Clarins The Essentials Eye Make-Up Palette – Review & Swatches

The Essentials Palette by Clarins got a sultry new makeover with a beautiful selection of icy silvers and sexy midnight hues that range from royal blue to blackened navy. Previous palette designs featured purple hues and everyday neutrals but these smoldering pigments create bold contrast for the perfect smoky eye.

The packaging is simple yet sophisticated and comes with a small mirror and double-ended brush. I’d prefer a magnetic closure instead of the red band but it fastens securely for travel.

The shadows are enriched with plant extracts and there are 4 different textures: 5 pearl shades, 1 silvery diamond pop, 3 satin finishes and 1 matte. The radiant silver shimmer stands out among the other colors because the bright metallic finish is highly saturated and creamy. You can apply it subtly or layer heavier for a dramatic chrome effect but there may be some fallout as you smooth it on. The deep blues are silky and intense for easy blending and long-wear coverage but some of the black undertones appear quite similar on the skin. These shades can be used to define the crease and accentuate the lower lash line.

I always recommend a good primer to enhance color and when using the lighter end of this palette you are going to need it. These shades are much softer (which is fine) but the color payoff is very sheer. The second grey and the light blue beside it appear very faint which makes them harder to intensify. I use the first 3 shadows to highlight but more variation and vibrancy among these shades would have made the palette even better.

If you’re in the market for beautiful blue pigments, the Essentials Palette ($62.00) creates iridescent eyes worthy of the red carpet.

Now that we’ve talked makeup, let’s move onto skincare essentials. There is always an incentive to purchase Clarins products and I’m not just talking about the nourishing formulas that make your complexion look amazing. Sometimes you receive cute gifts with purchase including bestsellers and this month there were 3 beauty routine bags designed for busy women on-the-go.

The Glamour Set comes with a cute beauty bag, SOS Hydra Mask, Hydra-Essentiel Silky Cream, Extra Firming Body Lotion and one of my favorite lip treatments – the Instant Light Lip Comfort Oil. These are perfect for travel and during a long, drying flight they boost hydration levels and keep your skin balanced.

These products are available at Clarins counters nationwide, department stores (including Hudson’s Bay), Sephora, Shoppers Drug Mart and online at calrins.ca.