Clarins Splendours Colour Quartet and Eyeliner Palette

 RRP: £31

--What does the promo say?--
"Shadow and light create mesmerizing eyes that are like an invitation to distant lands. Solar symbols add a touch of sophistication to the Colour Quartet & Liner Eye Palette and decorate the case and the powder. A palette of 3 shimmering shades - copper, pale gold, and pink gold - illuminate the eyes. To add rich, intense definition, use the eyeliners." 

--Packaging--
The range of applicators and goodly-sized mirror included in this compact are a big bonus, as is the instruction booklet to help create various looks. However, the very obviously plastic-looking case is a disappointment for £31: similar palettes from brands at this price point, such as Guerlain, go for more sophisticated looks, such as metal-effect, to maximise the feeling that you've got value for money. Clarins also hasn't made the brand seem modern with its dark red casing, which makes the palette seem like a 70s or 80s throwback that might be more likely seen on your gran's dressing table than yours.

--Application--
Clarins advises applying the pale gold shade over the eyelid for a natural look. For further definition, the pink and dark brown shades can be used. The eyeliner included is black. The little instruction booklet provided in the box, and the range of applicators provided, means that this can't possibly go wrong.

--Appearance--
The subtly shimmery basis of this means that it's formal enough for work while being special enough for evenings. But it's not all glitter and no colour: the neutral palette of gold, brown and pink works well with any skin tone and the additional black eyeliner can add as much or as little drama as you want. Would complement a tan well - so perfect for summer - but its sparkly qualities make it just as good for Christmas, as well as for brightening up the slightly duller, greyer seasons of spring and autumn.

--Texture and consistency--
Goes on silky smooth and there's practically no wastage due to it being so highly pigmented. No spare dust or powder flying around here.

--Longevity--
Lasted virtually all day, with only the tiniest bit of creasing towards the end of the evening. Very impressive.

--Value for money--
A top performance from an eyeshadow whose packaging is just a bit of a letdown, making the £31 price tag less justifiable. However, shop around and you will find it for less. This makes me feel a little bit more positive about the quality of Clarins products, which may make me try harder to seek them out even in the midst of what are usually their unexciting product lines.

 perfect partners
Instant Smooth Crystal Lip Balm, £18
Splendours Shimmer Body Oil, £38
Splendours Summer Bronzing Compact, £30
HydraQuench Tinted Moisturiser, £26

Clarins Instant Light Eye Perfecting Base

RRP: £20
# of shades available: 2

--What does the promo say?--
"The invisible and lightweight texture gently evens and smoothes the eyelids, for easy make-up application and more youthful-looking eyes. Eyeshadow colour is more beautiful, more intense and very long-lasting. For a flawless, long-wearing make-up result."

--Packaging--
An attractive and fashionable pen applicator, where the white tube is contrasted by the silver pull-off lid and red writing. You don't have to twist the end of the pen too long for the product to appear in the brush tip, but make sure you stop twisting as soon as you see any shadow of the product in the bristles: you only need the tiniest amount of this, so make sure you stop so that you can avoid wastage.

--Application--
Clarins recommends application of the product using fingers or a foundation brush, going all the way from the base of the eyelashes right up to the brow bone. This is to an extent accurate, but don't take them too literally at their word: as I mentioned above, you only need to be very sparing with this product. I set about it by lining the top lashes with the product, and then blending upwards and outwards using my finger, rather than covering the whole eyelid with the product.

--Appearance--
To my mind, this product promises two things in terms of appearance: one is a natural-looking base for eye makeup, and the other is radiance (as implied by the 'instant light' in the product name). I personally didn't find it did either of these things on me (although perhaps strangely, despite the colours appearing to be for Caucasian skin, the makeup artist in the video on the Clarins website seemed more able to make this product look natural on a Chinese person and on a black person than I was able to make it look on my own pale skin). I didn't notice any difference in radiance, but this is not disastrous. The colour, however, was disastrous. I didn't realise initially that there were two shades available (00, and the one I ended up with, 01), so my commentary will obviously not be a full one. However, the shade I had was terrible: it seemed like it was more for people with olivey complexions rather than with skin tones like mine (think English rose), so what I got was more like a reverse tan-line effect: the product made my eyelids and under-eye area look yellower than the rest of my face. Whether I would achieve a more favourable result with shade 00 remains to be seen; however, I get the impression that 01 would only suit a fairly narrow range of skin tones.

--Texture--
Very smooth; quite blendable, too, although the problems delineated above concerning colour perhaps didn't make blending the easiest thing in the world on this occasion.

--Longevity--
This product at least comes through on one of its promised aspects: it certainly does hold your eye makeup well, preventing creases and fading from occurring. However, I wouldn't say that it does this any better or worse than the other two eye primers I have used in the past (Benefit's Lemon Aid, and Fyrinnae's Shadow Primer, both of which are cheaper than Clarins' primer).

--Value for money--
You can probably already guess that on this point the Eye Perfecting Base does not fare fantastically. The price cannot be justified due to the difficulty in colour matching and the apparent lack of radiance provided, even if it is ultimately a reliable primer. For radiance, instead opt for Yves St Laurent's Touche Eclat, and for an equally reliable primer at a less bank-busting price, go for either of the two I mentioned above.

perfect partners
Instant Light Perfecting Touch, £22.99
Concealer Stick, £16
Eyebrow Kit 'Pro' Palette, £29.50

Clarins Instant Gloss

RRP: €14/$22 (not out in the UK yet, but I'm sure it will be soon)

--What does the promo say?--
"This innovative lip gloss is totally transparent and reacts on contact with the lips instantly transforming their natural colour into a customized shade just for you."

--Packaging--
Pretty innocuous really - while it's different to other brands in the sense that most other gloss tubes are not bright red, within the Clarins brand you wouldn't know this gloss from any other (not sure whether that's good or bad). Can be a little difficult to squeeze the gloss from the tube sometimes.

--Application--
As mentioned above, this is perhaps achieved with some difficulty at times, but just slick this onto your lips and you're good to go. It definitely doesn't gloop all over the place, though - you just might have to squeeze the tube with a little more force than you're usually accustomed to.

--Scent--
Again, as with the previous Clarins gloss that I tried, it's a little soapy. Shame.

--Texture/consistency--
Near on perfect: not sticky, not runny, and feels encouragingly smooth.

--Appearance--
Initially all you get is the transparent high shine that you expect from Clarins' lip glosses. Give it a few minutes though, and you get a sort of half-matte, half-shiny, definitely there dusky rose pink colour in the gloss. The colour also lasts way beyond the shine factor, which is interesting. Looks very natural and will fit in with just about any look no matter what your skin tone, so definitely very diverse and adaptable. Good for just about anything from a day at work to a romantic date.

--Longevity--
Interestingly, as said above, the general glossiness lasts averagely, but the colour itself stays the distance, without drying out your lips.

--Value for money--
At the same price (and perhaps cheaper than) a Benefit lip gloss, I think you're getting very good value here, even if the colour change isn't *instant* and generally isn't as good/as dramatic as Thierry Mugler's colour-changing lip colour. You don't need to use very much at a time and the product generally delivers on its promise. A good solid product.

Clarins Moisture Replenishing Lip Balm

RRP: £14.69 for 15ml

--What does the promo say?--
"A balm formulation choc-full of key ingredients. Because of its super-concentration, chapped, dry, cracked lips are a thing of the past. Instead lips are soft, smooth and given a new lease of life. Perfect for the entire family, it protects and delivers continuous moisture."

--Packaging--
Classic Clarins in unisex white and dark red (although, saying that, their men's range is white and dark blue). Refreshingly uncomplicated.

--Application--
The Clarins website recommends the following: "Apply morning and/or evening and several times during the day if needed. Gently squeeze the tube and apply pressing the slanted tip against lips." I'm surprised they actually recommend reapplication several times a day, as it implies that the balm doesn't hold for long. Is this a stupid mistake? Are they just trying to get you to apply it liberally so that you buy more of it? Or are they just being honest?

--Appearance--
A beautiful peachy colour that looks wonderfully natural, while still delivering high shine on the lips, and which also makes lips appear bigger.

--Scent/taste--
Unfortunately, this smells and tastes much like soap. A shame, as the peachy colour leads you to expect something fruitier. Even more unfortunately, the taste really lingers in the mouth if you happen to catch it on your tongue. Make sure you have a box of Tic Tacs ready.

--Texture/consistency--
Wonderfully sumptuous and thick without being sticky, stringy or heavy.

--Longevity--
This has excellent tenure - it isn't perfect, but certainly puts up a better fight than the majority of high street glosses and balms. Reapply 2-4 times a day.

--Effects on the lips--
Short-term and long-term, this provides an effective barrier against cold winds and keeps your lips soft and smooth.

--Value for money--
A versatile and effective product that combines the glamour of gloss with the utility of a lip balm, this is a great way to sex up those dull winter days, and certainly worth your £14 - especially since you need so little per application. However, they really really need to sort that taste out - it's the only thing stopping this from being a virtually perfect product.

perfect partners
Gentle Facial Peeling, £20.55 for 40ml
Thirst-Quenching HydraCare Mask, £25.45 for 50ml