Dermalogica & Clarins: Skincare greats with professional roots

Dermalogica

Dermalogica is the brand that women turn to when they want to take their skin to a new level of fitness. And that’s probably because skincare professionals always recommended this no-frills product to help their clients improve their skin.

Beginnings: Founded by UK-trained skin therapist Jane Wurwand in 1986. Three years earlier, Jane opened The International Dermal Institute in California. While teaching there she realized that no product line was focusing on skin “health” as opposed to “beauty.”

Retail philosophy: Dermalogica is sold only where professional consultation and treatments are performed by professional skin therapists.

Current star products:

1. Chroma White TRx, a complete system to address hyperpigmentation. You start with the Tri-Active Cleanse to clean and prep skin for the brightening agents to penetrate deeply; then Powerfoliant to remove dulling surface cells; Extreme C, a powder-to-emulsion treatment that delivers Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate (MAP) combined with brightening agents and exfoliants that accelerate skin brightening; Pure Light SPF30 moisturizes skin during daytime and protects it against further pigmentation with botanical extracts; and Pure Night to prevent cellular discoloration.    

2. Power Rich stimulates cell renewal rates, enhances cell turnover and prevents premature skin aging. Ingredients include botanicals to moisturize and improve elasticity, smoothing agents, vitamins A, C, E and B5, and Palmitoyl Pentapeptide 3, a synthetically made miniature protein fragment.

3. Daily Microfoliant, a rice-based enzyme powder that activates upon contact with water, releasing papain salicylic acid and rice enzymes to smoothen skin. It also has a blend of green tea, gingko and colloidal oatmeal. 

Why it works: Dermalogica is free of common irritants like lanolin, SD alcohol, mineral oil, artificial colors and fragrances.

Clarins

Clarins believes that plants have the power to make women beautiful at any age, hence its product ranges meet specific age-related needs.

Beginnings: Jacques Courtin-Clarins opened his first Clarins Institute in Paris in 1954. The brand was the first to use 100 percent natural plant extracts before it became fashionable.

Brand philosophy: “Product tolerance and product enjoyment are equally important.” Each product undergoes 86 to 110 quality tests and a range of tolerance tests for skin compatibility. 

Current star products: 

1. Face and Body Oils are made from what they call “plant gold” — lotus, santal and blue orchid for the face to be used at night; tonic, anti-eau and relax oil for the body after a shower.

2. Hydra Quench Range has a smoothing gel, cream mask, and lip balm. It uses katafray bark extract, a tree that grows in the forests of Madagascar; and a complex combining two forms of hyaluronic acid to restore water reserves in the dermis.

3. High Definition Body Lift and Self Massage to stimulate the release of excess fats, slow down the expansion of fatty tissue, improve draining and firming, and smooth the skin.

4. Super Restorative Lotion and Mask are two products targeted for women in their 50s. The lotion uses ingredients such as oat sugars, hibiscus extracts, green coffee and ginseng. Immediate results include even skin tone and radiance.

Why it works: Jacques Courtin developed plant expertise that the company is following to this day. 

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Dermalogica and Clarins are available at Rustan’s.