Review/Swatch/FOTD/Comparison: Clarins Nude Inspiration Double Palette - Face & Blush Duo, Nude Inspiration Collection, Autumn 2009

Local Clarins invited me along with other beauty bloggers to the launch of this collection some time back. As usual, the timing was totally off for me. (I am probably the only active beauty blogger in Kaula Lumpur who is married with a child and lots of family responsibilities... *_*) The person in charge even tried to meet me at another location but still, the timing was bad as I had to pick up my son from school. Therefore, I thank her offering and decided to see this collection on my own term at my regular boutique in Curve...


I should have made that trip! Why? I later found out through other blogs that this palette, the only item that I bought from the entire collection was given out free to all the bloggers who attended the event!!! Oh My God! And I paid good dollars for it! (I believe other girls also received a lipstick or something else too!) OK, I am sulking now... Why or why she didn't tell me that I was getting this long waited lemming as a gift???!!! If anyone deserved anything free from local Clarins, it should have been me as I believe I am the blogger using the most Clarins products around here... (**I hope I am wrong about the freebies...)


Sigh... That's just the story of my life, always missing out fun beauty events. But then again, I wouldn't have wished for free makeup in exchange of the time with my son at all. No way!


Anyway, couple of readers pointed out this palette is NOT available in the USA but it seems like the rest of the world is getting it. Once again, I want to emphasize that I absolutely hate cosmetics giants doing exclusives. I can still accept limited editions as there are things that we probably will buy one and just move on. But it is just so unfair that some products are only available in certain countries but the rest of the consumers have to go on a hunt. If a makeup company can afford to open up business around the world, it is only fair for all the countries that carry its brand offer the same products! (Of course, there are exceptions when (if) there are restrictions of laws & regulations in different countries...)


Enough of rants. Let me get on with my own business!

Clarins Nude Inspiration Double Palette - Face & Blush Duo, Limited Edition,
Nude Inspiration Collection, Autumn, 2009

Product Description:





The compact powder palette is decorated with a wheat field motif and the blush palette with ears of wheat. The subtle, soft shades are inspired by nature and enhance the natural colours of the face. The ultra-fine, silky textures cover the complexion in a featherlight veil.


A handy palette for both morning make-up and touch-ups during the day. Easy to slip into an evening bag. The compact powder evens and sets make-up while the complementary blush palette shades can be blended together or applied alone. - Clarin UK

Overall View
(The following three pictures were taken with the compact untouched.)








The Powder
The golden part was just an overspray









The Blush Duo
You can see there are shimmers interlaced in both shades.

Put to Test:


What I did was to swipe off the golden overspray before trying out the colours. (I tested all the colours with and without the golden overspray in the boutique and realized that the golden shimmers were better off left without.) What showed underneath in the upper decker were 3 powder colours. (My biggest concern was the darkest honey of the wheat. Fortunately, it was only a small area and the colour wasn't that dark either.)


The lower decker housed 2 lightly shimmery blush colours - one light peach and one bronze brown. Once the overspray on the wheat swept off, it showed the same colour of the bronze brown. The faint shimmers on both blushes were not overspray and stayed true throughout. I am all for lightly shimmered warm blushes so these were an instant love.


I swatched the sample compact in the store and took a picture to show you in the previous post. However, I didn't think the lighting in the store helped much with the coloring. Therefore, I did it again at home under natural overcast daylight without turning flashlight on. Hopefully, the two swatch pictures below show more accurate colours...

Swatches - Powder

See how much I have used the powder!

UPDATE 30/November/2009: The three stalks of the wheat (darkest colour) don't go all the way down to the bottom of the palette. They have started showing the medium shade underneath after I have used this palette for some time. I am wondering if the lightest colour is the same? Not sure for now as I haven't seen anything difference. I will update if there is new discovery.

Swatches - Blush Duo

Notice you can depot the upper decker easily by pushing a pin into that hole? You can replace it with another compact powder. The problem is - Clarins doesn't make many refills this size and shape yet! (Well, please correct me if I am wrong. This was what the girl at the boutique told me anyway... She said she didn't have anything to fill that up. LOL!)

FOTD - only using the powder









FOTD - Using both powder & the blush

The powder works really well for my colouring and it is very finely milled and soft to the touch even though it is slightly powdery. (And maybe that's why I am using it up rather fast?) The powder keeps foundation and concealer really well too. I haven't seen much shine (sheen) on me when I used it. I have to give it an A+ for oil controlling even though it was not an expected effect.


The shimmery blush duo is very nice too. The texture is not as powdery as the powder above. I feel they are consistent with the texture of the regular Clarins Powder Blushes - Firm and pigmented. :) The light peach reminds me of Chanel Joues Contraste #82 Reflex but not as coral nor nearly as shimmery.


What a shame as I thought it might have been the dupe of that. (I have come to the conclusion that it's super difficult to find dupes for Chanel Joues Contraste Blushes after so many attempts...)


For what it's worth, this blush duo offers really natural blushed from within colour on my cheeks when mixed the two shades lightly with a large powder brush. It fits right into the Nude collection perfectly. The colours are long lasting as well. I haven't done any touch-ups on any occasions.



Packaging/Price:


Price: 160MYR/€28 (about the same when converted)

Content: 2 x 9g. / 2 x 0.3 oz.

Value: Decent amount for both powder and blushes. It may appear to be expensive with its price tag but it is totally worth it for what it offers!


The packaging is the same shape and design of Clarins Powder Blush and Colour Quartets for Eyes but it's thicker because there are two deckers. I like how Clarins synchronizes its powder compacts. This is very convenient for organization.


However, there is something short. It doesn't offer any brushes at all. It would have been perfect, if there was a third compartment with a compact powder brush! Wishful thinking, eh?





My Verdict:


I have been incorporating this compact in my daily routine. It has become clear to me that it's a very useful multi-functional product and may soon turn into a HG. I am even considering carrying it to Sydney with me. I am not one who packs the whole makeup cabinet when travelling, let alone when I move! Therefore, it shows how much I adore this compact and its ability (possibility) to be used regularly.


There is overspray on the compact but only small areas and it's best not to have those golden shimmers anyway. The colors really work well with my complexion, despite of my initial worries. There are products that give you that polished smart look that you just have to reach for them again and again and this compact duo is exactly that for me.


If you have access to this compact duo, please do try it in person. I have the feeling that the blush duo works for most warm skin tones. However, please make sure that colours of the powder work for you too before jumping the queue. I wouldn't recommend purchasing this compact blindly off the Net. After all, you don't want to buy something that's only half useful despite of my high praises and it's being exclusive and limited. :)


So now the next question for me is, "To back up, or not to back up?"






Ingredients:

My Colouring:

Make Up For Ever Full Cover Extreme Camouflage Cream #4, Lift Concealer #3, Duo Mat Powder Foundation #202, Liquid Lift Foundation #2, High Definition Foundation #125, Clarins Instant Smooth Foundation #1.5, Laura Mercier Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer Bare Radiance, Shu Uemura Nobara Cream Cover Stick Foundation #774

Light Asian skin (obvious brown spots on cheekbones, slightly dry & doesn't break out easily), dark brown eyes, black hair, medium pigmented lips.

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