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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Retouching with Bobbi Brown

"I created these products to make skin look retouched - naturally." - Bobbi Brown

Retouched, perfect skin without appearing heavily-ladened with product is the ultimate dream, right?! I am all about a flawless base. Regardless of whether I do anything else with my makeup, I really enjoy prepping and finishing my skin to look even, healthy, glowing and perfected. But all to often it is easy to get carried away and after two layers or foundation and umpteen applications of concealer, I am feeling anything but fresh and natural. This is why I am loving Bobbi Brown's new Retouching Franchise which aims to give you retouched skin without the need of heavy duty makeup or an instagram filter!

The Retouching Face Pencils are the epitome of multitasking. They are designed to favourite features and retouch imperfections. They come in nine skin tone shades and one illuminating shade and have the creamiest formula to glide over your skin. These pencils can literally be used to do anything depending on what shade you pick! If you stick to your own skin tone shade then the pencils are great at covering redness or imperfections, before or after foundation. Choose a pencil a shade or two lighter than your natural colouring and they can help erase sun spots or brighten dark, recessed areas such as the inner corners of your eyes or around the nose. The highlighting pencil is brilliant at adding luminosity and brightness to cheek and brow bones. I was nervous that these pencils would feel a bit too firm and tough on my skin but the consistency is smooth and creamy enough to draw straight onto your face, but the precise pencil tip allows you to pinpoint the exact area/s you need to cover or conceal. This means you don't end up covering your whole face with foundation or concealer unnecessarily and leaving you with a heavy base. The coverage is great and really gives you a flawless finish.

The Retouching Powders accompany these pencils and gives the complexion a refined, retouched finish yet is completely undetectable. They are available in five shades to best suit your complexion - white, pink, rose, yellow and peach. The finely milled powder can be easily swept over your complexion to brighten and even your skin out, but wont leave you feel too matte or powdery. It is a lovely, light powder to help give you a instant, airbrushed look.

The Retouching Face Pencils are available in ten shades (£22) and the Retouching Powders are available in five shades to suit your complexion (£27). Both out now on counters and online.

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*this post contains samples gifted for review purposes

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L'Oreal Nude Magique Cushion Foundation

Cushion compacts, housing a foundation or a blush, have burst onto the beauty scene over the past year or so thanks to their much adorned status in Asia. This latest beauty innovation has slowly made its way into the beauty aisles over here and has been promoted from the next beauty hype to a must have item everyone needs in their makeup bag. There are loads of benefits of these cute, cushion compacts - practical, no need to carry additional sponges and brushes with you, great for touch-ups during the day, delivers professional looking makeup with a light or buildable finish and can be used all over or just on areas that need a little more coverage.

L'Oreal's Nude Magique Cushion Foundation (£14.99) is one of the latest products to adopt this innovative new design. The compact opens up to reveal the sponge on the top compartment with the foundation housed underneath and with a handy mirror in the lid, for touch ups on the go. Described as a weightless foundation that gives your skin a healthy glow whilst keeping it smooth, soft and hydrated, the idea is that you simply tap the sponge into the foundation and then "tap tap" it over your skin.

This foundation delivers a light to medium coverage, totally adaptable to your personal preference by applying/tapping more product on the desired areas. What I really like about this foundation in particular is the natural finish it gives - a little bit dewy, a little bit glow-giving with a sheer luminosity. I think due to the way you apply it, it leaves you complexion feeling and looking fresh and not cakey at all. It prevents you applying too much product at once so you are left with a base that is light yet covers any redness quite well. Definitely one to check out if you like a dewy-looking foundation and love the idea of ditching your foundation brushes and love to convenience of touching up your makeup on the go!

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*this post contains samples gifted for review purposes

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Clinique Chubby in the Nude Foundation Stick

NEW Clinique Chubby in the Nude Foundation Stick* (£23) | available online in 10 shades

 & the Clinique Buff Brush* (£23) 

First came the chubby stick for the lips, followed by the cheek tint chubby stick and the shadow tint chubby stick...so it was only a matter before Clinique turned their thoughts to our completion and created the Chubby (in the Nude) Foundation Stick. The latest edition to the Chubby family, this on-the-go portable foundation stick delivers instant buildable, long wearing and natural looking skin with a quick swipe and blend of the cream formula.

I love the convenience and travel-friendly, mess-free premise of this latest twist-up product from Clinique and is easily applied with a few strokes across your forehead, down the bridge of your nose, across your cheeks and along your chin. The creamy texture gives a very natural, satin finish on the skin with a medium level of coverage and fairly decent staying power. It could be used as an all-over foundation or simply popped in your makeup bag for quick touch-ups on the go when you are out and about. The formulation is oil-free and contains moisturising ingredients such as vitamin E and coconut-fatty-acid to help provide a comfortable wear and seamless application. I really like this product for when I am after a natural-looking base with a fairly matte, satin finish. If you are not a fan of liquid foundations and prefer the finish and texture of cream base products then this is definitely one for you.

The new buff brush works perfectly alongside the new Chubby in the Nude Foundation Sticks and is designed to create a beautiful, buffed finish for a super-smooth canvas. The bristles are compact and soft on the skin and really work well to evenly distribute and blend in your base, with the tapered shape fitting any face angles for a flawless finish. Another winning addition to my makeup brush collection!

Do you like the idea of foundation in a stick?

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Bobbi Brown Intensive Skin Serum Corrector & Concealer

Following the successful launch of Bobbi Brown's Intensive Skin Serum Foundation earlier this year, a skincare and makeup product in one, it was only a matter of time before the new Skin Serum line was extended and welcomed in a new, powerful duo. The recently-launched Intensive Skin Serum Corrector and Concealer from Bobbi Brown are going to be your new best friends when it comes to covering, concealing, correcting and caring for your delicate eye area.

Inspired by Bobbi's own holistic approach to beauty, these supercharged formulas combine potent ingredients used for centuries in Eastern Medicine such as skin-plumping Indian Mukul Myrrh Tree Extract and energising Cordyceps Mushroom Extracts. These two products work hand in hand to eliminate those dreaded dark circles by targeting the major causes such as ageing and excess pigmentation as well as boosting the skin's moisture levels so over time the skin appears plumper, smoother and more refreshed. The first step is the Intensive Skin Serum Corrector - this is aimed at neutralising discolouration and primes the skin ready for the concealer. If you suffer from blue/purple discolouration then opt for a bisque shade, if you have brown/grey circles then pick a peach shade. Step two is the Intensive Skin Serum Concealer which lightens, brightens and evens out your skin tone once gently layered over the corrector in a triangular shape.

Designed for all skin types, these new concealers and correctors come in a wide variety of shades with a doe foot applicator housed in a new, premium vial packaging. The texture is seriously luxe with an almost gel-serum like formula. It smooths onto the skin beautifully and leaves the under eye area looking and feeling well-rested, natural, healthy and plump. Absolute lifesavers when it comes to faking a really goodnight's sleep!

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Bourjois Air Mat Foundation

You can't see it, but it changes everything! Bourjois Air Mat Foundation* (£9.99) | available from Boots

When it comes to 'drugstore' foundations, I think Bourjois are one of the best brands at offering affordable yet fantastic bases and concealers for the skin and this latest release it another great addition to their brimming collection of base products. As the name would suggest, the new Air Mat foundation is all about achieving a smooth, matte finish that feels light as air on the skin - no heaviness, thickness or mask-like coverage. It promises to deliver a delicate, soft second skin effect with an even complexion.

I love a matte yet light foundation but it is true that you are often faced with a formula that feels heavy and cakey on the skin which looks anything but natural. What I like about this new foundation is the fact that it feels lightweight and comfortable on the skin yet still offers you an ideal coverage (light-medium that could easily be built up if necessary). Air Mat's extra-fine mattifying powder beads effectively absorb sebum so you can rest assure that you won't face a shiny t-zone halfway through the day, and also means you can get away without any additional heavy powders on top.

Available in eight shades, there should be an option to suit most skin tones with 2 light skin shades, 5 medium shades from beige to golden tan and 1 Mediterranean shade for darker skin tones. As well as offering a good coverage and a lovely matte, natural finish, this foundation also manages to really brighten up lacklustre skin so instantly gives any sallow complexion a boost. Even if the coverage wasn't enough for you, you could use a little bit of this product as a base to prep and perk up the skin before following on with your normal foundation.

Have you tried this latest launch from Bourjois?

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A MAC Haul

So this is what happens when I am left unsupervised on the MAC website when my sole intention is to purchase just one new foundation. My love for MAC waivers - some days I can't get enough of their new collections and other times I just find the it all a bit overwhelming and overhyped and I swiftly move on. However MAC will always be my saviour when it comes to great base products and gorgeous lipsticks in every shade imaginable so I decided to treat myself to a few new things for my eyes, lips and face.

Firstly, let's talk lipsticks! From left to right, top to bottom we have Blankety (a soft beige pink) and Pure Zen (a frosted warm nude). I honestly don't know why it has taken me so long to purchase either of these lipsticks as they are both so beautiful and totally my kind of shades. Blankety is one of those lipsticks that sits neatly alongside the likes of Velvet Teddy and Honeylove - a warm, brown-ish nude that warms up the complexion and helps emulate those Kylie Jenner lips! Pure Zen is such a pretty nude with a peachy base and slightly frosted finish. It is a flattering nude option if you are a bit wary of the starker options, such as Myth and Fleshpot, and works perfectly paired with a heavier eye look and coral-powdered cheeks.

Onto the eyes and there were a few things on my mind as I scrolled through MAC's extension selection - some loose pigments and a new paint pot for a quick, easy base. You may be surprised to discover that I didn't own a single MAC pigment before this order hit my post box so I was excited to venture into a world of sparkles and duo-chrome shimmer. Vanilla was an obvious choice and top of my list due to its wonderful versatility to highlight your eyes and complexion with a simple sweep of powder. It is a gorgeous soft ivory white with a warm golden-yellow sheen which looks so pretty applied to the tops of your cheekbones or in the corner of your eyes. Next to be dropped in my shopping basket was Melon pigment which looked beautiful from the numerous swatches I googled beforehand. Melon is a sunny, shimmering peachy-gold shade. It is stunning and the beauty of these loose pigments is that they can be used dry or wet for extra vibrancy. Finally I purchased a new paint pot in Let's Skate - a pale pink with pearl shimmer. It is a beautiful ballet-pink cream base with a soft golden sheen running through it and has a great pigmentation, giving you opaque coverage on your eyelids. It is creamy and blendable and can be easily worn alone for a pretty, toned down look or used as a base for a powder eyeshadow on top.

Last but by no means least we move onto the base products and one of the main reasons I was surfing the MAC website to begin with! MAC's Studio Fix Fluid foundation has been one of those foundations I have fallen in and out of love with ever since I started using it many many years ago. It is a medium to full coverage base product with a satin/matte finish. The coverage is great and I have always found the colour match (NC25 if you're interested) works really well for my skin tone. It isn't an everyday foundation choice for me but when I want a really flawless base that I know will last then this is what I find myself reaching for.

Finally I decided to purchase the much raved about Prep & Prime Highlighter Pens in Bright Forecast (left) and Light Boost (right). I first saw these featured by Tanya Burr in several of her tutorial videos and was blown away by their effectiveness to lighten, brighten and conceal in a few simple twists and swipes. They are creamy and blend into the skin beautifully. Bright Forecast is a mid-toned, peachy coral shade and works well to conceal and even out skin tone under my eyes and on other blemishes. For some people with lighter skin tones this might also work quite well as a contour colour. Light Boost is my favourite out of the two and does wonders at faking a ten hour sleep when really you've been up until 1am watching Netflix! The soft yellow tone of this highlighter perfectly cancel out any darkness or sallowness under your eyes and brightens your eye area quite dramatically. It is amazing and will definitely be one of my must-have products when my baby arrives and sleep is a distant memory!

Have you splurged on anything from MAC recently?

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Claudia Louch Mousse Foundation

A foundation that feels as light as air! Claudia Louch Mousse Foundation* (£52.50) | available online

You may have noticed that over the past year or so I have featured quite a few skincare products from the Claudia Louch beauty line - a brand that takes a natural, holistic approach to skincare all the way from their moisturisers to makeup, and continues to impress me with their range of products that seem to do the job perfectly.

After the success of their skincare line, Claudia Louch have introduced an ever-expanding makeup range which includes a variety of bases, concealers, mascara and powders. Most recently I have been testing out the new Mousse Foundation which is wonderfully light to apply and feels like silk on the skin. It has a velvet texture and easily smoothes onto the skin, covering any redness or small blemishes without being mask-like. In fact it is a very light foundation but has a lovely ability of evening out skin tone and softening fine lines with the addition of the light-diffusing particles. The result is pretty natural, soft and shine-free although I did find that a sweep of powder over the top did help set the foundation and give me a little more coverage. I think if you have a normal or oily skin type then this foundation would work well for you but those dry-skinned girls might want to stay clear as it does have a habit of clinging to any dry bits of skin which is a shame. As you would expect from Claudia Louch, the Mousse Foundation is 94% natural, hypoallergenic and allergy tested and is free from fragrance and harsh chemicals.

Have you tried anything from the Claudia Louch makeup range?

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A Revlon Round Up

Over the last few months there has been a lot of newness hitting the beauty aisles from our favourite 'drugstore' brand - Revlon. From a range of new nail polishes to an exciting new foundation, with some pretty impressive lipsticks thrown into the mix, I thought I would give you a quick Revlon round up and let you know what to look out for next time you are 'browsing' in Boots...because let's face it, browsing always leads to purchasing, right?

Firstly we have three new products for the face and a new eyeshadow quad to get those peepers looking pretty. The Revlon ColorStay 16hr Eye Shadow Palette in Surreal (£8.99) is a quad of bendable, silky shades for the eyes that won't crease, fade or smudge. Inspired by the warm earthy tones of the desert interspersed with metallic, bright pops to capture the natural elements, this palette is a lovely mixture of natural shadows - a white highlight shade, a shimmery golden and muted green for all over the lids and a grey-black to define. Also released with the Sahara Escape Collection is a limited edition Revlon Highlighting Palette in Desert Bronze (£9.99) which can be swirled together to kiss the skin with a enhanced, natural glow. The bronze shades are matte and natural so can be used separately to bronze or contour whilst the lighter shade is beautifully shimmery to highlight and illuminate cheekbones and brow.

The new Revlon PhotoReady Airbrush Effect Makeup (£12.99) is a new, improved version of the popular, budget-friendly PhotoReady foundation which now contains a fancy pigment technology that provides the skin with a flawless, airbrushed appearance in any light. Oil and fragrance-free, SPF20, soft focus pigments with a medium to full coverage - this foundation feel pretty light on the skin but covers flaws and evens out your skin tone really nicely. The finish is somewhere between satin to matte (you won't need much powdering) and is probably best for normal or slightly oily skin. It provides a luminous, radiant finish without being too shimmery - an issue some people found with the original PhotoReady foundation.

Another new product to join the PhotoReady range is the Revlon PhotoReady Prime & Anti-Shine Balm (£9.99) which is multi-use product for perfected skin. Made with a special clear-on-skin formula, this ultra-lightweight balm glides on easily and seamlessly minimises the look of pores, fine lines and wrinkles to create a smooth, matte look. This convenient compact, perfect for touch ups on the go, can either be worn alone to smooth out skin, under makeup as a primer to create the ultimate base or  over makeup to touch up creases and to eliminate shine.

Next up is the new Revlon line up of Colorstay Gel Envy nail polishes (£6.99) which provide vibrant colour, brilliant gel-like shine and long lasting wear for your nails - everything you would wish for from your gel nail manicure but from the comfort and ease of your own home. I love doing my gel nails every couple of weeks but sometimes, when time is tight, I just don't have to patience to go through all those different stages of painting and curing which is why these polishes are so perfect! The results they give are comparable to salon quality but so much quicker and cheaper! Simply apply two coats of your chosen colour, which combines your base coat and colour to save time, then top off with the diamond top coat for added protection and a glass shine finish. These polishes are available in 30 gorgeous shades and are a whole lot easier to remove than your normal gel nails!

Finally and maybe the most exciting launch for me, the lipstick junkie over here, is their new range of Revlon Ultra HD lipsticks (£7.99) which lace your lips with intense shine and high-definition colour. The wax-free formula has been crafted specifically to deliver you a true colour clarify with one application with a smooth, long-lasting finish. These lipsticks are gorgeous to wear - they feel incredibly light and comfortable on the lips with a dreamy scent of whipped vanilla and creamy mango. I have 2 of the 14 shades available - Poppy (a fun, bright red) and Geranium (a punchy coral-orange).

What new Revlon bits have taken your fancy?

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bareMinerals Complexion Rescue

bareMinerals Complexion Rescue* (£26) – free from silicone, oil, parabens and fragrance | available from Boots

 

When it comes to seasonal makeup there is one thing that I switch up the most depending on the weather outside – my base. I always favour a satin liquid foundation with medium to high coverage but the moment the Summer hits and everything feels a little ‘sweatier’ I love to reach for a lighter consistency. There is nothing worse than your skin feeling cakey and heavy when out for that family picnic or frantically running your errands around town. In previous years this lighter-base-role would have been filled by a mix of BB and CC creams and tinted moisturisers. This year however I have been testing and loving a new product from bareMinerals that claims to contain all the best of BBs, CCs and TMs in one fantastic formula – the Complexion Rescue, a tinted hydrating gel cream available in nine different shades.

 

This new release from bareMinerals is one of those favoured multi-tasking base products that combines skin benefits with a glowing, radiant coverage and a barely-there feel. The finish is sheer to medium but very buildable and could easily be mixed with a blob of your favourite foundation if you wanted something a little heavier but still with a hydrating radiance. The marine botanicals help replenish thirsty skin whilst the mineral electrolytes and antioxidants energise your complexion and protect against environmental stressors. This combined with the smooth tint it gives to your face means you don’t have to slather on your morning moisturiser and therefore keeps your skin from feeling over-greasy on those balmy Summer mornings. It contains a SPF 30 which will keep your skin safe from the sun, but probably best you avoid any flash photography selfies whilst wearing this, and despite the suggestion to use your fingertips a brush really is the best way to apply this gel cream.

 

I am always a little wary of gel formulas that promise dewy results as I have too often been caught with an overly-shiny t zone half way through the day and have been left feeling more greasy than glowing. But the Complexion Rescue is very different and although it is dewy, the effects are lovely on the skin and it really perks the complexion up with a healthy dose of skin-neutralising colour. Ladies with dry or dehydrated skin will love this, those with already quite oily skin might want to approach with caution but for the rest of us this is a great little product to have on standby during the Summer and it does exactly what it says on the tube – rescues an uneven, tired complexion and really gives it a Summer-ready glow!

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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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Clinique Beyond Perfecting Foundation + Concealer

Clinique 2 in 1 Foundation & Concealer (£25) | available from Boots 

As the weather gets warmer our makeup tends to get lighter as we reach for the BB creams, tinted moisturisers, cream blushers and sheer glosses. There is nothing worse than a heavy base on a sunny day and around this sort of time the beauty market is often saturated with the release of those light, barely-there bases. So you may consider it a brave move for Clinique to take this moment to launch a new foundation that promises full coverage, perfected complexion with the ability to cover and conceal all in one. Wishing for a flawless face? Then just wave this magic wand.

The Beyond Perfecting Foundation and Concealer from Clinique is a liquid consistency that comes with an unique doe foot applicator that can be used in a variety of different ways by altering the angle. Use the end to dot the foundation all over your face, turn it sideways to spread across the cheeks or just use the tip to cover tiny imperfections - three easy ways to get the level of coverage you want. Even though this is a full coverage foundation it does feel incredibly light and breathable on the skin which is down to the formula that adapts to the skin's needs. It hydrates and absorbs excess oil, zapping away any shiny areas and glides on  and blends out easily with a buffing brush. I did find it does dry quite quickly though once swiped onto your skin so it is best to work in small areas, gently buffing in as you go. This foundation has a lovely natural-matte satin-like finish and lasts on the skin all day without budging, creasing or needing any powdering on top.

Yes this is a heavy duty foundation but used in the right way, either just as a concealer to cover imperfections, lightly dotted on your skin to even up your complexion or maybe in conjunction with a tinted moisturiser to give you that little extra coverage, it is a great product to have in your collection. I have been using it mainly as a concealer and it could possibly even rival my beloved NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer...so it must be pretty good!

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