One in four women suffer from oily or shiny skin. Clarins has just launched a new range of products to tackle these problems, but do they result in non-shiny, happy people? We put them to the test...

SAY 'no' to shine is the catchphrase of the latest launch from skin-care company Clarins. Recognising that teens aren't the only people with shiny skin, the company's new Multi-Matte Skin Care range is aimed at the 25 per cent of women who have oily or combination skins.

Oily skin produces up to twice as much sebum - the fatty secretion which lubricates the skin and hair - as normal skin resulting in a shiny 'mirror' effect which gets worse throughout the day as sebum production increases.

Women with combination skin develop the tell-tale shiny T-zone along the forehead, nose and chin - where the sebaceous glands are more numerous.

Clarins new range has three key aims: to restore the skin's balance; reduce excess oil production and promote a long-lasting matte complexion.

The range features a cleansing gel, tonic lotion, facial mask, day lotion and concentrate and a night gel as well as a blemish control stick and cream. Prices are from £10-£14. So do they work? We asked one tester with oily skin and a second with combination to put them to the test. Here are their findings...

Tester one has oily skin and struggles to find the right products.

AS soon as I find a product which seems to do the job it stops working or the line is cancelled. Lately I've been using a mildly antiseptic facial scrub, an antiseptic cream for problem areas and a matifying moisturiser. I prefer a simple routine and found these Clarins products too complicated and time consuming.

Also, they did not make my face feel clean. I use a scrub to remove surface impurities and I didn't feel the foaming facial wash did that - leaving me prone to spots.

The spot stick can be applied over makeup to manage any impromptu break outs, but it didn't work for me and I had to resort to a stronger antiseptic.

The face mask left my skin feeling soft and with a healthy glow, but the toner left my skin feeling raw.

I didn't like the night cream because it made my skin sticky and was a bit of a passion killer.

The day moisturiser worked reasonably well. My skin was less oily by the end of the day than with my normal moisturiser.

All in all the products seemed to work well at first but after a few weeks my skin seemed to be pretty much the same as it was before and I felt all these different steps were only irritating it.

Tester two has combination skin and is a devotee of Clinique products

THE facial wash frothed up well leaving my skin almost squeaky clean. It also removed all mascara remnants. The easy-to-apply face clay left my skin feeling rejuvenated and sparkling. Using the toner stung a little - but ensured the oil on my face was removed and my pores felt tight.

My favourite was the spot stick which can be put on over make-up. I found it a useful rescue remedy to carry around in my handbag. It seemed to ease problem areas and reduce any reddening.

The night moisturising gel was good and not too heavy. My skin felt nice in the morning and not greasy.

My T-zone is oily so I rarely use a day moisturiser - and this one wasn't about to change my mind. It felt a bit heavy although I would be tempted to use it in the winter months because it gave my skin a glow.

Overall, I was pleased with how the products worked. I haven't changed my routine from Clinique for years so I was pleased the Clarins products worked well and didn't disrupt the balance of my skin.

I don't think there has been a remarkable difference - but my skin does feel softer than normal and I haven't had any spots for a while.