Clarins Aquatic Treasures collection for Summer 2015

Hooray for outdoor photos! Isn't this lovely sunny weather just the perfect tonic? That means it is almost time for Summer make up, and who does Summer make up better than Clarins? I have been so obsessed with their Summer collections the last couple of years, so I am so delighted to be able to try out some bits from the new Aquatic Treasures collection!

Aquatic Treasures Summer Bronzing Compact £30

Every year Clarins release a knockout bronzing compact. This one really is a stunner! The exterior of the compact is just beautiful, I could stare at it all day! Inside is a wonderful matte bronzer, with four segments of different shades. I love the embossed design on the powder. I just swirl my brush around the entire compact and I have been using it pretty much all over my face to bronze up my make up. The powder is extremely soft, and is very pigmented so a light hand is needed. Gorgeous!

Instant Light Radiance Boosting Complexion Base £26

The Instant Light Radiance Boosting Complexion Base is a permanent fixture in the Clarins make up range,  though they are bringing out 2 limited edition shades for summer. I have the shade "04 Apricot" and there will also be a shade "05 Golden Bronze". This can be worn alone or as a base for your make up. I have tried it both ways, and love it! I love how the tube has a pump and it dispenses the perfect amount to apply all over your face and neck. It's not shimmery but just gives an incredible "glow" - I am not one to use base products like this but I have to say there is a noticeable difference in my complexion when I wear this! Although the shade Apricot looks rather dark in my swatch here, it blends in beautifully and looks perfect on me, especially if I am tanned. It doesn't particularly give any coverage if you did decide to wear it on it's own, but I think it would be the perfect face product to wear on a holiday. It has a gorgeous scent and just feels so fresh and light on the skin.

Clarins Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil £17

Next up I have been trying the double ended eye liner pencil, which I have been loving very much! The pencil has a gel/cream texture and is so easy to apply and smudge with the little rubber end. It's great for a quick smokey eye! It stays on your eyes all day long and because it is waterproof it will be great for summer heat, or at the pool!

Clarins Ombre Iridescente £19

Last up, we have a gorgeous little eyeshadow pot in the shade "01 Aquatic Rose", which is a beautiful neutral, rose gold shade. I can imagine this colour suiting everybody. I got on a lot better with this eyeshadow than I did with the Ombre Mattes which were released last Autumn. I think probably because these are a little more shimmery, there is more "stick" to them and this has been lasting on me all day without creasing. Anyway, these are definitely a powder formula and I guess you could apply with an eyeshadow brush but I just prefer to use my ring finger and really pack it on all over the lid, much the same as if it were a cream eyeshadow. I have really been loving this eyeshadow, after the heavy eye make ups of the Winter season it is just so nice to pare it all back with beautiful, simple neutrals like this. And I do love a pearly, iridescent shade! There is also a darker shade available, "Aquatic Grey" if that is more your style! They are absolutely brilliant and hassle-free to apply.

Another close up of the bronzer, I just think this is the most beautiful piece of make up I have seen in a long time!

Wearing all of the products….I have the Complexion Base on under my foundation (Clarins Everlasting+ - love this stuff!), the bronzer all over my face, Ombre Iridescente all over my eyelids with the bronzer as a crease colour, the waterproof eyeliner pencil on the lash line smudged out, Clarins Blush Prodige 02 Soft Peach, Clarins Jolie Rouge lipstick in "Coral Dahlia".


What do you think of this collection? Isn't it just gorgeous and perfect for Summer? I must admit I was looking forward to a Clarins summer eyeshadow palette like the last couple of years, but I guess because they brought out a palette in the Spring collection, they didn't do one for summer. I feel like this collection is all about very understated make up, glowing bronzed complexions. I am so into that right now!

The Clarins Aquatic Treasures collection is available in May 2015.



Products provided for review. All opinions my own.

Clarins Instant Light Lip Balm Perfectors *new* Spring 2015 Garden Escape Collection

Here we go, another Clarins lip product review! I was kindly sent three of the new Instant Light Lip Balm Perfectors to try out, and I have really been enjoying them! (as with all Clarins lip products!)

Left to right, they are "My Pink", "Orange" and "Rosewood". They are all extremely wearable colours though they are pretty sheer. I love the packaging, they look so slim and elegant! They smell incredible too.

The top swatch is "My Pink" which looks like a barely there colour. However when applied, it works with the natural PH in your lips and adapt to a unique shade. How amazing is that!

"Orange" is an absolutely gorgeous shade, I am quite partial to an orange lip and can't wait to rock this one when Spring arrives!

The one which surprised me the most however, was Rosewood! I initially thought this shade would be too dark as it looks a little brown in the tube and when swatched. But when applied it is the most gorgeous and wearable nude lip product I've ever tried! 

These are an absolute delight to wear, they give a subtle hint of colour with a glossy sheen. As I have found with all the Clarins Instant Light lip products, they don't really last that long on me, leading me to re-apply them quite regularly. They do wear off in a natural even fashion though. The formula is so soft and light, and actually I like them a lot more than the original Instant Light Lip Perfectors. The lip balms aren't as sticky and are a lot easier to apply in the twist up tube.

Wearing "My Pink"

Another success for me! I am a huge fan of any Clarins lip product and the Lip Balm Perfectors are no exception. They are just perfect if you want a very subtle hint of colour and gloss on your lips while at the same time they feel very comforting. They are great if you want a low maintenance lip, and who doesn't love that!

Clarins Instant Light Lip Balm Perfectors are available now and cost £18.00.

*new* Clarins "Ladylike" Autumn 2014 Collection!

Is anyone else as excited about Autumn as I am? It is my favourite season of the entire year! I was really taken aback by the sheer beauty of the new collection from Clarins - it just screams Autumn! Beautiful natural, earthy shades, perfect for the new season.

I am very lucky that the lovely folks at Clarins sent me a few pieces from the new collection to try, and trust me they are even more beautiful in real life.

First up, we have the Ombre Matte Cream-to-Powder Eyeshadows! Aren't they beautiful? I absolutely love cream eyeshadows, but I think the name is misleading here…. they are most definitely powder shadows but they are quite dense and the texture is so smooth, like a cream.

Swatches left to right: Nude Pink, Taupe, Earth

As you can see they are extremely pigmented! You could absolutely apply these to your eyes using just your fingers. I prefer to use a brush though. Nude Pink is a wonderful blending shade as it is almost exactly the colour of my skin tone. Taupe and Earth are absolutely beautiful, and I have been alternating wearing them each day, blending out the edges with Nude Pink!

 Earth

Taupe 

What I love about these shadows is how super easy they are to apply. I love the intensity of them, the beautiful colours and the elegant packaging. They would be great for travel as one shade worn alone looks stunning.

What disappointed me a little is how, after about an hour or two of wear they start creasing. I have tried a couple of different primers (even my trusty ArtDeco eyeshadow base) to no avail. I can only put it down to the sheer density of the powder. I really do love these eyeshadows but I do wish they had better longevity!

I was also sent the Instant Light Eye Perfecting Base! This is a very light yet creamy product. I guess it would be similar to Urban Decay primer but a bit more creamier. I loved how this applied, it really smoothed out over my eyelids and created almost a blank canvas. The actual colour of the base is a good all-around shade but it may be a little dark for super-pale folks. If you are applying eyeshadow over it then it won't be an issue.

The Instant Light Eye Perfecting Base couldn't stop the Ombre Mattes from creasing though..in fact I tried it out with other eyeshadows (Urban Decay and MAC) and it held them in place for a good 6 hours before I noticed creasing. I think the only primer which will serve all day and not crease up is the tacky, almost sticky kind. While I think that this is  a beautiful product, I don't think it is the best for prolonging the wear of eyeshadows. It's great for really smoothing the eyelids and it does have a brightening effect though. On my little or no makeup days I do apply this alone to make myself look a little more awake!

I think this collection is absolutely beautiful, though the products I have tried are not without their flaws. I am still playing around with them, it is a matter of trial and error on how best to wear them. I have especially been enjoying the eyeshadows, I am quite fond of my shimmery shadows so it has been a different experience for me playing around with mattes! I must say that I am converted! I love them for an Autumnal look.

The Clarins "Ladylike" Collection is available now!