Sexy Under The Sun: Summer Must-Haves by Clarins

A self-confessed MUSE (Make Up & Skincare Enthusiast), it was a privilege to have been invited to attend the product training of Clarins together with a group of Counter Managers, Makeup Artists and Beauty Consultants at Nordstrom, Ala Moana Center, Oahu, Hawaii last June 2, 2011. Spearheaded by Clarins USA Retail Training Executive, Mr. Gary Walker, it was an afternoon replete with exciting product updates, in particular, this year's Summer Must-Haves!

Clarins USA Retail Training Executive Gary Walker flew from San Francisco, CA to facilitate the training

Clarins Fast Facts:

Founded in 1954 by Jacques Courtin- Clarins, a French masseur who took skincare seriously by creating a line of luxury products made from plant extracts
Skincare leader in Europe since the 90s to-date
Launched makeup line in 1991, diversified to perfumes in 1992 (Angel/ Thierry Mugler), buy-out of Parfums Azzaro in 1995, and introduction of men's skincare line in 2002
Today, its worldwide presence is composed of 6,000 staff, 20 subsidiaries, with over 140 local agents

Beauty experts from Nordstrom Hawaii listened intently to product updates

Attendees tried some of Clarins ultra-luxurious skincare brands

Love the sun. Insure your skin.

Living in the 808- state where the sun is almost omnipresent has its pros- and a lot of cons. I love the outdoors so much that leaving home without sunscreen is a serious crime to me. Trekking Diamond Head or Ka'Iwi Scenic Point, swimming in the lagoon or beach, and running in the park are some of the activities I enjoy doing. As such, protection from the harmful UVA (ultra-violet A rays, culprit to wrinkles) and UVB ( causes skin cancer) is an absolute necessity. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends products that has both UVA & UVB protection, with at least SPF 15 (sun protection factor). The higher the SPF, the longer the protection.

Clarins Sun Protection product line has an array of plant-based products that cater to your face and body needs. The Face Wrinkle Control Cream SPF 50+ (with extracts from peas, senna, olive tree, plane tree, baobab) has UVA and UVB filters and offers extended protection from sun up-to-down.

Never leave home without sunscreen. Your skin will thank you for that!

Clarins Sunscreen Care Milk Lotion Spray SPF 50+ is water and sweat resistant, and is ideally used for the body. It also has UVA and UVB filter and is likewise made from plant extracts that protect the epidermis (outer layer of skin) from sun stress.

Sunscreen Care Milk Lotion Spray SPF 50+.Apply before sun exposure. Re-apply as needed.

Trainer Gary Walker entranced the staff with his wit and humor.

Sexy under the sun. The art and science of self- tanning.

Follow the steps and bare your best!

Sun-kissed skin is one of the trends in the recently concluded 2011 Summer Makeup Show organized by Nordstrom Hawaii. Love the tan but hate the sun? Then use self-tanners. The American Academy of Dermatology states that the most effective self-tanning products are those that have DHA (dihydroxyacetone), a colorless sugar that interacts with dead skin cells, which then produces a "change" in the skin color, a.k.a tan. This usually lasts from five to seven days after the initial application.

To achieve that perfect sun glow, Clarins recommend these steps:

1. Scrub your face and body to get rid of dead skin cells or your skin will appear blotchy with the use of tanners.

2. Moisturize. Moisturizers ensure a streak-free tan by smoothing out dry patches of skin. Pay special attention to your elbows, knees, heels.

3. Apply self- tanners as directed. Wait for it to dry before putting on clothes. Ideally used at night time to wake up to a radiant glow.

Clarins One-Step Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser is made from orange extracts. A personal user, it has micro beads that removes makeup residues and gently exfoliates. I love the mild orange/citrus scent!

Clarins Instant Smooth Golden Glow is made from acacia extract which has plump-up ability that fill in lines and wrinkles. Ideally for the face, neck and decollete, you can use it daily until you achieve desired results.

Clarins Instant Smooth Golden Glow. It is really smooth to the touch. Dermatologist-tested & Non-comedogenic.

Clarins Self Tanning Instant Gel is made from DHA and erythrulose which offers a more natural and longer tan. It is non-oily and has aloe vera extract that helps moisturize the skin.

It has a trace of caramel scent, partly because of its active ingredient. The result is really express!

The sticker test: Arrow points to tanned area of arm after a few minutes of application.

To find out more about Clarins, get beauty advice, and receive special offers, click here, Clarins USA website.

A perennial guinea pig of all things beauty-related, I can attest to the change of my skin color after two days of use of the aforementioned self-tanners (I will be doing a separate review of these products after they pass my self-test parameters).

Here are some more photos. Enjoy viewing! xoxo- Kathryne