Clarins Barocco Gold Shimmering Powder Review, Photos, Swatches
Monday, January 10th, 2011
Clarins Barocco Gold Shimmering Powder
Clarins Barocco Gold Shimmering Powder
Clarins Barocco Gold Shimmering Powder ($35.00 for 1.2 oz.) looks so beautiful on the inside, it’s hard to believe that the insides did not make such a splash. Inside, there are gold “nuggets,” which are incredibly soft and delicate. Every time I opened this, there was a cloud of sparkly dust that hovered and spilled over the edges and on my desk.
I had presumed these would be more like Guerlain’s Meteorites, which are shimmering spheres that impart a soft, subtle shimmer-sheen glow–these produce a bronzy, glittery bonanza. It does impart an orange-toned bronze brown with chunky bronze and gold glitter. Even when buffed, the chunky glitter is hard to disguise. This looked absolutely disastrous on face, and I did not find it worked well for decolletage either. The only place that seemed to work so-so was on legs, but it still had to be really blended and buffed so it looked natural and used considerably more product per use than I’d like.
Given that it is supposed to be face and decolletage, going as far as using it on legs was more to see if it worked anywhere than something I’d use this as a go-to for. I can do shimmer, sheen, and even glitter; I’m not at all scared of glitter, and while I don’t need to wear it every day, I have no problem wearing even heavier glitter on face or cheeks or lips. But this powder goes beyond what I see even glitter fanatics wanting in a face/decolletage glitter. I would also not recommend using the provided pouf unless you want to be a bronze sculpture — one pat packs far too much product!
The concept is nice but there needs to be serious improvement on execution in order to make it work. I would have loved to see this impart a much subtler, softer micro-glitter or shimmer.
If you want to know more about how products are evaluated, read out Rating System FAQ! 
- Product: 10/30
- Value: 9/10
- Ease of Use: 4/5
- Packaging: 4/5
FINAL THOUGHTS: This is a product that was beautiful in concept and dressed to impress in the beautiful filigreed canister, but the product itself just doesn’t work well in real life. It’s a mess to open but doesn’t work anywhere but legs–everywhere else is just too much. From Clarins, I would have expected something subtler and sophisticated.
WHERE TO BUY: Bloomingdale’s
See more photos & swatches!
Clarins Barocco Gold Shimmering Powder
Clarins Barocco Gold Shimmering Powder
Clarins Barocco Gold Shimmering Powder
Clarins Barocco Gold Shimmering Powder
Clarins Barocco Gold Shimmering Powder
Clarins Barocco Gold Shimmering Powder
Was wondering if you tried applying it with a big fluffy brush and if so did that work? I just ordered some off eBay and now read your review so am a little dismayed. My thought was summer evening out, with tan and a little sparkle on the shoulders. **sigh**
so sad :( it would be great if this was a more affordable version for meteorites. They are sooo gorgeous, but $70?? i cant. ps-- i could see me using this as like an eyecolor, or something, although, still not worth the $30.
I just got it for $1 plus shipping $4 on ebay. I intend to use it a bit like an eye shadow or pigment over a paintpot. I wonder if it works and if it's worth the $5...
I actually see this working for your face. ~
Christine this is like the first "F" I've seen from you.
I've given a few before.
I would have liked to see photos of this disaster on your face. XD
hahaha agreed! all in favour of a totally unimpressed looking face photo?
Ahhh, glad I'm not the only one that thought the nuggets look like poo. Tis pretty sparkly poo though! LOL
i wish you would swatch this on your face so we could see how it looks on the face, glitter ball mess and all lol
An F? Wow, that product is really chunky though!
yah...!! its result is not seem to be that good but outer box is too pretty...!!
Yuck. The outside looks nice, but the inside... Let's just say if you've ever had a pet in the rodent family, you'll know that it looks like someone rolled their little daily "gifts" in gold. Literally.
The first thing that popped into my head, honestly, was the phrase "hot mess." It's a mess. Period.
Wow. It looks like sh**! Looks like a good idea but obviously very poorly executed! Maybe for those going for a Jersey Shore-type Orange look.
Before I even read Christine's review I knew this product wasn't for me. Just like many of you girls, my first reaction was to think that it looked some unidentified animal dropping. Scary!! Not going near my face.
Just by the swatch you can tell it is chunky (fall outs!) and messy, oh my!
What were they thinking creating that golden goat poo?
It reminds me of what a five year old would make if they were trying to make cosmetics. And with the same ingredients a five year old would have on hand too- craft glitter and orange dirt.
The swatched color looks a little like MAC's Naked MSF to me... Maybe you could use it as an eyeshadow over a paint pot or with mixing medium? That's how i use Naked...
Ick - it looks like a can of shiny rabbit poop.
Can we give it a Z- ? That stuff looks scary ugly omg!
Maybe it would look like sparkly molten gold if you tried foiling it?
The problem really lies in the texture - chunky glitter!
It looks like gold poo nuggets! Eww.
It looked so beautiful in the package, what happened?! Even blended it looks chunky and terrible.
it looks like frosted bronze rabbit droppings and the payoff picture looks horrendous, what was clarins thinking, it looks a very messy product to me.
LOL!
Clarins introduces the Snooki collection....
It looks like this crazy nut brittle my friend made for the holidays. At least that tasted good! Clarins, where's your quality control? Actually, Christine, you were kind to give them an F. I say F- for no redeeming quality and making a mess on your desk!
What on earth is THAT? Mouse droppings with some glitter?
I was hoping it would crumble very nicely and give a nice glow . LE SIGH
This looks so gorgeous but I agree on not knowing anyone who would put this on their face.
When you say glitter.. you have to twinkle like a star :)
That is... terrifying, lol.
Good thing I read this before buying! Thank you, Christine! I actually like MAC Iridescent Powder in Bronze a lot better.
Just...no. I had the same thought about droppings. Why did no one at Clarins catch this?
Ouch this is BAD!! Looks like... poop lol.
eek an F! I've never seen such a thing!
This doesn't look like something I'd expect from Clarins at all, it looks so dirty with the glitter spilling out of the neck of the container. This seems like something I'd expect from Urban Decay, à la Midnight Cowboy Rides Again. MCRA Meteorites - that's something I'd love to see.
Don't give them any ideas! I've already got more MCRA than I know what do to with! lol
Oh my god, what a mess! And those glitter particles are HUGE! *scared to death*
I am afraid of this little rocks... oO
OMG those look like smaller pieces of that horrid BE rock bronzer!
Maybe it's best used by someone with a darker skin tone? That packaging is pretty lousy, though. Imagine having to get all the glitter out of the fuzzy part.
Oh that is SO disappointing! Especially since the tin is so nice.
Who clicked the "Love it"-button? Please stand up, you 6!
Hahahaaaa good one!!
it's probably for much darker skin tones..
My review and grade is not about the color but the texture and quality - glitter everywhere you didn't put it is less than impressive!
Discussion and debate are highly encouraged, and we expect community members to participate respectfully. When asking a question, please check the FAQ section (above) for information about purchasing, price, dupes, and the like. If you have general feedback or need technical support, please contact us.
Comments that include advertisements, self-promotion, insults, etc. may be in violation of our comment policy and subject to deletion. Please see our comment policy for more information.