The common problem of puffiness is caused by water retention, but a new product might have the answer

Greeting many women in the mirror each morning is a familiar enemy - a face that looks puffy, heavy and dull.

According to Institut Clarins, puffiness comes from changes to the flow of water in the skin. Under normal conditions, says Clarins training manager Tippawan Prasertadisorn, water carrying oxygen and nutrients crosses the fine walls of blood capillaries into skin tissues, where it removes metabolic waste products and toxins before being drained by the lymph vessels.

"But heat, stress or fluctuations in hormone levels leads to a temporary increase in the permeability of blood capillaries," she continues. "So water is retained, causing occasional puffiness which makes the features and shape of the face heavier. Toxins also accumulate and dull the complexion."

"In 1999 we came up with the Shaping Facial Lift to deal with the problem," says Clarins manager Atipa Karanat. We followed up with the Defining Eye Lift last year, which tackles the pockets of fat located on cheeks, the oval of the face and eyes. This year we're introducing the Shaping Facial Lift Wrap, with a drainage action designed to reduce occasional puffiness."

Institut Clarins "skin spa" concept has been sucking beauty secrets from plants for years now. The Shaping Facial Lift Wrap uses Chinese Ginkgo Biloba-leaf extract from trees in Hangzhou's Tianmu Mountains. Its high content of flavonoids balances permeability levels in blood capillaries, protecting skin tissues from being flooded with water.

Atipa reveals that touch also has a part to play. "Our beauty therapists apply about 80 special moves during a treatment, but new techniques have been developed for people at home to apply the Shaping Facial Lift Wrap."