Four men of different ages experience everything from daily care to anti-aging!

Compared to women, men have a significantly lower awareness of "daily skincare." When we asked the participants, we heard common sentiments across all age groups: they have no opportunity to try skincare products, they don't know what to use, and the sheer variety is confusing.

When "CLARINS" considered how to make skincare enjoyable for such beginners, the keyword that came to mind was "couples." Face and body care aren't just for oneself; they are parts of the body that partners touch daily, and men want to feel comfortable too.──From this concept, we decided to hold a beauty workshop where couples could try men's lip and face care from a male perspective, and women's hand and body care from a female perspective.

The male participants this time were Kayo Takami and her friend Hidenori Nakamura (30), Eiichi Yoshikawa, husband of Miho Yoshikawa (36), Masumi Ishizaka and her friend Masahide Nakamura (53), and Shizuko Yamazaki and her friend Tatsuro Hayashi (47).

Four individuals, in their 30s, 40s, and 50s, experienced everything from regular skincare to anti-aging care—a crucial topic for men—and lip care, using "CLARINS MEN" products. The goal was not only to feel the textures but also for partners to engage with each other. During this workshop, instead of washing their faces, participants applied the product to one hand and compared it with the other to visually confirm the effects.

First up was "Active Face Scrub." The first step in skincare is cleansing. Participants took the gel-type cleanser with scrub particles, "Active Face Scrub," in one hand and gently exfoliated. After rinsing, they compared it with the other hand and could clearly see a brighter skin tone. CLARINS PR representative Kanako Nishimura advised, "It removes old keratin and excess sebum, so try using it once or twice a week."

Next, they tried "Lift Affine Visage Première," famous among female cosmetics fans, which is said to firm the skin from within and outside with its triple refining action, creating a sharp V-face from any angle, providing a defined impression, and leading to firm, smooth skin. Everyone learned CLARINS' unique massage technique, "Auto Lifting Manual®" (YouTube video here), and experienced the step of expelling accumulated waste and fluid outwards, reducing puffiness and heaviness in the face, and alleviating swollen eyelids.

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OPENERS x CLARINS Beauty Workshop

Boost Your Skin's Power with "CLARINS MEN" (2)

Establish a nightly routine with "Super Restorative Night" for a smoother shave the next morning

After refreshing their faces with CLARINS' unique "Auto Lifting Manual®" massage, participants applied "Super Restorative Night," a nighttime serum with a cute kiss mark icon on the cheek, to the beard-growing zone. "Daily shaving damages the skin and gradually makes it tougher. When the skin becomes tough, aging signs become more noticeable, and beards eventually feel thicker and coarser. This serum was developed to protect and care for that skin," explained PR representative Nishimura.

Its unique water- and oil-soluble formula is delivered to the skin in a special container while remaining fresh. Applying it before bed refines the skin's texture, maintains a youthful, dewy complexion, and mitigates damage from morning shaving. Continuous irritation from shaving also contributes to aging signs on men's skin.

Furthermore, they experienced lip care, essential for both men and women, especially this time of year. First, they used the lip exfoliator, "Lip Comfort Oil Exfoliator," to smooth the lips and the area around the mouth, where age shows easily, and finished with the lip balm, "Super Hydrating Lip Balm."

Following this, the body cleanser "Shower Scrub" and one of CLARINS MEN's star products, the body firming gel "Body Fit," were introduced. Here, we'd like to review the anti-aging process for men's skincare.

CLARINS MEN, a skincare line exclusively for men, arrived in Japan in the fall of 2003. Since then, it has consistently focused on the unique characteristics of men's skin and minds in product development. It is particularly strong in anti-aging care for men. The "Booster Gel" for first signs of aging and the "Forté Balm" for real aging are popular items, topping sales in the men's fragrance section on the first floor of Isetan Shinjuku.

Beware of Aging Signs on Men's Skin!

How does men's skin differ from women's? Firstly, hormonal balances are different. Compared to women's skin, men's skin has more sebum, is richer in collagen, denser, thicker, and contains more cells. While aging signs are not a major concern until the early 20s, factors like overwork, lack of sleep, daily UV exposure, and shaving can cause aging signs to appear rapidly after a certain age.

First signs of aging—Around age 30: fine lines on the forehead and around the eyes, dullness, tired-looking eyes, dark circles, dryness.

Real signs of aging—Around age 40: deep wrinkles, sagging jawline, sagging eyelids, and chronic dark circles.

To care for the above and provide youthfulness and relief to men's skin, hydration is essential. Men's skin, which is both active and delicate, requires daily care with products specifically designed for men.

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OPENERS x CLARINS Beauty Workshop

Confirm each other's skin texture with the hand cream "Active Hand Care"

The workshop's theme, "touch and confirm," was put into practice with the "Active Hand Care" hand cream, which has a light texture. Hand cream is essential this season; the key is to use a generous amount of this non-greasy cream. CLARINS PR representative Minori Otomo advised, "As with all cosmetics, using sparingly won't yield results. Please use the recommended amount."

Eiichi Yoshikawa, who participated with his wife, commented, "I've always disliked the scent of cosmetics and wasn't very interested in skincare. I was surprised today because, after trying various products, I found the scents weren't bothersome." CLARINS cosmetics are characterized by complex formulas combining carefully selected plant extracts, so the aroma of the plants refreshes the mind and brings vitality to both body and spirit.

Masahide Nakamura, in his 50s, was impressed with the cleansing power of the "Active Face Scrub" he used first, noting that "my skin tone improved." He also felt a warming sensation on the area where he applied the "Body Fit" body firming gel.

Men's cosmetics: The key is a refreshing, clean feeling!

Hidenori Nakamura, 30, actually worked for a cosmetics company and was the closest thing to a professional among the participants. "I handled women's cosmetics at my previous job, but actually using CLARINS MEN products, starting with the cleanser, made me realize anew how different men's cosmetics are – they leave no oily residue and provide a refreshing, clean sensation." The differences between men's and women's skin explained on the previous page are clearly reflected in the user experience.

Tatsuro Hayashi, in his 40s, who often plays outdoor sports like tennis, said, "I want to be mindful of UV rays for anti-aging from now on. My impression of CLARINS MEN is that it's very refreshing, so I think I can continue using it."

With thorough care for the lips and hands, essential for touch, the special CLARINS beauty workshop concluded.