I am a pushover. I go for a makeover, say, at the beauty hall of a big department store, and think to myself, ‘Well, Suzu, this time we will just pay the €20 or whatever and not get hijacked into buying any product.’

But, then, the thing is, you actually don’t have to pay anything if you spend that much on product, and seriously, you walk away with something that has been used to create that amazing face, and doesn’t it make more sense to have spent the money on something you can use in future?

Yeah. So, you can imagine what transpires. Although it does make sense {it does!}, it would be nice to rock up to a counter and say, ‘A free treatment, please!’ and have it actually be free. Clarins Skin Time is totally free, and you won’t be hectored into buying any of the myriad product that is utilised, and you will learn something.

You will learn how to apply product to the face in such a way as promotes lymphatic drainage. What is lymph, you ask? Me, too, and my head started spinnin’ when I looked it up. I defer to healingyourbody.net, and their precise and illuminating explanation:

The predominant fluid in your body is lymphatic fluid. This fluid carries nutrients from the food you eat and oxygen from the air you breathe. It also carries toxic poisons, bacteria, cholesterol and viruses away from the cells in your body. Our lymphatic system is primarily responsible for carrying disease-fighting material to cells. When the lymphatic system is blocked, we become defenseless against attacks by virus, fungi, and bacteria.

According to houseofhealinghands.com, we don’t want to get rid of our lymph, we just want to keep it moving and grooving. As this applies to the face, massage is a great way to enhance our appearances, and our health. To quote: ‘Facial drainage helps with sinusitis and dental problems and is excellent for the skin – even providing a one or two day “face lift.”‘

There was compelling evidence of this the other night during the complimentary Skin Times given by Clarins to members of the press. So compelling that my lovely aesthetician, Jenny, having held up a mirror to my refreshed face, practically had to pry said reflective surface out of my hands. I looked away from my own visage to take in those of my colleagues, and holy wow, everyone looked like they’d just come back from a relaxing spa holiday.

Now, when I like something, I like it, and you could be forgiven for rolling your eyes at this apparent hyperbole. I swear, everything I am writing is the plain truth.

Now, the big thing I learned as regards application of product it how it applies to that drainage business. If you massage your face, whilst applying moisturiser or serum or whatever, you get the added benefit of moving that lymph around. The way that Clarins do it is: you spread the product on your entire palm, and then, working outwards, press an release, press and release. It’s a suction thing. You can do it for long firm presses, or short bursts of pressure. I was so zoned out, I can’t remember which was when with what stuff. But it felt fantastic. I’m doing it now, just for the craic, and my muscles feel all relaxed, all over again.

As series of goodies were used in the process: make up remover, toner, a quick mask, serum, moisturiser*. All of it was gently applied, and just as gently removed, and makes me a bit horrified by the way I normally just slap stuff on and off my poor face.

Also: when you go to, say, Brown Thomas, or Harrods, or Macy★s, to avail of THIS FREE THING, don’t worry if you’ve got eye make up on: mascara and liner are left be, with whatever traces of eyeshadow you’re carrying is gently wiped away. Following, you’ll get a nice touch up of foundation, and as chilled as you are, how could you not want to walk your glowing, youthful face around Dublin/Cork/Galway, London, or Manhattan?

Also! You know how you dab moisturiser in those four spots on your face? Centre of forehead, cheekbones, chin? You do that, right? Where did we learn that? Anyway: don’t do that! Spread the cream between your palms, and then using the suction thing, apply it to your face. You use way less, and move that lymph, and everything is right with the world.

Skin Time lasts between 20-30 minutes; you may have to book ahead, I’m not sure, but it’s good to check. Did I mention it is freeeeeeee?

*Will get back with, hopefully, pictures!