Let me start this with some real talk. I’ve never thought of Cle de Peau Beauté as a brand that – when it comes to makeup – really pushes the envelope. Their branding and positioning is pure department-store-luxury, with products that are dependably high quality…if a little safe.
And I mean that in the best possible way. I’ve never been let down by any product I’ve purchased from Cle de Peau, but I’ve also never been really surprised.
Till now.
Everything from Cle de Peau Beauté’s SS2017 collection impressed me, but like I said in my earlier Instagram post, there were a couple of stand-out products that really changed the way I thought about their ilk. The biggest OMG moment for me came from the Radiant Stick Foundation.
This is not like any stick foundation I’ve ever tried. It is so ridiculously lightweight. And I’m not saying this as a person who thinks stick foundation is still that heavy, pore-clogging tar they used to use in the 50’s. If you follow me, you’ll know I regularly use the Ultra HD one from Make Up For Ever which is already very lightweight and comfortable.
So if I’m saying the Radiant Stick Foundation is light…it’s light. So light that every time I use it, I find myself thinking that it feels more like skincare than makeup. In fact, I’d actually describe it as a tinted, hydrating cooling gel in stick form before I’d call it a foundation. Either way, it’s an incredibly unique formulation and one that really challenged what I thought a stick foundation should feel like.
Coverage wise, it is most conventionally described as being sheer and slightly buildable. Personally I find it goes a little deeper than that: every time I use it, I’m surprised at how something this sheer can make me look so good. It genuinely feels like I’m being rewarded for taking care of my skin – I mean, if I usually need medium coverage but can somehow achieve good results with this super sheer foundation, it must mean my skin itself has improved, right?
Deep down, I know this is just an illusion – my skin hasn’t improved dramatically since last week – but I’m not mad. Let’s face it, a sheer foundation with the technology to trick me into feeling better about my skin is kind of magical.
Here it is swatched next to my favourite Cle de Peau Beauté Concealer, both in Ivory.
Next up, I need to talk about the new Cream Blushes. Let me start by saying I do not like cream blushes. At all.
Here’s a bit of insight into my makeup routine: like most people, I do my base first and then apply blush over it. But I have dark red acne scars on my cheeks and it usually takes so much time to correct and spot-conceal everything that by the time I’m done, the last thing I want it to blend out a cream blush over all that work and have it just…undo everything. Which has been my experience with any cream blush I’ve ever tried and why you’ll notice I mostly stick to powder ones unless i’m having a very rare phenomenal-skin-day.
This formula however, has been a game-changer for me. It’s considered a cream and comes in a pot and everything, but once you touch it you’ll realize it’s actually quite solid and dry. Not in a bad way – it’s very silky to the touch – however it’s not wet in the least, and that makes all the difference when it comes to a product that isn’t going to dissolve the base products you’re applying it on top of.
I’ve sampled so many other cream-to-powder blushes and these are just by far the best I’ve tried. To me these are not so much cream blushes as they are a spreadable powder blush which you can apply with your fingers (my preferred application method). The texture is so user-friendly that it can even go on over powder! I received 01 Cranberry and 02 Pale Fig as press samples, and the moment I tried them ran out to purchase 04 Perfect Peach as well (03 Persimmon was too orange for my skin colour).
I’m no less impressed with the quality of the Eyeshadow Duos and Lip Luminizer I tested from this collection. They meet my high expectations of luxury makeup and are brilliant staples for going from zero to polished with very little effort. The eyeshadow duos have proven to be perfect for elegant looks, and in terms of fool-proof texture remind me a little of older SUQQU shadows – you can just slap these on and end up with great results.
As for the Lip Luminizers (at least with the one I tested), they are hydrating, glossy and on the sheer side which also make them perfect for quick but pretty looks. I love that it’s shaped very precisely for easy application – slim and perfectly angled – but you do need to be careful about twisting up the product because it doesn’t twist back down again. This doesn’t bother me because it seems designed for controlled application, which I much prefer to a bullet that you can over-extend and break if you apply too much pressure.
Here’s a look I did with everything I’ve mentioned. I’m wearing the Eyeshadow Duo in 101 Grounded, Cream Blush in 02 Pale Fig and Lip Luminizer in 239 Ice Honey.
Have you tried anything from this collection, or are you eyeing anything up? I’d love to hear what you’ve got your sights on!
This post features products that were provided as press samples, however all opinions and observations are my own and not influenced by the brand or its PR team. This post contains affiliate links.
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