Clarins Instant Eye Make-Up Remover Review

I had completely finished up all my eye makeup removers recently so was on the look out for something new and the Clarins Instant Eye-Make-up Remover seemed like just the product.

Even though I'm currently using cleansing balms to remove my facial makeup, I do like a separate product for eyes as I find some balms irritate my eye area.

This one by Clarins has only recently been released along with a gentler version for more sensitive eyes. I went for the this one as I have quite a few stubborn mascaras that need something more effective so I don't get the whole panda-eye look.

The Instant Eye-Make-up Remover is a bi-phase remover that you shake up like usual before use. What I like about this formula is that it's not oily like other bi-phase ones I've used before so it doesn't leave an oily residue, just a nice soft finish.

It has a lovely light floral scent that I like and makes a nice touch as I appreciate a multi-sensory element to my skincare, and Clarins is a brand that excels in this aspect.

As I wear quite a bit of eye makeup I have got through this bottle rather quickly but it is effective and thoroughly removes everything although some tougher formulas may need a few more passes.

Ingredients:

Cyclomethicone, Aqua/Water/Eau, Rosa Damscena Flower Water, Isohexadecane, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Chloride, Centaurea Cyanus Flower Water, Parfum/Fragrance, Benzyl Alcohol, Panthenol, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Disodium EDTA, Glycerin, Dehydroacetic Acid, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Cl 42090/Blue1.

I bought this from House of Fraser.

Recent Skincare Empties

Currently I've been more focused at getting my skin in order so while I've not completely done a no-buy on makeup, I've have cut down considerably. I think I'm getting through quite a few bits of skincare so here are some of my recent empties:

No7 Beautiful Skin Eye Make-Up Remover
This is something I usually only get with the Boots £5 off vouchers, but I don't know if it's just me but this doesn't seem as good as I once remembered. Sure, it removes makeup well enough (an oil is still my preferred choice), but I find the bi-phase formula separates a bit too quickly, especially as you get halfway through the bottle and you get left with uneven amounts. I do prefer the newly revamped packaging as it's no longer a pump and just a screw-lid so if you need to dip in cotton-buds it's easier than before.

Pai Camellia & Rose Gentle Hydrating Cleanser
This is a lovely thick and creamy cleanser that is dense enough to massage over the skin for a few minutes before washing away with a flannel/cloth. If feels very gentle on the skin and leaves it soft, clean and comfortable. It has a pleasant light floral scent that is lovely to wake-up to in the morning. 
I do have acne-prone skin so I usually look for a little more in helping to control this issue so while this is a very good cleanser, I don't think I would repurchase.

Pai Geranium & Thistle Combination Skin Cream
I don't think I've ever used a moisturiser up as quickly as this one as it's been so lovely to use. It has a wonderful creamy, nourishing feel to it yet it is not in any way heavy or greasy and leaves the skin feeling naturally matte and surprisingly helps to control oil and I don't find myself getting as shiny. Some moisturisers for combination skin feel very light or have more gel type textures where as this feels like a proper cream which I prefer. This is definitely up there as one of my favourites.

Ren Max Moisture Concentrate
I was recommended this ages ago while having a facial to help address dehydration so when I had a discount code from Beauty Expert, I thought I'd give it a whirl. The texture of this is a light lotion/serum feel that sinks into the skin quickly without any residue or tackiness and then I use my regular moisturiser on top. While it seems to suit my skin fine, I was rather underwhelmed as I haven't noticed a great deal from using this. I am a fan of Ren and I absolutely adore many of their other products but sadly this is not one of them.

Naturally, I have got a few new skincare items to use (the current Boots 3 for 2 coming in very handy:) so will report on those in due course.

Bioderma alternative from UNE - 3 in 1 Micellar Cleansing Water

UNE 3 in 1 Micellar Cleansing Water

When I saw this in Superdrug, my eyes lit up (I am suddenly reminded of the old Perle Du Lait yogurt ad), as a micellar cleansing water in a drugstore over here is quite a rarity.

UNE have several new additions to their range and the Radiance Refresh - Night & Day 3 in 1 Micellar Cleansing Water - Face & Eyes is one of their latest offerings. It comes a very minimal sleek bottle with a twist top lid that reveals a hole. The product itself feels very light (like water:) and refreshing, with a very mild soft scent that has a very subtle sweet citrus hint to it.

I use this mainly as an eye-makeup remover; it removes heavy eye makeup well but feels very gentle on the eyes so I don't get any irritation at all from this. I have used this on the face too and it does get everything off but I prefer to use a wash-off cleanser, otherwise I would get through this lightning quick as you do end up using more and personally an oil/balm feels more thorough. This doesn't leave any residue or make my skin feel dry so it's definitely a product that I would repurchase.

I like that UNE state the percentages of natural and organic ingredients clearly on the packaging with 99.3% of the total ingredients from natural origin and 5.5% of the total ingredients from organic farming. This product is also certified by Ecocert.

Ingredients:
Aqua (Water), Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Fruit Extract*, Glycerin, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Sodium Benzoate, Levulinic Acid, Sodium Levulinate, Decyl Glucoside, Parfum (Fragrance), Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Phytate, Alcohol, Maltodextrin, Moringa Pterygosperma Seed Extract, Citric Acid, 1OUSV001-1.
*Ingredients from Organic farming

There is 150ml of product for £7.99. I bought this from Superdrug.

Young & Pure Eye Make-up Remover Review

Finished!

I was tempted to buy this after reading this teaser on Oxford Jasmine's blog as I am always on the lookout for gentle eye-makeup removers that can get off hard-wearing products.

This is quite a light feeling liquid, more water like and non-oily so it doesn't leave any greasy residue on the skin. It does a very good job of taking off heavy eye makeup, even my YSL waterproof eye pencil came off quite easily. Most of my mascaras it doesn't have trouble with but my NARS Larger Than Life lengthening (which even though is not waterproof it stays on very well) it couldn't quite get it off so I did have to use a balm to remove this.

This has a fairly mild citrusy/ginger scent that smelt quite nice although the addition of ginger I found to be odd at first as it's something I've come across in body products more.

But...

I don't consider myself to have sensitive eyes and don't wear contacts (although as a child I had a habit of rubbing my eyes and still do on rare occasions) and found that this feels a bit drying and my skin would feel a bit tight in this area in a slightly uncomfortable way. When I first started using this it's not something I really noticed but with continual use it seemed to feel more and more drying.

Sadly this one wasn't for me, although I have finished it up (I feel bad wasting things).

Ingredients:
Aqua (water) Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Glycerine, Sodium Cocoyl Hydrolyzed wheat protein, Panthenol (Vit B5) Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Peel Extract, Citrus Aurantifolia (Lime) Peel Extract, Zingiber Officinale (Ginger) Root Extract,Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Leaf Extract,Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Citrus Nobilis (Mandarin Orange) Peel Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Extract, Sodium Ascorbyl phosphate (Vit C) Dehydroacetic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Citric Acid

This is £4.99 for 125ml and I bought from mypure.co.uk (not an affiliate link)