Three million years ago the first humans lived in harmony with nature and in particulars with plants. The Aztecs were familiar with more than 1200 plant species and know how to use them to their advantage. The Chinese used plants in medicinal remedies as far as the 20th century BC. As for the Indians and the Egyptians, they also possessed widespread knowledge of the world of plants. Clarins is keeping up with these traditions to enhance the skin health and beauty.

In 1954, Mr. Jacques Courtin-Clarins decided to "take beauty seriously", and opened his first beauty institute on the rue Tronchet in Paris offering personalized treatments and advice to women. From the start Clarins chose to incorporate plant extracts in the formulas of every skincare and body care product, even when botanical ingredients were considered unfashionable.