A Warm And Sunny Complexion with Clarins’ Splendour Summer Bronzing Compact

If there’s one item in my makeup arsenal that I’ve yet to use on a regular basis, that would be bronzer. By the way, do you want to know when it was that I actually started using bronzer? It was early this year. Just this year! So for the years that I’ve learned about and used makeup, I don’t even touch bronzers. I’m your typical Chinese chick; I like to look as fair as possible and the thought of making myself look darker confuses me. Don’t believe me? Ask the next Chinese lady you come across if she uses bronzer or self-tanning cream. Okay there may be some but most don’t. 😛

Still, I thought that this year, I’d come out of my comfort zone and try something new in my makeup routine. Bronzer has always been something I’m reluctant to use because I don’t know how to get it right without looking like I’ve just made my face a few shades darker for no good reason. I started to learn how to contour my face. I’m still learning, by the way, so please forgive my pictures if I look a tad weird with the contouring.

Clarins Splendour Summer Bronzing Compact

When Clarins kindly sent me their new Splendour Summer Bronzing Compact to try out, all apprehensive thoughts of not wanting to use bronzer just went wooooosh out of the window. I mean, come on. Look at how beautiful this compact is!

Clarins Splendour Summer Bronzing Compact

Oh this is such a difficult one to use. By difficult I mean it was tough for me to even want to use it just so I don’t ruin the gorgeous embossed design. I know it won’t be too long before the design is gone as the compact gets used more and more but for now, I’ll just enjoy the beauty of the design.

Clarins Splendour Summer Bronzing Compact

Needless to say, the packaging is top notch. The outer shell of the compact has what I’d assume to be an Aztec pattern. The design of the pressed powder differs from the outer shell’s. The compact is quite large (bigger than my palm) and comes with a mirror and no brush. There’s a subtle yet pleasant floral fragrance in the pressed powder.

Clarins Splendour Summer Bronzing Compact

Clarins Splendour Summer Bronzing Compact Swatch

The bronzing powder can be a touch gritty when swatched but when it’s blended on the skin, it becomes this gorgeous finely-milled powder that blends on the face very well. If you swirl your makeup brush around the powder without touching the middle C, you’ll get matte powder. However, when you swirl your brush all over the powder and touching the golden middle, you’ll get a slight hint of shimmer in the bronzer.

Clarins Splendour Summer Bronzing Compact

Argh the selfies aren’t showing the bronzer at all (why???) but I promise you it’s there. My face looked warm and very, er, summer-like

The result of the bronzing compact is a lovely warm complexion with a natural glow. It doesn’t look muddy or dirty on the skin and isn’t too warm on my already warm, yellow skin tone. I can use it as a contouring powder or an all-over setting powder (although with the latter, a light hand is needed lest it makes the skin too warm as it’s quite pigmented).

Clarins Splendour Summer Bronzing Compact

The only thing I don’t like about the compact is the amount of powder fallout on the compact. I used the lightest touch as possible of the brush on the pressed powder and yet there are bits and tiny chunks of powder on the compact which makes it look dirty. You don’t have to do this, of course, as it can be a waste of product but I usually remove the fallout bits by turning the compact upside down over a bin. Call me a tad OCD but I like my compact clean. 🙂

Other than that, it’s a beautiful bronzing compact and I’m lucky to have it in my makeup collection.

Clarins Splendour Summer Bronzing Compact

Clarins’ Splendour Summer Bronzing Compact retails at AU$52.00 and is a limited edition piece. So if you managed to find this at Clarins counters at MYER, David Jones or selected pharmacies, I say get it and don’t look back. 😛

What I like about it: Beautiful packaging and gorgeous design of the pressed powder, highly pigmented, quite matte

What I do not like about it: Lots of powder fallout

Have you tried this bronzing compact? Your thoughts? Did yours have a lot of powder fallout too? If you’ve not tried it before and if you do use bronzer, which one’s your favourite?

Note: This product was sent for editorial consideration.

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22 comments… add one
  1. emmabovary

    Clarins are such a lovely brand, this bronzer looks great!

    1. Tine

      Agree! I’m liking their makeup more and more these days. Their holiday palettes, especially the eye makeup ones, are gorgeous!

  2. Hilary

    Ohhh…this looks nice – I’m usually turned off immediately from bronzers as 90% of them seem to have an obsession with turning you into a disco ball, but the word ‘matte’ is music to my ears. Perhaps I’ll pop it on my pressie list for Xmas for Hubby lol 🙂

    Am loving my hourglass 3-in-1 lighting powders palette (Mecca limited edition for Xmas) – one of those is a bronzing powder, and despite it looking quite shimmery in pan, its lovely – t’was your review on the Ambient Lighting Powder that really made my mind up for me on that one btw, so you can quote me and tell all the cosmetic houses that your reviews make sales – so send you some more product to review lol 😀
    Hilary recently posted..Another teaching updateMy Profile

    1. Tine

      Good bronzers should be matte, not shimmery. If you want an all round sweep of bronzer on the face (light touch, mind you), then shimmery is okay but if you want one that doubles up as a contouring powder as well, then it should be matte or else it will highlight areas that should not be highlighted.

      Oooh you got the 3-in-1 Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powders! I was quite tempted to get one (thankfully, the price in Australia dampens that temptation way down). I’d say a light hand is needed for the shimmery one (I think that’s the one in the middle? The one that’s supposed to be limited edition and not in the full-sized range) because I tested it out and boy, it’s sparkly.

      Hahaha I shall quote you on that the next time I go to makeup stores! 😀

  3. Fiona

    So pretty! Actually I’m one of the Chinese lady who doesn’t use bronzer or self-tanning cream LOL. Typical Chinese :P. But but butttt…I’ve started to contour my face just early November. I love the dimensional effect on my face that I’m itching to get a bronzer now as I’m about to hit the pan on the contour powder of Aupres Dimensional Face Creator :D. Unfortunately, Clarins Malaysia stopped bringing in makeup products to all counter. Only selected main counter will carry some of it.

    1. Tine

      Yep, I’m one of ’em typical Chinese chicks too. I stay far far away from self-tanning cream (although I’m actually considering it this summer because holy crap, my legs are pasty!). Yeah, I heard from Paris B that Clarins Malaysia is not longer stocking makeup. WHYYYYYYYY??? 🙁

  4. Allison

    What a gorgeous product! I guess I’m Chinese at heart because I don’t get the bronzer thing. And I’m a little confused between bronzer and a contouring powder. I just got what was called a bronzer in my November ipsy bag, but it is brown and it looks like contouring powder. Is there are real difference?
    Allison recently posted..Hada Labo Tokyo Anti-aging Hydrator: More of the Good StuffMy Profile

    1. Tine

      Haha okay I’ll try to explain it because being a total bronzer/contour n00b myself, I *may* get it wrong. 😛

      If the bronzer is shimmery, it goes all over the face (light hand is a must or else hello disco ball) for a warmed-up complexion. If the bronzer is matte, it’s best because you can use to warm up your complexion AND use it as contouring powder too. For contouring, bronzer is best matte because when it’s shimmery, it highlights and when you contour, the area goes inwards, not brought forward like highlighting. Er, am I making sense here?

      1. Allison

        Well done! That makes perfect sense. The pixi bronzer that I received is matte, thankfully. I’ve gotta practice contouring with it 🙂
        Allison recently posted..Victoria Emerson Wrap Bracelet: Great Affordable Holiday GiftMy Profile

  5. Paris B

    Absolutely gorgeous and I’m mad at local Clarins for no longer bringing in their makeup. Silly cows. Anyway, I’m not into bronzer myself. Never could get the hang of it but the Guerlain Crazy one is lovely, mainly because it’s more of a peachy blush. Otherwise, nope, not a bronze goddess 😛
    Paris B recently posted..I enjoy using the Caudalie Vinexpert Firming Serum and Eye & Lip Serum : You heard it here on the grapevineMy Profile

    1. Tine

      Why did they even pull out?? You guys are missing some seriously gorgeous eye makeup palettes 🙁

      1. Paris B

        Coz they’re idiots and are afraid of competition 😛 Well, in gist anyway. They don’t do “exciting” makeup so instead of pushing their really good stuff, they just decide to leave. Silly cows.
        Paris B recently posted..Giving Thanks and Feeling Thankful for the little thingsMy Profile

        1. Tine

          Aww gee. Clarins has been coming up with very beautiful holiday palettes (their eye makeup ones are always very pretty) the past couple of years. I’ve seen Rae @ The Notice review them. So pretty! Their usual stuff are quite meh, that I have to admit.

  6. MissCarole

    Looks lovely! It’s weird and I’m not sure why but Clarins has always seemed like a “older lady” brand (maybe because that is how it was marketed back when I was little in France?).
    My bronzer is a $2 from Big W (hang my head in shame!).
    MissCarole recently posted..The Picture of the Month – November 2013My Profile

    1. Tine

      That was what I thought ages ago about Clarins! My auntie used to use Clarins a lot and I’ve always thought it was a very expensive brand. It’s actually not bad here in Australia. I think they’re trying to step out of their “old lady” image by introducing their Daily Energizer range targeting younger skin (which I LOVE ‘cos it smells like oranges). Plus their holiday makeup is always very pretty.

      Nothing wrong with a $2 bronzer if it works! 😉

  7. Victoria

    You look gorgeous and so well made up 🙂 Btw, what foundation and setting powder are you using?

    1. Tine

      Thanks V! Let’s see, I used the La Roche Posay Melt-In BB Cream and Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder for this look. 🙂

      PS: That polka-dotted thing I was wearing in the picture? It’s actually my pyjamas. I just buttoned it all up to look “fancy”. 😛

  8. Nikki

    This look amazing! Remind me of my favorite Elizabeth Arden bronzer that was discontinued! 🙂 Thanks for sharing, I wonder if we have this locallY! 😀

    1. Tine

      Aww man you guys don’t get Clarins makeup like Malaysia too? That stinks! 🙁

  9. gio

    That’s one gorgeous bronzer! I don’t think I’d have the heart to use it, but then I rarely use bronzers anyway. I like my pale skin. But this sounds very tempting. 🙂
    gio recently posted..QOTW: Do Your Like Your Makeup Products Scented?My Profile

    1. Tine

      Hahaha I love a girl who likes her pale skin. I think it’s a lot more attractive than overly bronzed orange skin and a lot healthier too (despite what people say pale skin looks like death. Oh what do they know?).

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