*Clarins Radiance-Plus Golden Glow Booster, £18.
I'm all about a faux tan and creating a bronzed appearance but I've always struggled with tanning my face. Products I use on my body left my face uneven, clung to dry patches and spots, as well as leaving me a dark shade of mahogany. If I used tanners specifically developed to be used on the face, they tend to be extremely hydrating and light and left me with little to no colour pay off and awfully oily skin. When I read through the description for the new Clarins Radiance-Plus Golden Glow Booster, I was sold instantly. Made to measure tan in the form of a facial oil, made for all skin types, with radiance boosting properties - sounds good right?
You get 15ml of product in this glass bottle and I was a little surprised at how small this looks but after trialling it out I can foresee this lasting me months. You only need 1 -3 drops per application and I've been using this a few times a week. The idea is to place a small amount of your normal moisturiser in the palm of your hand, add 1 - 3 drops of the Clarins Golden Glow Booster dependant on your desired look and then mix the two together, apply to your face and wash your hands. I didn't read the instructions properly the first time I used this and ended up shaking the bottle around trying to get the drops out, however there's a soft silicone area at the base that you press and it releases a few drops. I like my face to match near to my body so I use 3 drops at the start of the week, then 1-2 drops mid week for a boost of colour. I found this left me with a gorgeous shade of brown, it looked very natural and sunkissed and didn't cling to dry areas or blemishes. My skin actually looks radiant and refreshed when I wake up, never oily or dry. Due to the gentle nature of this product, you'll find your tan fading evely rather than getting dreaded patchy areas. If you're wondering about the scent, there isn't one which is a bonus for those with sensitive noses. The oil comes out a dark yellow shade but don't worry - it has no colour guide, I apply this at night so it has time to develop which is how I'd suggest using it.
Overally I'm so incredibly impressed by this product and if you're looking for something to give your face an added boost of colour and radiance, that so far has left me with flawless results and will be a must have over Spring and Summer. Originally it's £18 but you can currently find it on offer for £15.80 on Escentual. Thanks for this little bottle of bronzed perfection Clarins!
* I did recieve this product as a PR sample, regardless of this fact all opinions are my own and honest. I wouldn't recommend a product I wouldn't re-purchase myself.
*Clarins Splendours Eyeshadow Palette, £31.
Usually the sound of the postman knocking on my front door is a noise I dread as it means waking up early on my day off to answer the door, usually to a package addressed to my parents. However a few days ago when the postman hammered on the door I skipped downstairs to greet him as I was expecting a beaut of a parcel. Inside said parcel was the recently released Clarins Splendours Eyeshadow Palette which is b-e-autiful.
The packaging alone is enough to stop you in your tracks for a second glance as the reflective outer casing reveals a beautifully detailed Aztec print when it catches the light. Inside you'll find four eyeshadows, all pigmented and creamy, as well as a cream eyeliner and two minature brushes for on the go application. Embossed in to the product itself is an Aztec design, which makes this palette even more lovely to look at and slightly difficult to bring yourself to use at first.
All four shadows contain shimmer, not of the chunky, glitter variety but finely milled, pretty shimmer and the shades compliment each other well. There's a pale champagne, a burnt orange gold, a lavender pink and a deep, rich brown. The eyeliner, although it appears to be a classic black has a slight purple undertone.
This collection was inspired by the ancient ruins of South America, a region driven by colour and print. The offerings of their Summer 2013 collection include products that will deliver glowing, bronzed skin with easy application lip products. Already on my list of products to go and look at is the Bronzing Compact and the Shimmering Body Oil.
Priced at £31 this palette is on the more expensive end of the spectrum but every detail has been thought through and I can't fault this product at all. Limited Edition for Summer, this makes for a luxurious treat to add a bit of glamour to your make up bag.
