My Current Favourite Foundations

When it comes to foundations and base products, I love to mix it up! I reckon it is the one product I change most frequently in my beauty routine and I love nothing more than sliding open my muji foundation drawer and deciding which liquid, cream or powder to go for that day. I am fortunate that my skin is quite forgiving so I am able to chop and change my base products freely, without any problems with my skin reacting, and without fail I pretty much wear something on my skin everyday even if it is just a simple BB cream and a coating of mascara.

I have had the pleasure of testing out a selection of new base products recently and I'm really excited to share my thoughts on them with you all. We have a BB-type cream from Clarins, a new silky foundation from Clinique, a super-coverage option from Vichy, a concealer and foundation-in-one from Revlon as well as Lancome's new cushion compact foundation.

First up is Clarins' new BB Skin Detox Fluid with SPF25 with bridges that lovely gap between makeup and skincare. It gives you a base whilst giving your skin some love! What more could you want?! It comes in four shades and provides a really nice sheer-medium coverage. It won't conceal those spots and blemishes completely but what it will do is give you an even base and a luminous complexion so is perfect for days when you don't want a heavy coverage but want to feel and look awake and perky? I love the fact it is also packed full of great ingredients that will nourish and care for your skin as you go about your day looking fab. There is aloe vera and hyaluronic acid to aid hydration, meadowsweet extract to help maintain skin's balance and white tea extracts to protect skin from environmental stressors. If you have previously loved Clarins' BB creams and their range of skincare then this is a match made in heaven!

When it comes to a brand that offers high coverage and superbly corrective foundations and concealers, you can't go far wrong with Vichy and their latest foundation is no different. Dermablend 3D Correction Foundation is a corrective foundation that is suppose to smooth the skin to minimise the appearance of 3D imperfections. Despite being quite a high coverage base product, the feeling of this foundation is still quite light and comfortable on the skin and gives a long-lasting matte effect. I personally don't mind using quite high coverage foundation providing the formula is loose enough to apply only a little and buff it lightly all over my face. This foundation does this and gives an absolutely flawless finish to your makeup, concealing redness and blemishes easily. I love it especially as I find I don't then need to go in with a concealer or powder afterwards and can skip straight to the rest of my makeup.

Next up is one of my favourites from this line up, the new Clinique Superbalanced Silk Makeup. I have always enjoyed Clinique's base products and their newest release is just beautiful on the skin. The glass bottle without a pump is a little annoying, as I do like to moderate how much foundation I dispense at one time, but once you start buffing this onto your skin all is forgotten! It is really lightweight with quite a fluid texture that honestly feels like silk to apply. It has SPF 15 and leaves your complexion with a natural, matte base with a medium coverage. It would be great for oily or combination skin I reckon and I just love how it feels and sits on my skin. You don't need to powder much after applying it and it covers any redness or blemishes really well. Just lovely!

Sometimes it can be tricky matching and choosing your concealer to suit you foundation so Revlon have made that dilemma a little bit simpler with their new ColorStay 2-in-1 Compact Makeup & Concealer. It includes a creamy foundation along with a complementary concealer, one shade lighter. The product also includes a mirror and a sponge, making it a super easy compact to sling in your handbag when you are on the go, but find it best applied with a flat foundation brush. I envisaged the foundation and concealer would be quite thick and heavy to apply but it actually is quite lightweight and is easily transferred from the compact onto the brush and onto your face. It blends really well with lots of little strokes of a foundation brush and it gives you a semi-matte finish with a medium to high coverage. The concealer is great and will literally erase any imperfections or dark circles, so you will feel fresh faced and ready to fake a 12 hour sleep!

Finally I have been really enjoying Lancome's new Teint Idole Ultra Cushion Foundation which is a compact that includes a liquid foundation under a mesh layer that is easily transferred by the little cushion. At first I was a bit apprehensive about the cushion application, wondering if it was just a gimmick, but it applies the foundation beautifully. The texture, coverage and feel of this foundation is very similar to the Clinique Superbalanced as they both offer a superbly silky formula with great coverage and matte finish. It really brightens up your skin, giving it a radiance without being shiny or dewy. The finish is pretty flawless, especially if you build it up a bit, and it feels velvety soft on the skin. I love the fact you can also just buy refills once your foundation has run low, which simply click in and out of the golden compact, so you don't need to buy a whole new product each time. A very luxurious foundation but definitely worth the price tag.

So these are my current five favourite foundations, concealers and base products of the minute - something for all occasions I feel. I would love to know if you have tried, and are loving, any of these products and if not, what is your favourite foundation right now?

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*this post contains samples gifted for review purposes

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Charitable Beauty Buys

It is always great to see big beauty brands supporting charitable projects around the world and this year is no exception. Clarins, Kiehl's and L'Occitane all have some fantastic initiatives launching this month to help raise funds for some amazing charities whilst offering us some lovely beauty buys and limited edition products.

The Clarins collaboration with the FEED projects has been so successful over the past two years, it is back again! The 'Gift With Purpose' programme offers each customer, who purchases two or more Clarins products, a FEED10 cosmetics bag. Inside the bag you will find five of Clarins' most iconic products in handy travel sizes; the moisturise-rich body lotion, the relax bath and shower concentrate, the gentle refiner, the hydraQuench creme mask and the amazing hand and nail treatment cream. Each cosmetic bag given away will provide 10 nutritious school meals through the UN World Food Programme to school children in developing countries.  It is an amazing programme to support and since the launch of 'Gift with Purpose' in 2014, Clarins have helped provide over 3 million meals for school children and it would be amazing to reach the target of 2 million for 2016! Available from 18th September - 1st October.

Did you know that less than a third of school children worldwide are girls? To help raise finds for the education of women around the world, L'Occitane have partnered up with Marie Claire and are launching a verbena scented candle, La Flame Marie Claire, in the first week of September. 100% of the profits from each sale will be donated to three chosen charities in order to help transform the lives of thousands of young girls in Sierra Leone, Uganda, Cambodia and Africa where the lack of education leave girls and young women dependant and vulnerable. The candle is just £8 and smells incredible!

Finally there is a charitable contribution from Kiehl's. MTV Staying Alive Foundation and Laura Mvula have been announced as Kiehl's official 2016 UK charity partner. The MTV Staying Alive Foundation is a global charity dedicated to stopping the spread of HIV/AIDS and has, to date, awarded 588 grants in 68 countries around the world, accumulating to nearly $6 million.Amazing stuff! The limited edition label for one of Kiehl's most iconic products, the Ultra Facial Cream, has been designed by award winning British singer/songwriter Laura Mvula. With each cream sold, Kiehl's will donated £10 to the MTV Staying Alive Foundation to support 3 projects around the world to empower and educate young women about the prevention of AIDS and HIV. A brilliant initiative to help and support.

Let me know if you plan to pick up any of these charitable beauty buys this month?

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*this post contains samples gifted for review purposes

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Clarins Beauty in Bloom Limited Edition Collection

What do you get if you take a selection of Clarins' hero products and give them a floral twist? Say hello to Beauty in Bloom - Clarins' new launch that gives us the chance to indulge our makeup collection with some pretty packaging whilst stocking up on some of Clarins' most coveted products.

This limited edition collection comprises of a Hand and Nail Treatment Cream Trio (£25), three florally-adorned Instant Light Natural Lip Perfectors (£18) and a Daily Energiser Lovely Lip Balm (£16). The Hand and Nail Treatment kit is presented in a beautiful, leaf printed pouch and contains the cult beauty product in three new fragrances - orange leaf, white tea leaf and fig leaf. If you need some intensive care for your hands then this treatment cream is a lovely remedy for dry, sore hands and cuticles.

Did you know that every 36 seconds, a Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector is sold worldwide? Possibly one of my favourite beauty products...ever, these gorgeous lip products have been given a flowery revamp and now come in three, limited edition shades - pink, orange and red shimmer. Not a gloss, nor a lipstick, they are creamy and smooth and luscious to wear and nourish the lips also with a formula of Shea butter and wild mango butter. Oh and they smell like vanilla cupcakes. Yum!

Finally Clarins have launched a new lip balm to nourish and protect our lips against the Summer heat. It contains organic cocoa butter and Shea oil to moisturise and repair, as well as redcurrant extract to leave lips feelings smoother and fuller-looking. It contains a clever pigment that reacts to the pH of your lips to bring out their natural colour - giving you a bespoke, rosy pout. The packaging is so pretty and guarantees you wont lose this lip balm at the bottom of your handbag. Plus it has a sweet, peach fragrance. Lovely!

The new Beauty in Bloom collection is now available on counters and online. Which Summer essential have you got your eye on?

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*this post contains samples gifted for review purposes

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Clarins Sunkissed Summer 2016 Makeup Collection

Get the sun-kissed look this Summer with Clarins' newest collection | Out in May 2016 and available online

You know that Summer is well and truly on the way when Clarins' iconic, giant bronzing and blush compact lands on your doormat. Becoming quite a cult product as the seasons go by, this complexion-warming, limited edition bronzer is just one of the amazing new products to be released this May from Clarins to get us sun-kissed and glowing for Summer. Whether you are tanning by the pool or going out in the warm summer evenings, this collection promises to give you a flawless complexion with a harmony of rich gold and bronze shades, sparkling eyes and fresh, fruity lips.

Firstly the Bronzing & Blush Compact* (£30) is embossed with a sun-inspired motif and warms your complexion with a blend of copper, terracotta and golden tones and an apricot pearlescent blush in the centre. Swirled together or used separately, these powders complement all skin tones and boosts a formula that cares for the skin whilst adding luminosity to your complexion. Every year Clarins launch a new one of these compacts and every year I vow that the latest one is my favourite but I do actually think this could be my absolute favourite - the tones and finish on the skin is just gorgeous and adds a natural radiance and sun-kissed dusting to your makeup.

For the eyes Clarins have released a range of four waterproof Eyeshadow Shimmering Cream Colours* (£18) which have a soft cream formula that glide easily onto the eyelids. The fine pearl particles provide a shimmering colour to subtly illuminate the eyes whilst the bitter orange tree wax creates a protective shield against water and humidity making sure the colour stays put longer during those warmer days. Above I have swatched 04. Copper Brown and 02. Silver Taupe and I think you will agree that Copper Brown, in particular, is just gorgeous!

Possibly the most exciting part of this new collection is the launch of a brand new Instant Light Lip Comfort Oil* (£19) in 03. Red Berry. You only need read my previous post here to see just why I love these lip oils so much. During the Summer when lips can be left feeling dry and parched, the Instant Light Lip Comfort Oil is the only remedy you will need to nourish and love your lips instantly whilst enhancing their natural colour.

The Clarins Fix' Make-Up* (£24) has apparently been around before but has just undergone a bit of a facelift. I had never tried this product out before and now I can see why it would be the ultimate summer beauty must-have. It is an ultra-fine cooling mist that sets makeup by forming an invisible veil over the face. The Aloe Vera hydrates the skin, the Allantoin soothes whilst the exclusive Clarins anti-pollution complex protects the skin from external aggressors so is a great option to cool, refresh and shield your complexion on hot days out and about. Pop it in the fridge for the ultimate, refreshing experience when you spritz!

Finally there is a new and improved formula for the Double Fix' Mascara* (£20) which is a multi-tasking product for your brows and eyelashes. The clear formula enriched with bitter orange tree wax can be used over your mascara to create a waterproof barrier or combed through your brows to keep them tame. The wax helps create a water repellent, protective shield to ensure long-lasting, waterproof results. It is a great little beauty staple to have to groom brows and style lashes for a minimal makeup look.

Summer is certainly going to be sun-kissed this year (even if the sun doesn't shine) thanks to Clarins! What pieces have you got your eye on?

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Clarins Energy, Repair & Detox Boosters

Clarins Boosters for the Skin* £30 | available very soon online

I am really really excited about this new launch from Clarins as they set to reinvent the art of skincare by giving us three turbo charged formulations to boost the skin. You may recognise the design of these small but mighty bottles as they are very similar in look and function as the amazing Radiance-Plus Golden Glow Booster that transforms your moisturiser to a self-tan with just a few drops. These new skin boosters work on the same premise. With 3-5 drops added to your moisturiser, face mask or foundation they offer you the perfect, made-to-measure beauty solution to combat fatigued, weakened or congested skin.

Booster Energy is an energised, caring solution for fatigued skin. This highly concentrated formula contains ginseng extract, a legendary Chinese medicinal plant known for its stimulating properties, which tones and re-energises skin. It helps combat signs of fatigue and revives radiance so is perfect to remedy those late nights and long haul travels where skin looks and feels a tad lacklustre.

Booster Repair is a caring solution for weakened skin. The ultra-concentrated formula contains mimosa tenuiflora extract, known for its repairing properties, so reduces feelings of discomfort and redness. This would therefore be a must-have for your travel bag as it can help ease the effects of sunburn, extreme climates and hard, salt or chlorinated water.

Booster Detox is your answer for congested skin. The highly enriched formula contains green coffee extract, a plant from tropical Africa high in caffeine and known for its detoxifying properties. This booster helps detoxify and purify the skin to revive radiance and plump the skin so it an essential following some heavy partying, overindulgence or extreme pollution.

I simply love the idea of bespoke skincare to fit with your own skin's needs which might change on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. With these fab boosters you can chop and change your type of skincare to fit in with whatever life throws at you - the late night party, the nine hour flight, the sleepless night or the salty sea water from your holidays. Which booster is your skin crying out for at the moment?

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Clarins Instant Light Lip Comfort Oils are back!

The essential lip product is back! 

01 Honey and 02 Raspberry (£18 each) | available permanently online and on counters nationwide

Hold the phone, I have some very exciting news! The amazingly-popular yet devastatingly limited edition Clarins Lip Oils are back by popular demand and are here to stay! Selling out in stores and online within a few hours of launching, the Instant Light Lip Comfort Oils have been Clarins' fastest selling lip launch to date and are one of my top lip care products. I raved about this innovative new lip treatment oil back in January when it was launched and was heartbroken at the time that I was too slow to get my hands on the beautifully pink-hued Raspberry shade which gives your lips a berry tint.

Clarins are renowned for their treatment oil heritage for the face and body so it was only a matter of time before they developed another unique, iconic product that simply targets the lips and so the Instant Light Lip Comfort Oil was born. The plant formula is 100% natural and rich in essential oils and active plant ingredients so is a luxurious treat for your lips that melts on without feeling sticky or oily at all. It feels light, nourishing and luscious on the lips and gives them a subtle sheen that looks beautiful worn alone or over your favourite lipstick. All this plus the sweet taste and sleek packaging makes this a must-have product and I am so so happy to see the lip oils make a welcome return to stores everywhere and more importantly, my makeup bag!

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Clarins The Essentials Festive Eye Palette

The Clarins Festive Eye Makeup Palette * (£35) | available on counters and online now

You know Christmas is fast-approaching when Clarins release their yearly festive eyeshadow palette - a beautiful selection of shadows that has become quite a beauty tradition around this time every year. So it would be fair to say that I heard distant jingle bells and the belly laugh of Father Christmas as this season's Christmas Eyeshadow Palette from Clarins arrived through my letterbox and I was very excited to flip the lid and see what treats were nestled beneath.

The 2015 Clarins Festive Eyeshadow Palette is quite the show-stopper and contains a mix of ten ultra-soft shadows in an assortment of warm shades with either matte, satin or sparkly, irridescent finishes. The formula of these shadows is so lovely and easy to work with, feeling soft and blendable on the eyelids, with the added option to use them wet for an enhanced intensity. The range of colours are so pretty and would be perfect for an Autumnal look now or saved for something more special around the festive period for all those glitzy Christmas parties. Each matte shadow is enriched with musk rose oil whilst the satin powders contain white meadowfoam which gives them a nourishing quality and gorgeous texture on the eyelids. The chocolate brown packaging with gold embossing contains a large mirror and birchwood double-ended applicator so is perfect for travelling or popping in your handbag to take you seamlessly from desk to disco!

 Will you be treating yourself to this or popping it on your Christmas list?

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Clarins Nude Lipliner Pencils

A nude to suit everyone! Clarins lip definer pencils* (£17 each) | available online and on counters

I think we can all agree that one of the biggest makeup trends this year so far has been the perfectly lined lips paired with a brown-nude lipstick. Thanks Kylie Jenner! But finding that perfect nude lip liner to match your skin tone and lipstick choice can be a tricky business which is why the latest collection from Clarins could put a halt on your lip liner search.

Clarins have revolutionised the art of outlining your lips by offering four new, nude pencils with a shade to suit everyone. They have been designed to complement any lipstick shade and treat us to a new formula to give the most flawless, smooth application possible. The formula is enriched with jojoba oil which means the pencil won't drag or pull your delicate skin as you outline your lips and also gives your lipstick a strong barrier to prevent any running. The tip is firm yet smooth to sculpt and define your lips perfectly and can easily be used purely as a liner or all over your lips as a matte base or lip colour.

The four new nudes on the block are:
01. Nude Fair (for fair skin)
02. Nude Beige (for medium skin with golden undertone)
03. Nude Rose (for medium skin with pink undertone)
04. Nude Mocha (for dark skin)

Nude Fair and Nude Beige are two of my favourites from this collection and would match and complement a number of my go-to nude lipsticks but Nude Rose and Nude Mocha have got a lovely, darker base which would work well worn alone for an Autumnal makeup look. These lipliners are incredible and so easy and creamy to apply. After years of vowing I would never really go back to using lipliners after the 90s trend died down I am well and truly back on the bandwagon and I love it!

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The Tan-Enhancing Body Oils

If I am jetting off to sunnier climates over the summer then a beauty essential that I always find myself packing in my suitcase is a good dry body oil. There is no nicer feeling than coating your sun-kissed limbs with a luminous body oil to enhance your golden tan and help lock in that much needed hydration. With a possible sunny retreat scheduled for late September I have already lined up two of my favourite beauty-enhancing oils that I look forward to taking away with me to give my bare skin a luminous glow as I head out for cocktails mocktails and dinner during the balmy nights.

 

First up is the Moroccan Rose Gold Glow Perfect Dry Oil* from REN Skincare (£26). This dry oil is really exquisite and is formulated with 100% naturally derived actives from Moroccan Argan Oil and the precious Rosa Damascena Oil. The texture is very lightweight and silky and nourishes, conditions and protects the skin leaving it with a beautiful sheen. It can also be used on your hair to lock in moisture and keep it healthy in the sun. I love the handy spray bottle and adore the elaborately decorated bottle featuring a distinctive Arabesque design inspired by Islamic art and calligraphy. It has a delicate rose scent which lingers on your skin and sinks in well without leaving you feeling greasy or slippery! I like to apply this straight after a shower when my skin is still slightly damp - it smoothes wonderfully over your body and leaves it feeling sublimely soft and nourished with a golden, glowing sheen.



The other dry oil I have been loving is the Clarins After Sun Shimmer Oil* (£32) which works very similarly to the REN Moroccan Rose but has the added benefit of some lovely, subtle shimmer for the skin. Suitable for all skin types, this oil is ultra-fine and infused with shimmery micro-pearls for a head-turning tan. It nourishes, softens and illuminates the skin with a sensational golden gleam. Formulated using hazelnut oil, this oil doesn't only keep your skin looking good but will also help protect it from dehydration following sun exposure with the added vitamin E and essential oils. This aftersun oil is basically Summer in a bottle with the addition of mandarin, grapefruit, ylang ylang and tonka beans to give the skin a sunny scent and it can also be used on the ends of your hair to keep it in tip-top condition throughout your holiday. I love the lusciousness of this oil from Clarins and the golden iridescence it gives to the skin really enhances your tan and veils your body with a satin-smooth, fragrant finish, without any greasy residue!

 

Do you have a favourite body oil you like to use during the Summer?

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Clarins Aquatic Treasures Summer Collection

Clarins Aquatic Treasures for Summer 2015* | available online and on counters now

Every year, without fail, Clarins always releases a truly sumptuous Summer makeup collection that will literally make you want to pack up your kaftan, skimpiest shorts and oversized sunglasses and head to sunnier climates. Summer 2015 is no exception and Clarins has once again treated us to a paradisal, sun-kissed collection of beauty bits that have been inspired by the enchanting treasures that lie beneath the waves.

The limited edition Clarins Aquatic Treasures Summer makeup collection plunges us to the depths of the glittering turquoise-blue ocean and captures the textures and shades from an idyllic island. Picture the harmony of rich golds and bronzed hues to mirror the silky sands, the iridescent pearly shades of mermaid-quality that scatter the ocean floor combined with a splash of glittering grey echoing the water as it sparkles in the sunlight. Are you packing your suitcase yet?! This collection is all about an illuminated, glowing complexion and a lustrous finish on the eyes and has a perfect ensemble of products to transport you off to a sun-drenched haven.

Possibly one of the most recognisable products from passed Clarins Summer collections is that beautiful oversized round bronzer that is reinvented and released each year. This time we have a gorgeous palette that warms the complexion with a blend of four mattes shades ranging from beige to terracotta. The Aquatic Treasures Summer Bronzing Compact (£30) is embossed with a marine-inspired motif and offers us a harmony of shades that will complement most skin tones and complexions. The formula cares for the skin and gives us a luminosity and radiance once swept lightly all over the skin that will instantly fake that two week holiday away.

Another complexion product from the new range is the Instant Light Radiance Boosting Complexion Base (£26) available in two shades, 04. Apricot and 05. Golden Bronze. Now I really love this product and its versatility - whether you want to wear it alone after your morning moisturiser to give you a light, luminous base or mixed in with your normal foundation to give your complexion a inner radiance and glow whilst helping eliminate imperfections. You only need a pea-sized amount to transform your skin from dull to dazzling!

Finally we have two new limited edition Ombre Iridescente (£19) available in shades 01. Aquatic Rose and 03 Aquatic Grey. These cream-to-powder eyeshadows beautifully enhance the eye with a pearlescent veil for an easy day or night look. The consistency is creamy but firm and is best applied with a fingertip, warming the cream slightly in the pot then blending it over your eyelid. Aquatic Rose is my absolute favourite shade and one that I can see myself wearing a lot over the Summer. It is similar in colour to MAC's All That Glitters but the finish and intensity is even more lustrous and is so pretty applied all over the eye for a simple, bronzed look. Pair this with light yet luminous skin and  warm, bronzed cheeks and you are pretty much Summer ready!

What bits have tempted you from this new Clarins collection?

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Clarins Everlasting Foundation+

There is one thing that Clarins do very well and that is their skincare. There is a second thing they also do exceptionally well and that is their long list of base products, powders, foundations and concealers. Without fail I will always have one or two Clarins face bits on the go to help give me a even and as flawless as possible complexion and at the moment it is the Instant Concealer and their new Everlasting Foundation +* (£27.50)

When it comes to foundation I do like a medium to high coverage option with a matte/satin finish but without the feeling of heaviness or caking on the skin. Thankfully the new Everlasting Foundation+ from Clarins ticks all the right boxes for me. It is a medium coverage base product (SPF15) that has a new generated formula that provides impeccable coverage from morning to night, covers imperfections instantly whilst feeling comfortable and light on the skin. The mattifying bamboo powder delivers a long-lasting flawless finish whilst keeping any shine or oiliness at bay and the extract of organic quinoa (how fancy!) preserves the skin's suppleness and moisture levels so it doesn't feel drying at all. In fact I think despite the promise of a fairly matte foundation, the Everlasting Foundation+ gives the skin quite a nice glow and subtle dewiness which I like and the coverage is fantastic without masking the skin. Available in a crazy 16 or so different shades it is one of those fail-safe foundation options that can be used day or night, applied lightly or built up for a more flawless, higher coverage finish. It blends beautifully into the skin and doesn't need any powdering afterwards. Basically, it was love at the first application and is currently my base product of choice whilst away in New York.

Have you tried this newest addition to the Clarins foundation family?

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