From Face Care to Lips, Body, and Hand Care

The beauty workshop was held under the theme, "Achieving Skin That Invites Touch: Face & Body Care Learned Together." Since faces and bodies are parts we touch daily with our partners, we naturally want them to be beautiful and feel good. Four pairs, a total of eight people, tried out the lip & face care from a male perspective and the hand & body care from a female perspective. Kayo Takami, Masumi Ishizaka, and Shizuko Yamazaki attended with friends, while Miho Yoshikawa participated with her husband. The session was led by Minori Otomo from CLARINS PR, with Kanako Nishimura, also from PR, as the instructor.

Products for the workshop were lined up on the tables. Despite it being their first meeting, the atmosphere was relaxed. The day's agenda began with face care, followed by lip care, body care, and finally hand care, making for a comprehensive program. After a brief brand introduction, the workshop for couples commenced.

Step 1: Removing Unwanted Elements from the Skin's "Exterior"

Even with daily cleansing, old keratin and dirt accumulate. If left untreated, they build up, leading to dullness, roughness, and various other skin concerns. Therefore, both men and women need regular special care. With that in mind, this workshop started with just that. To remove impurities from the skin's surface and prepare it to better receive moisture and nutrients, the women were introduced to "Gentle Peeling," which uses natural clay to absorb impurities and smooth the skin.

We immediately tried it on the back of our hands. The smooth-textured natural clay adheres to the skin, absorbing old keratin and dirt, and begins to dry in one to two minutes. Without missing that moment, we gently rubbed it with our palms, and it rolled off like eraser shavings. The old keratin and dirt were removed together, making the difference in the skin after use evident. Members exclaimed, "It's completely different!" and "My skin feels so smooth!" Meanwhile, their male partners achieved clearer skin with a scrub. They showed each other their results, and opinions began to flow along with smiles.

Step 2: Removing Unwanted Elements from the Skin's "Interior"

After removing impurities from the skin's exterior, the next step is interior care. We moved on to a step that works on skin prone to puffiness, refining the skin's appearance along the facial line. Here, both men and women used the "Lift Affine Visage Première" firming serum, fostering a more relaxed atmosphere with partners supporting each other.

After taking an appropriate amount and warming it in our palms, we gently pressed it onto the entire face and neck to blend it in. Then, to further enhance serum absorption, we practiced CLARINS' unique shaping method, the "Auto Lifting Manual®," under Nishimura's guidance. This method, which targets the five "fat pockets" along the cheeks and jawline, involves using the whole body, such as resting both elbows on both knees while seated and letting the weight of the head rest on the palms. Everyone looked focused.

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OPENERS x CLARINS Beauty Workshop

With "CLARINS," Together with Your Partner (2)

Step 3: Treating the Cleansed Skin

After practicing the "Auto Lifting Manual®," CLARINS' unique shaping method that targets the five fat pockets on the cheeks and jawline, Nishimura asked everyone to "Please hold up a mirror." As they each held up a mirror, she then said, "Now, look up at the mirror," followed by, "Now, look down." The answer was that the face reflected in the mirror when looking up was the face from "10 years ago," and when looking down, it was the face from "10 years in the future." All the members, while acknowledging their "10 years ago" faces, gave wry smiles at their "10 years later" faces.

Now, with impurities removed from both the exterior and interior, the skin was clear and perfectly receptive. At this point, it was ready to receive beneficial ingredients, and it was time for a hydrating serum. We used "Double Serum G6 Phyto-Intensive," a serum that maintains firmness and creates radiant, translucent skin. Inside the bottle, the serum is divided into two parts: an oil-based (oil-soluble) and a water-based (water-soluble) component. However, when dispensed with a push, it comes out as a mixture. The members, using it for the first time, were intrigued by this mechanism. They took an appropriate amount into their palms, warmed it, and then applied it to their skin. Many commented, "My skin feels softer."

Step 4: Exfoliate Lips Too, for Anti-Aging Care

While often overlooked, lips significantly affect one's perceived age. Dry, chapped lips can make one look much older, so CLARINS proposes special care. "By massaging it in, you can address signs of aging," said Nishimura. The product provided was "Multi-R Lip Exfoliator," a lip scrub for removing dead skin cells. As it's a unisex item, we immediately tried it with our partners. After massaging the gentle, sugar-infused scrub onto the lips, simply wipe it off with a damp cotton pad. Everyone was impressed by how incredibly smooth their lips became. Next, we added rich moisture with "Super Hydratant Moisture Lip Balm." The colorless lip balm was well-received by the men, who found it easy to use.

Step 5: Polish Your Body with a Cleansing Cream Containing Scrub

Body skin, too, tends to accumulate unwanted elements on both its exterior and interior. Special care is essential to maintain a youthful and healthy body. First, we polish the exterior with the "Smoothing Body Scrub," a cleansing cream with scrub particles. Although we tried it on the back of our hands at the venue, it can be used on the entire body, with particularly effective results on rough areas like elbows, knees, and heels. After gently massaging it in and wiping it off with damp cotton, many voices exclaimed, "It's so smooth!" Nishimura added, "Regular care will brighten your skin," as it instantly refines the skin's texture. It's also recommended for the décolleté.

Step 6: Refine Your Body with a Firming Gel

Now, it was time for the star product, "Lift-Minceur High Definition." This body gel, known for its ability to firm areas with uneven texture, is so famous that the room filled with an atmosphere of "Ah, yes, this is it!" Even those using it for the first time, though only trying it on their hands this time, seemed to appreciate its easy application and pleasant feel. Meanwhile, their partners were using "Gel-Minceur" to target the skin on their abdominal areas. This step garnered more enthusiastic participation than any previous one. It seems that excess fat around the abdomen is indeed the biggest concern for men.

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OPENERS x CLARINS Beauty Workshop

With "CLARINS," Together with Your Partner (3)

Step 7: Hand Care, Together with Your Partner

The final step was hand care. The women used "Hand/Nail Treatment Cream," which keeps hands and fingertips supple with its refreshing feel, but the massage was entrusted to their partners. Indeed, hand care, where partners face each other and their hands touch, is perfect for intimacy with your partner. The increased trust naturally doubles the pleasure. Afterwards, it was time to massage their partner's hands. Conversations flowed, and everyone seemed to be having a great time. Some mistakenly applied the wrong cream, while others showcased professional-level techniques, making it a lively session. This was the most exciting part of the day. We also tried "Anti-Spot Hand Lotion SPF15," which protects hands from daytime sun exposure. The resulting hands were moist and smooth.

An Hour of Enjoyment Flew By

After completing all the steps, along with expressions of gratitude, the "CLARINS Workshop Participation Commemorative Gift" was introduced. Cheers erupted upon seeing the contents, which included the items used that day. The kit, ready to be used immediately upon returning home, delighted the women, and especially the men, who mentioned they rarely buy department store cosmetics themselves.

The total time for all steps today was about an hour. The hour of enjoyment felt like it passed in an instant, but how did the participants feel? We asked for their impressions at the end.

Kayo Takami (35), who lived abroad for a long time and didn't use any sun protection while in Italy, is now worried about the appearance of sunspots. She said, "The effect of the peeling was amazing. I was impressed by the increased translucency." While she has used CLARINS body care products before, most of the items used today were new to her. "The lip exfoliator was also a new experience. I really liked it."

Miho Yoshikawa (34) tends to stick with skincare products she likes for a long time. This was her first experience with CLARINS. "Department store cosmetics feel a bit intimidating to me. I especially had the impression that foreign brands had strong fragrances, so I hesitated to try them, but after using them today, I regret that assumption. They actually have such a gentle scent. I might become hooked after this (laughs)."

Masumi Ishizaka (40s) has been a CLARINS user for a long time. She started in her 20s with body care products. "I was living in Australia back then, so I always bought them at duty-free shops where they were cheaper. I was really focused on firming my body line and used them for quite a long time. Seeing them again today made me want them again (laughs)." She also liked the hand cream, adding, "I'm satisfied with the smooth and silky finish."

Shizuko Yamazaki (42), who claims to be sensitive to beauty information, also started using CLARINS early on. "My favorite is the neck cream. I've been using it for about 15 or 16 years. I've tried many other things, but today was my first time learning about their lip care products. Generally, lip exfoliation can be quite harsh, but CLARINS' product is completely gentle. The feel is surprisingly mild." She attended today with a friend and commented, "While we women certainly enjoyed it, I think opportunities like this are also great for men."