If you're anything like me, you wake up and allow an hour to get ready but waste forty minutes making coffee and watching the telly. No matter how early I set my alarm, I always run out of time to perfect my makeup look and simultaneously ensure I'm wearing a super sleek outfit. Something always has to give. However, there is a way that you can look fabulous when you've only got five minutes to spare (because you were watching style tips on Lorraine) thanks to the great products from Clarins that bridge the gap between skincare and makeup. As a fan of multifunctional products, their repertoire offers a multitude of ways for me to look and feel great every morning without the need for twenty different items. Here are the products I'm currently using to take me from knackered to knock-out in under five minutes (and using only seven pieces.)
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1. Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch
This super smooth formula provides a velvety finish and literally blurs away fine lines. It's a skin perfector with a difference, helping to create a 'blurred' effect over skin thanks to miniscule spheres of dehydrated Acacia; they lodge themselves in wrinkles, swelling to plump the skin as they absorb moisture. You only need a tiny amount of this applied over naked skin, worked in using circular movements. It's the perfect base and works as a handy primer too.
2. BB Skin Perfecting Cream
Make-up that behaves like skin care, this is undoubtedly the best of Clarins. A creamy and relatively thick texture glides over skin to provide an incredibly healthy glow, with a radiant sheen. You can build up the product for more coverage, hiding imperfections and reflecting the light where you need it most. There's no caking and the finish stays put all day, especially when a light dusting of powder is applied over the top to set it in place. What's even better is that it offers SPF25 and is suitable for all skin types. Without a doubt my current favourite base.
3. Instant Concealer
I normally like a heavy concealer, ensuring my dark circles and imperfections are covered. However, this extremely light texture melts into skin and helps to revive the look of tired eyes by reflecting the light, soothing the skin and reducing puffiness. It includes corrective pigments specially developed to target the colour of dark circles and illuminate the eye area, as well as aloe vera extract to soothe and caffeine to stimulate circulation. The texture ensures it doesn't sit in fine lights and works to highlight simultaneously too.
4. Multi-Blush Cream Blush
A flush of colour on the cheeks can accentuate freshness and give the illusion of youthfulness. A creamy blush is much more natural and allows the colour to melt into the skin, working brilliantly with the effortless finish of the BB Skin Perfecting Cream. There are a great range of colours on offer, but I prefer a delicate pink shade to give the illusion of flushed cheeks. The formula even includes floral waxes from rose, mimosa, jojoba and sunflower to protect skin against dehydration. Bonus.
5. Be Long Mascara
A great mascara can mean the difference between looking wide awake and still half asleep. This mascara helps to catch every individual lash and coat it with a super dark formula, giving the illusion of full volume and natural 'baby doll' lashes. You can build up the formula for a stronger result (and be warned that it does run if you suffer from hayfever,) but this provides a great day look for an effortless finish. Clarins have even included two ingredients to look after your flutter in the long-term: Matrikine to enhance lash growth each day and Panthenol to help strengthen lashes.
6. 3-Dot Liner
Extremely handy if you're not great with a liner pen, the 3-Dot Eye Liner is enriched with growth-stimulating ingredients which condition lashes while providing an intense colour result. The triple point sponge applicator delivers a precise result that can be built up by dabbing the pen along the lash line, ensuring an effortless look in seconds. A little black winged liner will always spice up a look and give the impression you've spent ages getting ready.
7. Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector
Possibly my favourite lipgloss of all time, these Lip Perfectors provide smooth, shiny and fuller lips in one go. The light reflecting pigments optically smoothe lips and makes your pout look fuller, while shea butter and mango extract helps soften and protect - something you don't tend to get in glosses. The sponge applicator ensures a precise result, while the non-sticky finish is great for applying as you rush out the door to catch the tube.
I love the fact Clarins bridge the gap between skincare and makeup with these products, adding a little more benefit than you'd expect when applying a lipgloss or adding a touch of mascara. These seven products really help me to look and feel great in a minimum amount of time - which is what we're all after. Although these are my personal faves and current routine, Clarins have also teamed up with beauty expert Sali Hughes to create three looks that will ensure everyone looks fabulous - no matter how much time they have. Sali has created three videos (a simple five minute look, a slightly more defined ten minute look and a super glam fifteen minute look,) which show you how to use the products and why she loves them as much as me. Why not have a look at the first below and have a go at creating it yourself - no brushes or faffing required!
What do you think of Sali's five minute look? Have you used any of these Clarins products?
This is a sponsored post on behalf of Clarins. (But I still really do love the products above!)![]()
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1. Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch
This super smooth formula provides a velvety finish and literally blurs away fine lines. It's a skin perfector with a difference, helping to create a 'blurred' effect over skin thanks to miniscule spheres of dehydrated Acacia; they lodge themselves in wrinkles, swelling to plump the skin as they absorb moisture. You only need a tiny amount of this applied over naked skin, worked in using circular movements. It's the perfect base and works as a handy primer too.
2. BB Skin Perfecting Cream
Make-up that behaves like skin care, this is undoubtedly the best of Clarins. A creamy and relatively thick texture glides over skin to provide an incredibly healthy glow, with a radiant sheen. You can build up the product for more coverage, hiding imperfections and reflecting the light where you need it most. There's no caking and the finish stays put all day, especially when a light dusting of powder is applied over the top to set it in place. What's even better is that it offers SPF25 and is suitable for all skin types. Without a doubt my current favourite base.
3. Instant Concealer
I normally like a heavy concealer, ensuring my dark circles and imperfections are covered. However, this extremely light texture melts into skin and helps to revive the look of tired eyes by reflecting the light, soothing the skin and reducing puffiness. It includes corrective pigments specially developed to target the colour of dark circles and illuminate the eye area, as well as aloe vera extract to soothe and caffeine to stimulate circulation. The texture ensures it doesn't sit in fine lights and works to highlight simultaneously too.
4. Multi-Blush Cream Blush
A flush of colour on the cheeks can accentuate freshness and give the illusion of youthfulness. A creamy blush is much more natural and allows the colour to melt into the skin, working brilliantly with the effortless finish of the BB Skin Perfecting Cream. There are a great range of colours on offer, but I prefer a delicate pink shade to give the illusion of flushed cheeks. The formula even includes floral waxes from rose, mimosa, jojoba and sunflower to protect skin against dehydration. Bonus.
5. Be Long Mascara
A great mascara can mean the difference between looking wide awake and still half asleep. This mascara helps to catch every individual lash and coat it with a super dark formula, giving the illusion of full volume and natural 'baby doll' lashes. You can build up the formula for a stronger result (and be warned that it does run if you suffer from hayfever,) but this provides a great day look for an effortless finish. Clarins have even included two ingredients to look after your flutter in the long-term: Matrikine to enhance lash growth each day and Panthenol to help strengthen lashes.
6. 3-Dot Liner
Extremely handy if you're not great with a liner pen, the 3-Dot Eye Liner is enriched with growth-stimulating ingredients which condition lashes while providing an intense colour result. The triple point sponge applicator delivers a precise result that can be built up by dabbing the pen along the lash line, ensuring an effortless look in seconds. A little black winged liner will always spice up a look and give the impression you've spent ages getting ready.
7. Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector
Possibly my favourite lipgloss of all time, these Lip Perfectors provide smooth, shiny and fuller lips in one go. The light reflecting pigments optically smoothe lips and makes your pout look fuller, while shea butter and mango extract helps soften and protect - something you don't tend to get in glosses. The sponge applicator ensures a precise result, while the non-sticky finish is great for applying as you rush out the door to catch the tube.
I love the fact Clarins bridge the gap between skincare and makeup with these products, adding a little more benefit than you'd expect when applying a lipgloss or adding a touch of mascara. These seven products really help me to look and feel great in a minimum amount of time - which is what we're all after. Although these are my personal faves and current routine, Clarins have also teamed up with beauty expert Sali Hughes to create three looks that will ensure everyone looks fabulous - no matter how much time they have. Sali has created three videos (a simple five minute look, a slightly more defined ten minute look and a super glam fifteen minute look,) which show you how to use the products and why she loves them as much as me. Why not have a look at the first below and have a go at creating it yourself - no brushes or faffing required!
What do you think of Sali's five minute look? Have you used any of these Clarins products?
This is a sponsored post on behalf of Clarins. (But I still really do love the products above!)