The base is the most important element of my make-up and the one where I rarely cut corners in terms of time or budget - even as a student I’d spend beyond my means on Chanel et al. I’ve always been the same, beside post-babies when I was too skint to afford luxuries and masked a sleep-deprived pallor with make-up rejects donated by a kind friend.
This time of year when so many brands launch new bases is always exciting for me and I love to test them out in search of my holy grail. Some are slow burners (still on the fence re the much raved Dior Star) and some lovely but not right for me (YSL Fusion Ink, great for oily/combo skins). Of all those I’ve tested in recent months, the stand out is Clarins True Radiance.
Previously a fan of Clarins Skin Illusion (one of the first products I reviewed on this blog), I know the brand is great at getting that coverage:glow balance on point. I’d say True Radiance is slightly more sheer than Skin Illusion and a notch up on the glow factor. It’s not a million miles from Clarins Extra Comfort foundation (yep, fan of that too) - again a touch lighter and dewier - but True Radiance is much easier to apply. A pump bottle and liquid formula mean this glides on with ease using a brush or fingers. It’s reasonably buildable, but I prefer to add extra coverage where required with Instant Concealer, another winner that really deserves an ode of its own. Creamy (unlike some with creamy in the name, lookin’ at you NARS), this is one of the few formulas that works equally well on blemishes and redness as it does on under eye circles.
So in a nutshell, think an illuminating, natural looking base with medium coverage and a creamy concealer that bounces off shadows without magnifying lines or pores… I’m seriously impressed with these two.
I had loads of pics of me wearing this, which are among hundreds that I lost recently (still not over it), but you can assume I’m wearing the foundation in the majority of recent pics on here and Instagram. The one above wasn’t taken in great light, but will hopefully give you an idea. For reference, I have dehydrated skin and use True Radiance in shade Ivory (103) though could also get away with more neutral toned Nude (105); I use 01 in Instant Concealer (& could probably go even lighter if it was available).
Clarins True Radiance Foundation, £23.75 | Clarins Instant Concealer, £18.45
