Clarins Opalescence Spring 2014 - Blush, Lipstick, Eyeshadow, Base

The Clarins Opalescence Collection is probably one of the most delicately beautiful Spring 2014 collections out there. I am coveting the limited edition eye and face palettes with the passion of a thousand suns, and I will pick them up as soon as I can spot them.

The collection also features some new additions to the permanent line-up, as well as some all new products. They are as delightfully spring-like as the limited edition items in the collection, and while I did have a chance to test them out before my holidays down south, they are an even more welcome respite from the horrifying winter now that I am back.

The Multi-Blush Cream Blush is a cream-to-powder formula that contains a mix of Rose, Mimosa and Sunflower waxes to keep skin hydrated, and a "Light Optimizing Complex" to boost radiance.

Clarins Multi-Blush in 04 Rosewood

The Multi-Blush actually reminds me a lot of the Chanel cream blushes, with that ultra-lightweight texture, and non-powdery "powder" finish that resists looking too matte. (The Chanel is a touch creamier in the pan, and the Clarins goes one more sheerly.)

I wouldn't say the finish is radiant, but it looks very, very natural. As you can see from the swatches below, it blends beautifully into the skin, leaving behind no edges or discernible texture. I do find that it dries quickly, so while most cream blushes do very well when applied with fingers, this one definitely benefits from application and blending with a small, dense but fluffy brush, like the Real Techniques Contour Brush, or the MUFE 152 Medium Highlighter Brush.

It has an airy quality that makes it easy to sheer out for a delicate flush, but it can also be built up. Wear time is ok - about 5-6 hours before I noticed fading - but will need a touch-up if you want it to carry through the day. What's nice is that it doesn't seem to suffer when re-applied over powder product.

There are 4 shades available:

• 01 Peach 
• 02 Candy 
• 03 Grenadine 
• 04 Rosewood

I received it in the shade Rosewood, which is a lovely, slightly dusty rose that should suit most fair-to-medium complexions. It's a softly romantic, pretty shade that's perfect for spring. (I'll have to pick up the coral-leaning Candy for summer!)

Clarins Multi-Blush in 04 Rosewood - heavy and blended out

There are also three new additions to the Joli Rouge Perfect Shine Sheer Lipstick range:

• 19 Tropical Pink 
• 20 Coral Tulip 
• 21 Pink Orchid

These are meant to have a shiny, transparent finish, and a hydrating formula. I personally find them moisturizing, though with a thinner texture than most gloss/lipstick hybrids. The finish is translucent, but there is still enough pigment to markedly alter the colour of my lips - sort of a stained glass or cellophane effect.

The bullet is a weighty silver metal with an oval shape - which means precisely nothing, but I do appreciate the small ways in which a brand chooses to distinguish themselves from the pack. Like most Clarins lipsticks, it smells sweetly fruity, and not in a light handed way.

Clarins Joli Rouge Perfect Shine Sheer Lipstick in 21 Pink Orchid

I received the shade Pink Orchid, which is a shimmery warm pink, just this side of watermelon. It's fresh, juicy and spring/summer perfection.

Clarins Joli Rouge Perfect Shine Sheer Lipstick in 21 Pink Orchid

Clarins Joli Rouge Perfect Shine Sheer Lipstick in 21 Pink Orchid

If you've followed this blog, you know that I've bemoaned the reformulation of the Clarins single eyeshadows. The older version are deeply pigmented and buttery smooth. The new Ombre Minérale are a wet and dry formula, which didn't impress me upon initial swatting when it first debuted. I don't know if they've since tweaked the formula, or if this new shade somehow different (or my expectations have changed in the last year), but I actually really, really love this Ombre Minérale.

Applied dry, it is indeed sheerer, but it's not as dry as I remembered. It has a soft but dense, slightly creamy feel (though not as buttery smooth as the previous incarnation). The pigmentation is reasonable, and it blends very well, though I had to be careful with some shimmer fall-out. Applied wet, however, it was perfectly lovely. The payoff was stronger, and the shimmer took on a more metallic cast - and stayed in place without any problems. I'll stand corrected on this one. It might not be true love, but I can appreciate the flexibility a dual formula like this can offer.

The two new shades are:

• 17 Smoky Plum (Vibrant Light on the US site, for some reason)
• 04 Golden Rose

Clarins Ombre Minérale in 17 Smoky Plum

I received the shade Smoky Plum, which is very aptly named. It's a plummy silver-taupe (AKA The Most Perfect Colour Ever), with a ton of shimmer. Beautiful as soft wash (wear primer to control the fallout) or as part of a metallic smoky eye.

Clarins Ombre Minérale in 17 Smoky Plum

The last all-new item is the Instant Light Radiance Boosting Complexion Base. This promises to smooth, correct and illuminate the complexion with Katafray Bark extract and a a "High-Lumitech" Complex.

I don't know about complexes, Lumitech or otherwise, but this is essentially an ultra-smooth primer with a veil of colour-toning pigment and a demi-matte, naturally-luminous finish. It can be used under makeup as a primer, or by itself if you're one of the blessed few that don't need much in the way of face magic. It's not particularly hydrating by itself, though it does give a bit more of a boost than most regular primers.

The colour looks a little distressing when pumped out of the tube, but the texture is fine and applies very sheer. It's enough to blur certain tones while boosting others, but not enough to turn your face into, say, a pumpkin. (Which I may, perhaps, have been worried about when I saw the orange-peach blob I pumped out.) The texture and finish actually reminds me a bit of the CLarins BB Cream, albeit lighter and more liquid. It has that lightweight texture that disappears right into the skin (thanks, silicone!), leaving it simultaneously matte and radiant. It doesn't have any overt shimmer, so I don't know how it manages this feat. (I suspect witchcraft.)

It can be smoothed on with fingers or a foundation brush, all over the face or just in areas where the colour-toning action will be most beneficial. (Personally, I like applying it with the Glamcor Contour Brush.)

It comes in three shades, each meant to address a different concern and/or skin tone:

• 01 Rose – gives maximum radiance to all skin tones 
• 02 Champagne – corrects redness in fair complexions 
• 03 Peach – revives the radiance of tanned complexions

Instant Light Radiance Boosting Complexion Base in 03 Peach

Mine came in Peach, which, again, looked alarming to my hibernating paleness. Buffed in, however, it looked more warming than orange, and could conceivable be a good base for those of you who like to self-tan your body but not your face. If you have a medium, tan or olive complexion, however, this might be perfect. I suspect it would provide an especially nice boost if you tend to look more sallow and tired in the winter.

Instant Light Radiance Boosting Complexion Base in 03 Peach: buffed in, lightly blended, dollop

All in all, I'm quite pleased/impressed with these items from the Clarins Opalescence Collection. I can see myself getting a couple of the blushes, and I'd love to try the base in Champagne. Hopefully I'll have a chance to pick up the palettes as well, because Clarins does amazing blush/face palettes every year.
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What about you guys? Have you nabbed anything from this collection yet? Are there any other Spring items that you're already loving?

Availability: Mostly up on www.thebay.com and at The Bay, and in select Pharmaprix and Murale locations. Blushes are 30$ CAD, lipsticks are 27$ CAD, eyeshadows are 22$ CAD, bases are 37$ CAD.

(These items were provided by the brand/PR to be considered for review. This post is not sponsored or compensated. All opinions are my own.)