January 22, 2013

Clarins Skin Illusion Loose Powder Foundation Review & Swatches

This was provided to me by a brand for review but all opinions expressed are my own

My review on Clarins Skin Illusion Loose Powder Foundation is a long time coming. It’s something I’ve used almost religiously for the past several months and something that really excites me since I can’t wear powder foundation products well due to my drier skin.

This is a silky, loose powder foundation with light-reflecting pigments, minerals and plant extracts that creates a radiant matte finish and a natural, bare skin effect. There’s the keywords, “bare skin effect”…! Who doesn’t want coverage that’s flawless and natural?

That’s one of the key benefits of Clarins Skin Illusion Loose Powder Foundation, the bare skin effect and the reason I LOVE it.

This is a light to medium coverage foundation. I wouldn’t personally recommend using it as a setting powder or a finishing one. You’ll want to use this as it was intended, as a foundation powder. I’ve tried it in a variety of ways but I come out of each experience believing that the best possible use is by itself over a moisturizing primer. This provides long wear, excellent coverage, and a bare skin effect without overdoing it. Used in conjunction with a BB Cream or even a liquid or cream foundation takes away from that bare skin effect and makes you appear like you visibly have on makeup. The key here is getting the powder to look natural, displaying a bare skin finish.

This comes in a gold jar with a brush that clicks in and out of the jar. You can actually push the brush into the powder when the lid is loose to capture it. The harder you push the more powder will transfer to the brush. After you’ll want to simply dab away access and buff gently onto freshly primed skin. If you have dry skin like me I highly suggest a rich moisturizer followed up with a hydrating primer for the smoothest finish.

I personally like to use the powder sheer as I don’t have a ton to cover and simply want to ease dullness and even out skin tone. The brush has a flat head which allows me to buff gently into my skin. Over do it your buffing, buff, buff, and buff some more..this is a sure way to get the best possibly finish from the product. Start sheer and if you want medium coverage slowly build it up so the coverage continues to look natural. I do small, yet hard circles, so the brush is pressed firmly to my skin as I slowly buff it into place.

The results?

Perfection. A flawless, softer complexion. The silky finish doesn’t accentuate my flaky areas nor does it settle around my drier areas. I admit it feels hecka nicer in warmer weather but even on a cold day this still manages to look very fresh, very natural, and has an incredible wear time of at least six hours before showing signs of wear. I recommend, I don’t typically say this, setting it with a mist of your choice if you have drier skin. This lightens the matte finish and creates a more ethereal dewiness to the finish of the powder and in fact makes skin look Photoshopped and positively amazing.

Far be it for me to rave powder anything being a dry skin girl but I must admit, when applied correctly, Clarins Skin Illusion Loose Powder Foundation is a terribly impressive foundation product that creates surreal, gorgeous skin in a few simple steps.

Muse Approved.

Available at Clarins counters or online at www.clarinsusa.com

This was provided to me by a brand for review but all opinions expressed are my own

About the Muse

Isabella MuseIsabella is just an average everyday geeky girl who doesn’t blend her eyeshadow correctly, wears too much blush, and hopes she never finds her holy grail products because she likes the thrill of the chase so much. Her mission is to bring you super honest reviews on makeup, skincare, fragrance and all things beauty. She’s in no way an expert on the topic and she sure as hell isn’t a super model. But she’s passionate about makeup and is seeking like-minded individuals that like pina coladas, getting caught in the rain, and ones that enjoy spending hundreds of dollars at Sephora without feeling buyer’s remorse. If you’re that person feel free to reach out and leave a comment or follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Bloglovin‘.

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Comments

  • LINDARRAGNAR

    oh that is mighty pretty!!! but it seems a bit tricky to work with!!! 🙂

  • blueraccoon

    I generally prefer pressed powder to loose powder foundations but this is mighty tempting, especially since it comes with the brush…

  • Angel

    Oh now I need this too!!! I just ordered the new NARS light reflecting pressed powder based on your review. I’m DYING to get it, can’t wait!!! This foundation sounds really nice. I might have too see it in person to get a better idea of the shades. I’m fair, MAC NC20 and I think the Cream color might work for me, but not sure. Thanks for the review!

    • the Muse

      OH yes angel please tell me what you think when it arrives!? I love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ;-D my pleasure! Nordstrom and macys has it in stock so you can swatch 😀

  • Stelladiva

    Thanks for your review! What primer did you use with this? Do you think would work well over tinted moisturizer?

    • the Muse

      I wouldn’t use it with anything else stella, it’s meant to be used as a foundation product not as setting or finishing powder. Under it I typically use Biore Moisturizing Sealing Gel Lotion followed up with Revlon Photoready Primer. 🙂

  • Karin C.

    This looks amazing! Which color did you use and do you know how the colors align with Bare Minerals?

    • the Muse

      this is shade 108 karin, unfortunately they don’t have as extensive a shade selection as BM.

  • Audrey

    Muse, since this is light to medium coverage, if I applied a BB Cream under this, do you think I would get fuller coverage? I’m so intrigued by this foundation, but I need hefty coverage due to acne scars.

    • the Muse

      hey audrey mentioned in the review not a good idea under bb cream or foundation 🙂 too MUCH! just this alone.