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Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Clé de Peau Beauté Eye Contour Balm Anti-Wrinkle

Right after talking about skin-care samples, I need to tell you a short story about Clé de Peau Beauté Eye Contour Balm Anti-Wrinkle ($140), a skin-care sample that went on my want list with the first use. A Neiman Marcus product specialist for Clé de Peau gave me a deluxe sample (not a packet, a little tube) of this heavenly eye cream. I fell in love with it instantly and am so glad it doesn't cost a paycheck. I will be purchasing it - from the woman who gave me the sample.

I didn't know this product was a newly formulated anti-wrinkle eye balm. It is advertised to improve the unique damage caused by dryness in the skin around the eyes (check) and create a radiant eye contour that can resist wrinkles and dryness. That's the key: radiant. I was instantly struck by pearlescent radiance that this Eye Contour Balm imparts to my eye area. I glow. What I don't understand is why Clé de Peau recommends you use it at night. Who's going to see your glowing, youthful skin while you sleep? I think a man wrote that.

Here are the features and benefits that this stupendous eye "balm" offers.
  • Inhibits factors that cause wrinkling in the eye area and blocks factors that aggravate visible wrinkles
  • Highly moisturizing formula creates skin that resists wrinkles caused by damaging dryness
  • Formulated with pure retinol, a powerful ingredient targeted to smooth and repair wrinkles
Had I known about the retinol, I would have never tried it. Retinol in an eye cream? Maybe for those whose skin tolerates retinol well. Mine doesn't. I don't know what "pure retinol" means. It either has it or it doesn't. The ingredient list on the sample box is so small, I can barely read it. The retinol is way down on the list, meaning it is not in the balm in a significant concentration. Regardless, I have not noticed any burning, redness, or peeling from using this lovely product. I would have by now if my skin were going to react.

Here is Paula Begoun's backhanded compliment (she doesn't love anything she doesn't sell under her own brand). That's why I usually pay no attention to her pronouncements. "Eye Contour Balm Anti-Wrinkle (Baume Contour Des Yeux Anti-Rides) is a very good emollient moisturizer that’s suited for dry skin around the eyes or elsewhere. It contains more antioxidants, the cell-communicating ingredient retinol, and skin-identical ingredients than the other Cle de Peau Beaute products, although the price is absurd given that better formulations are available from other companies for a lot less." Yes, I'm sure she will sell you her own product for far less. That's why - as a rule - I don't trust her. She always adds a dig. Is $140 absurd? I don't think so, particularly since I've wasted far more than that on the "latest and greatest" eye creams that didn't work as promised. I am a total sucker for effective eye treatments.

Here's the deal: Clé de Peau Beauté launched its first brightening essence in Japan nearly 30 years ago. Brightening and lightening products are still all the rage in Asia, and the trend is growing here. Now, empowered by its exclusive "Neuro Skin theory," the research of Clé de Peau Beauté Laboratories boasts an exquisite spectrum of beauty products that offer radiance along with their anti-aging properties.

Put this "balm" on the skin around your eyes, and you might gasp, as I did. It adds a protective layer that comes with an illuminating effect. Apparently, there is some luminescent complex in it that creates the effect that makes my skin look fresh and alive. How does it work? I don't know!

In addition to the retinol, which is a proven anti-aging ingredient, it contains bupleurum extract, which is said to enhance the production of collagen and hyaluronic acid in fibroblasts - all good. So, if you are interested in a velvety balm that hydrates the skin around your eyes, dramatically improves skin texture, and promotes resilience to counteract the visible signs of aging, while lighting up your eye area, go to your favorite Clé de Peau counter and ask for a sample. I got mine at Neiman Marcus.

Photo courtesy of Clé de Peau Beauté

16 comments:

  1. Hi! The retinol may be the reason that it's recommended for night. I know that my Dr. suggests that I use my retinol treatment at night because of the way the exfoliation makes your skin flake.
    I'm not sure what the purpose of putting both the retinol and the brightening into the same package could be, but if it works for daytime, I'm all over it!

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  2. This sounds wonderful..but I just ordered Guerlain's Orchidee Imperiale Eye Cream..have you tried it? I have read stellar reviews for it. If it does not work for me, I can try the Cle de Peau eye cream.

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  3. Hi Anonymous,

    Retinol does normally make a new user's skin flake, but those who become tolerant to it eventually stop peeling.

    I'm still confused. I've been wearing my sample during the day. Still no negative reaction.

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  4. I have tried it, CJB. As a rule, I don't care for Guerlain's skin care because of the high-fragrance factor. However, their newest products are not as fragranced. I'll be featuring one.

    I don't believe they have reformulated the eye cream, so you may find it heavily fragranced. If that doesn't bother you, you may love it.

    I hope Eileen weighs in because I think she likes Guerlain's skin care.

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  5. Sounds fantastic! Will try it!

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  6. I'm going to pick up a sample tomorrow. As of yet, I have no eye issues other than dark circles. Insomnia will do that to you. Lol.

    Do you put your eye creams on the eye itself and below the eye?

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  7. Charlston Girl! I am so happy you to read a review about My Favoirite skincare and makeup line! This is one of my favoirite products from the line (I love their cleansers and toners as well, and protective daytime emulsion). I was not impressed by Guerlain eyecream at all. Even it is actually more expensive. Did not do anything to me. I love their nightime emulsion from synactif line also. I think they say use it at night because it might be a little bit too emulient for day time...i don't know:). I would love to hear more reviews on cle de peau skincare from you!!! You are a pure Joy!

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  8. Sounds like a winner. Cle de Peau is very generous with samples. I order from a sweet lady at Saks in NY. If it works it's worth the price.

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  9. Dear CG,
    I have enjoyed reading your blog for several years now -- I adore makeup and get a vicarious thrill from seeing/reading your reviews of so many lovely things. My budget is limited, so I have to spend carefully on skin care, etc. I'd like to comment that, yes, Ms. Begoun is in business to sell you her own products, so you should take her pronouncements with a good pinch of salt -- but I do value her ingredients dictionary, and some of her products offer very good value for the money.
    Thanks very much for the time and effort you put into this great blog!

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  10. Hi CJB,

    I used to use the Orchidée eye/lip cream (which is not strongly fragranced) and really liked it, but about a year ago my undereye area started needing something much more emollient. I switched to La Mer's The Eye Repair Concentrate and have been very pleased with it. I think the Orchidée is more for a normal to dry eye area whereas the La Mer is for dry to very dry. One nice thing about both of them is that you can use the creams around the entire eye area and on the eyelids as well without them causing any irritation or interfering with makeup. Ultimately, how the various eye creams work for you will just depend on your particular skin care needs.

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  11. Eileen, my nose is very sensitive, but to it, almost all of Guerlain's skin care is highly fragranced. Guerlain has, I've been told, taken steps to tone down the aroma. I think that may bring a lot of customers back into the fold. It was enough to make me try their two latest lovelies.

    Most days, this month at least, I use either LMdB to TATCHA eye cream over Perricone's AG eye serum. Although each carries a natural fragrance "outcome" of the blend, I can deal with their subtle, fleeting scent. I'm also testing Sisley's new eye serum and loving it.

    Anonymous 8:54, you make a good point...well said. I think a pinch of salt is exactly what we should apply to her pronouncements. I used one of her products for sensitive skin for years until she "improved" it with retinol. That really upset my routine. I felt like her failure to acknowledge that some skins will never tolerate retinol, at least in those pioneer days, was too great to ignore. She lost me then. I feel her dictionary is better than her product advice. Actually, I think it's a huge conflict of interest to review competitor's products. It would be like Guerlain telling you that Chanel's eye cream is "crap." Who would believe them?

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  12. thanks ladies for taking the time to respond to me..

    Eileen, yes, the La Mer is a more rich formula but it was too much so for my combination skin..my favorite has always been Sublimage..but I'm now intrigued by CdeP..

    CG, you are a doll..your blog is fantastic..

    ~CJ

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  13. CG, you are always so positive in your reviews, but I really appreciate your frankness about Paula Begoun. I can't tell you how many times I have read a rave review about a product and then found that Paula gives it an average or poor rating. Makes it hard to know who to believe.

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  14. Hi Charlestongirl,

    You're right about Paula B. For the most part, she's just a self-styled "cosmetic cop" with her own agenda which is to promote her own products. Her focus is the ingredient list, but that is only part of the story. The formula itself, the element of synergy, the quality of the ingredients, how they were processed prior to being introduced into the formula, the overall manufacturing process, the method of dispensing the product---all those things come into play and yet she seems to think it is enough to list ingredients and then pass judgement :-(

    Bottom line: Her dictionary is consumer friendly and fairly complete, but her reviews are superficial and should be taken with a grain of salt.

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  15. I am so glad to read other ladies comment on Paula B's comments regarding high end skin care and cosmetics. I swear I cannot tell you how many times I've really, really wanted to buy a moisturizer, night cream or eye cream, and then I would look up her view of said product and it would be slammed as over priced, ineffectual or just plain bad. I would lose all the wind in my sails. It's so refreshing to hear ladies my age rave about a high end eye cream, three brands I really have wanted to make purchases from and say that it works well, they're happy with the results, and feel it was worth the money. I too, love Chanel cosmetics, and am always complimented on how wonderful my make up looks on me, but never was too into their skincare, because I would read reviews that said it was a waste. I also like Cle de Peau Beaute and have really wanted to try their products, and now I am!!! I'm 48 and it's about time I really treated myself to something fabulous for my skin!!! I'm going to splurge this weekend while in Monterey!!!

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  16. Michelle, Paula is a hypocrite. She loves her own products and bashes others. In some cases, she is right. In others, very wrong. I no longer read her self-serving screeds. Would you give credibility to L'Oreal bashing Chantecaille? Of course not. Why don't people see Paula as having the same conflicts?

    She lost me the day she put retinol in her product for the most sensitive skins. Enough said.

    The important thing is to learn your ingredients.

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