Make-up & Skincare: Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch review

Would you try a product that claims to make your skin look smoother? I received a large sample of Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch perfecting make-up base in one of the beauty sampler bags from Sephora (gift w/ purchase).


I admit, I didn't use it right away because, well, let's face it - there are a lot of products out there that claim to do a lot of things, but they never seem to do them for me. I've tried a lot of primers, and like very few (see my review for Clinique Pore Minimizer), since most seem to make my face greasy.

But lately, my skin has been changing a lot - all of which I'm sure is due to (it hurts me to say this!) aging. Enlarged pores, combination skin, fine lines - the whole shebang. So I decided to give the Clarins product a try.


The Clarins website has this to say about the product:
"Award-winning primer is the perfect combination of make-up and skin care. With an ultra-light texture, this wrinkle-smoothing formula leaves an imperceptible veil over the skin’s surface—filling-in the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and pores. Skin becomes even, flawless and foundation-ready. Use alone or mix with your foundation"

Application instructions say the product should be applied in a "fine layer" with fingertips to areas with wrinkles, fine lines, or dilated pores. It can be used alone, under makeup, or mixed with liquid foundation.


This product is a beautiful pale pink color with a soft, smooth, almost "fluffy" texture. Its glides over the skin, making it extremely easy to apply. I don't know whether to say it "dries" or is "absorbed", but the finish - how it makes your skin feel after application - is satin-smooth. It even made my skin look and feel a little more hydrated. It also makes your skin the perfect canvas for your foundation. Liquids, creams, and mousses are easily applied over it. (I don't know about powder foundations because I didn't try one.)

Ingredients: 
- Acacia Micro-Pearls: Temporarily refine skin texture filling in fine lines and wrinkles.
- Pink Pearl Pigments: Optically minimize fine lines and wrinkles while softening facial features.
- Vitamin E: Protects skin while keeping it comfortable.

Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Silica, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Alcohol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Butylene Glycol, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Acacia Senegal Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Ci 77019/Mica, Ci 77491/Iron Oxide, Ci 77891/Titanium Dioxide, Ci 75470/Carmine.

The price for 0.5 oz. of this product is $34 (available at Sephora, Macy's). A little of this goes a long way, so I think 0.5 oz. should last awhile. Have you tried it?