring the highlights of the company's 70-year history. As is the Clarins tradition, it is presented in a very stylish bright red cosmetic pouch. The corduroy is made from recycled materials, once again demonstrating the brand's commitment to respecting nature. I tried out this box, which offers everything you need to take care of yourself and feel good about your skin. 

I start the day with Baume Beauté l'Eclair, which has a creamy, gel-like texture. In summer, it's a great make-up base to hydrate the skin without being too rich. The cream absorbs quickly and feels fresh and firm. For lashes, I'm trying out the new XXL mascara. But I'll come back to that in a moment. First of all, my lips are delighted with the nourishing Lip Comfort Oil in Cherry. It looks like a gloss, but it cares much better and doesn't stick at all. What's more, it gives my lips a light rosy sheen. I love it!

The highlight of the anniversary set is the already legendary Eau Dynamisante, which was the first skincare fragrance on the market in 1987. It's supposed to have an invigorating effect, enveloping the body in a scent of lemon, thyme, rosemary, ginseng and patchouli. It smells of herbal extracts and is a little pungent, which is why I'd call it a unisex fragrance. As well as its fragrance, it moisturises the skin, which is very practical when you have to get up quickly in the morning.  

In the last step of my Clarins beauty routine, I'm already looking forward to the Crème Jeunesse des Mains. I never leave the house without it and always have it to hand in my handbag. It absorbs quickly and makes my hands, which are always dry, pleasantly supple: it also strengthens the nails and nourishes the cuticles. Natural extracts such as sesame oil, Japanese mulberry and myrrh are responsible for this. What I particularly like about it is that the fragrance is fresh yet slightly floral. All in all, I think the Icons set for Clarins' 70th anniversary is very well put together.

For years, I've sworn by a mascara that only comes off at a certain water temperature. I'm sure it doesn't leave panda eyes, or run down my cheeks when it rains. As I'm very satisfied, I was sceptical as to whether Clarins' Wonder Volume Mascara XXL could compete with it. 

But the first impression is already very good. When I opened it, it smelt of wax and natural oils. My look at the ingredients also confirms this. The ‘Volumizing Wax Complex’ is made up of sunflower, jojoba and black acacia waxes. My lashes are naturally long, but not very voluminous, and above all, they're straight. They don't curl on their own. 

As my eyelash curler had just broken, my lashes met Clarins' new mascara unprepared. And voilà: the mascara manages to lift them upwards and make my eyes look directly more open. What's more, they actually look longer and fuller, without looking clumpy. All that's left is for them to get through the day without damage and, above all, without running. And they did. At the end of my long day's work, my eye make-up is still as fresh as ever and I'm definitely considering switching to Clarins Wonder Volume Mascara XXL.

My tests of Clarins products have shown that they live up to their promises. I especially like to see how the company respects nature and doesn't work against it, but with it. I also like the fact that, even after 70 years, Clarins continues to create and use its experience to promote and launch innovations. I wish Clarins every success for the next 70 years.

💋 Susanna