Clarins Splendours Summer Bronzing Compact ($35.00 for 0.70 oz.) is described as “three sheer sun-drenched powders in a chic compact.” Swirled together, they created a warm, golden tan with a subtle golden, satiny sheen–but very, very subtle on the sheen/shimmer. It almost looks matte overall–the only shimmer is coming from the very center color. Burberry Copper Glow is lighter. MAC Refined Golden is cooler-toned, darker. See comparison swatches.
The texture is soft, finely-milled, and smooth. Applied on skin, it buffs into the skin nicely without looking powdery or cake-y. The color is buildable from a soft, golden brown to a deeper, warmer tan (but I wouldn’t call it sheer as Clarins’ described it). It’s a nice bronzer, particularly for medium to dark complexions as there is plenty of color to go around, and for the $35 price tag, you sure get a ton of bronzer. (A lot of blushes are 0.20 oz. or less, and bronzers are often larger, but this is 0.70 oz., which is huge!) When I wore this earlier this week, it lasted eight hours well with some minor fading becoming noticeable just before the nine-hour mark.
Not so into lipstick? Or maybe you’re looking for a gloss for your Valentine’s Day lipstick? These are my five picks for this upcoming Valentine’s Day…
At Clarins, Paris, delicate spring colors are cropping up. Lips whisper youth with an age-defying lipstick. Skin gets a petal-fresh finish. Eyes seduce in incurably romantic hues of iris blossom.
Rouge Eclat Lipstick ($26.00)
The first age-defying lipstick by Clarins offers more than just vibrant colour! An innovative combination of 100% plant waxes – mimosa, jojoba and sunflower – and unsaponifiables of cocoa. Phytosphingosine reinforces the skin’s protective barrier, protects against dehydration, boosts collagen synthesis and fights the appearance of fine lines.
Nude Rose
Sweet Rose
Petal Pink
Tropical Pink
Pink Berry
True Aubergine
Red Wine
Coral Pink
Juicy Clementine
Pink Fuchsia
Passion Red
Hot Chocolate
Woodrose
Chocolate Rose
Nude Caramel
Face Palette ($35.00) (Limited Edition)
A compact comprised of luminous, ultrafine powders for a matte yet radiant complexion or a natural pink glow.
Iris Blossom Eye Quartet Mineral Palette ($42.00)
Color base: A taupe shade with light-changing reflections of green highlights. Color base: An iris plum. Liner: An intense black illuminated with silver pearls. Illuminator: A luminous white.
Prodige Lip Gloss ($22.00)
Vibrant Rose (Limited Edition)
Water Lily
Availability: Now @ Nordstrom, February 2013 at Clarins counter nationwide and at clarins.com
These are ten fantastic shades of gloss that I reviewed and tested in the past year. You’ll notice that there are a few from Bobbi Brown’s High Shimmer range, and let’s just say it was hard not to include more!
Clarins Odyssey Face Palette ($55.00 for 0.30 oz.) is described as a “shimmering, lightweight pressed powder [that] brings a goddess glow to face, neck, and decolette.” Clarins says it is “the must-have holiday accessory for all skin tones.” It’s a softened peach with strong orange undertones (no pink) and a mostly matte finish. There’s a sparkling gold overlay that brushes away in one use. NARS Sex Appeal is pinker.
What is most remarkable about this product is how utterly finely-milled the powder is. It feels like a mixture of silk, butter, and cream. It’s incredibly soft, indeed lightweight, and easy to blend. The powder sits well on skin and never looks powdery. I didn’t detect any luminosity or shimmer when applied, because the only “shimmer” I saw at all was the overspray. Beneath the overspray is really a rather matte powder, and it can help with keeping oiliness at bay if you are prone to it. When I wore it on my cheeks, it lasted for eight hours. I used it later on my t-zone, and it did help minimize some of the oiliness I see after eight hours.
Those with very pale complexions might use this as a blusher or a bronzer, while medium skin tones can easily use this as a finishing or setting powder. I’m not certain how this well this will work on darker complexions, because while it doesn’t seem to have a white base, it is quite pale, so there’s potential for it to turn ashy–Clarins did, very specifically, say it’s for all skin tones. With a very fluffy brush, lighter complexions could also use this as a finishing powder that will add some natural warmth and golden tones to the skin. I think with a touch more luminosity, this product would have been truly exceptional.
According to Clarins, this gloss formula is supposed to have “intense color, mirror-like shine, and long-lasting hold.” Chocolate is mostly opaque, and it applied very evenly and stayed that way throughout the wear. It wore for five and a half hours, and while it initially felt non-sticky, it develop a very light tackiness after an hour and a half (but it never became sticky). It has a sweet, fruity scent but no discernible taste. It comes with a long sponge applicator that’s contoured on both sides, which makes it really easy to apply. The formula is lightly hydrating and comfortable to wear overall.
