Clarins HydraQuench range overhaul

I was gutted to find out that my favourite moisturiser in the world, Clarins HydraQuench Rich Cream for very dry skin is being discontinued. In fact, it’s already gone. Sob. Come June, there will be a whole new HydraQuench range, with new products added to a few of the old which are staying. I have no idea the thinking behind this move from Clarins, perhaps my cream just wasn’t popular enough.

So, I have been trying the new cream in the last few weeks – the HydraQuench Cream for Normal to Dry skin (£34), which will now be added to the range, along with an SPF15 version. I’m not entirely sure what the difference between these two is other than the SPF, so I don’t really get this move to be honest.

I’m just gutted – Clarins are one of my absolute favourite brands, and this is just hard news to take in! Anyway. The HydraQuench Cream is good, but it’s not the Rich Cream, and it’s maybe just not for me. It doesn’t have that rich, cold cream like texture. It’s more gel-like, in a way. When my skin feels really dry, dehydrated and tight, this is not going to be enough, but I should get away with it in the summer (if the temperatures ever crank up for more than a day!)

The HydraQuench Lotion, for normal to combination skins (£34), is still available, as is the HydraQuench Intensive Serum Bi-Phase (£41) which I really like – please don’t stop this as well, Clarins! They’ve now added a HydraQuench Cream Mask to the mix – I’ve tried it, I like it, and I will probably use this as a night cream. Apparently Polar Explorer Ann Daniels considers this new mask a musthave – I bet she liked the Rich Cream too, harumph!

Finally, there’s a HydraQuench Moisture Replenishing Lip Balm (£18). I’m not a lip balm addict like many, but if I have chapped lips, I’ll give this a go – it contains Essential Rose Wax, which is lovely.

All of the HydraQuench range contain two types of Hyaluronic Acid – that’s the stuff that helps keep our skin hydrated and youthful. It also contains Fair Trade Katafray Bark Extract to boost the skin’s own hydrating mechanisms, and Sorbier Bud Extract to target microcirculation and help promote healthy, radiant skin.

The full new HydraQuench range will be available at Clarins counters, and clarins.co.uk, from June