Clarins Everlasting+ Compact Foundation: Review and Swatches

Disclaimer: The products featured were provided for review.

As someone with very oily skin, powder foundations are my best friends when it comes to creating a flawless complexion. So imagine my delight when I heard that Clarins has a new powder foundation called the Everlasting+ Compact Foundation ($42 CAD). Promising a comfortably matte formulation that stays matte until the sun comes down, the foundation was put to the test on my oily, acne-prone skin. So how did it perform? Read my review and see some swatches to find out......

Clarins Everlasting+ Compact Foundation

Packaging:
The Clarins Everlasting + Compact Foundation comes in a rather thick rectangular compact coated with a matte gold finish. The inside has two compartments. The top holds 10g of powder and when the compact is opened, it slides up to reveal the bottom drawer where the sponge applicator is kept. The design is very snazzy and it kind of reminds me of the packaging for the Guerlain Parure Gold Powder Foundation.

Clarins Everlasting+ Compact Foundation

There is a small mirror for application on-the-go and the sponge applicator is dual-sided for varying the coverage intensity. For a light application, use the beige flocked side and for a heavier application, use the white sponge side.

Clarins Everlasting+ Compact Foundation

Formulation:
Available in six shades, the Clarins Everlasting+ Compact Foundation promises "a flawless complexion from morning to evening". It is formulated with quinoa extract for hydration and bamboo powder for controlling shine. There is a 15-hour shine-free claim and the formulation apparently also provides sun protection, although no SPF rating is written on the packaging.

Clarins Everlasting+ Compact Foundation | 103 Ivory & 105 Nude

In terms of coverage, the Everlasting+ Compact Foundation is definitely on the sheerer side. It gives a very light coverage so if blemishes and discolorations are main concerns of yours, be prepared to use a concealer or liquid foundation in conjunction. The powder is finely-milled and super lightweight. It's lightly blurring and brightening but not as smoothing as some of the other powders I've tried in the past. However, this does mean that the foundation gives a natural, non-cakey, non-airbrushed finish, making it suitable for dry to very dry skin.
Unfortunately, the formulation seriously disappoints in the shine-control department. Because I have pretty oily skin, I usually gravitate towards powder foundations due to their mattifying effect. However, the Everlasting+ Compact Foundation is lightly mattifying at first but quickly gives way (within two hours) to sebum and sweat, providing no success in delaying shine.

Clarins Everlasting+ Compact Foundation | 103 Ivory & 105 Nude

"103 Ivory" is a pale neutral ivory and "105 Nude" is a light ivory with a noticeable yellow tint. Below is a before and after demonstration of a heavy application of "103 Ivory". As you can see, although the powder doesn't provide a lot of coverage, it softly blurs and brightens.

Clarins Everlasting+ Compact Foundation | 103 Ivory

Overall, as much as I wanted to love the Clarins Everlasting+ Compact Foundation, it is not the powder foundation for me. Although blurring and brightening, the coverage is sheer and the formulation does not stay matte. With that said, if you have dry skin and struggle with caking and flaking, this product may be worth a try.

Availability:
Clarins is available at select department stores, pharmacies and online at www.clarins.ca.

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