Ace Of Base

Ace of Base..

Is it just me, or is Lisa Snowdon a shining example of why Clarins products are so darn gorgeous? It seems the British beauty can barely do an interview, or present an award without extolling the virtues of Clarins Beauty Flash Balm.

We all have iconic products that hold pride of place in our bathroom cabinets and dressing tables. The old faithfuls we turn to in times of crisis. For Lisa Snowdon, model, presenter, glamorous ex of George Clooney and all round girl next door, her go-to product in times of beauty crisis is none other than Clarins Beauty Flash Balm. That miracle of miracles that all but erases signs of fatigue. The eight hours of beauty sleep in a squeezable tube that models, A-List stars (and in-the-know beauty journalists) swear by. Snowdon recommends using this miraculous formula as a foundation primer, applied after serum and moisturiser, but before foundation. Simply massage into skin and let the algae, witch hazel, bisabolol and rice starch tighten, boost radiance, revitalise, soothe, soften and purify the skin.

The market has been awash with the next generation of sheer foundations. Claiming to mimic the appearance of glowing, dewy skin, a flawless complexion is essential to the success of this "no make-up" make-up look. The new Skin Illusion foundation from Clarins does not disappoint. With a soft-as-silk texture and sheer-to-medium coverage, this heavenly scented wonder is truly the "ace of base".

Why not follow in luscious Lisa's footsteps and smooth a layer the Clarins Beauty Flash Balm over your skin prior to applying this foundation. Packed with skin-friendly botanicals such as super-antioxidant algae and white tea extract, this foundation protects the skin from environmental aggressors, while the SPF 10 minimises photo damage from sun exposure. The majority of skin experts are indicating that an SPF of 15-20 is the desired level of protection for day-to-day use. If you require further protection, using one of the many light-as-a-feather SPF foundation primers in conjunction with this foundation would be the easiest option. For those of you who love a subtle, dewy shimmer in your base, there's no need to mix a shimmering cream highlighter in with this foundation, as the crushed pink opal provides all the light-diffusing radiance a guy or girl could wish for.

Beauty Flash Balm - £27.06

Skin Illusion Natural Radiance Foundation - £24

www.clarins.com