Pretty in pastels

With the most delicious French accent, Claude from Clarins demonstrated the new spring make-up collection, Neo Pastels, at a beauty brunch today at the gorgeous Kitchen at de Bretts…

With the most delicious French accent, Claude from Clarins demonstrated the new spring make-up collection, Neo Pastels, at a beauty brunch today at the gorgeous Kitchen at de Bretts.

Romantics will love this new colour story from Clarins for Spring 2011/12 – Neo Pastels – with its roses and lilacs and ever-so-pretty pinks in subtle shades inspired by poets and watercolourists.

The complexion is bright and luminous with pink cheeks making her a blushing beauty. Lips are sheer washes of colour.

Clarins Neo Pastels Eye Colour and Liner Palette ($85) is an artist’s palette of colours ready to paint a masterpiece in watercolour shades, along with a black eyelines to add depth. The palette comes in three colour pairs: browns, pinks and violets. Paint it on dry for a subtle colour wash, or wet for a more intense colour. Show me the Monet.

Blush Prodige Illuminating cheek colour ($75) has four segments of cheek colour with two pairs of a matte to sculpt, and a shimmering shade to add lights to the face. it is exceptionally silky and blends amazingly. The blush comes in six colour harmonies from the baby pink Lovely Rose, through the apricot Sunset Coral, to the browny Spiced Mocha.

For lips this Spring, Clarins Joli Rouge Brilliant Perfect Shine Sheer Lipstick ($53) has the best of all worlds: the creaminess of a lipstick, and the comfort of a lip balm, with the shine of a lipgloss. It does have shimmers, and is less pigmented than the Rouge Prodige lipstick range. It gives shine combined with transparent colour rather than a complete colour coverage, and the lipstick’s formulation makes lips feel hydrated with a creamy texture, and appear fuller. The silvery metal case feels high luxury.

Below: Claude demonstrating the make-up on a model.

Claude said the biggest threat to skin is the sun, the second biggest is pollution.

The Clarins brunch launching Neo Pastels.

Neo Pastels are available in NZ from 1 August 2011.

Megan Robinson, 20 July 2011.