Clarins colour palettes bring out the inner artist

A LITTLE spring-cleaning is really therapeutic this time of year, particularly if it involves clearing out your make-up bag to make way for a season of lovely new products. If you fancy yourself as a bit of a watercolour artist, the new Clarins range for Spring-Summer 2011, will give you the perfect opportunity to dabble in gorgeous tones and textures. Including the lovely limited edition NEO Pastels Eye Colour and Liner Palette, the range is guaranteed to bring out your inner Van Gogh. The French company is well known and much loved for its pretty and practical products. This season, flattering, pastel shades are the order of the day, and the gorgeous eye, lip and cheek colours are guaranteed to perk up a sun-starved complexion and get you glowing in time for longer, warmer days. And being French, Clarins' beauty blurb is almost as poetic as its products. According to the company, this season's Clarins woman will be wearing 'refined hues, exceptional materials and precious tones inspired by the art of watercolourists.' The essence of the look could best be described as natural, but with a real pop of colour. Think of your normal daywear make-up, but spiced up with a wash of purple over the eye-lids or a sweep of coral to the lips. As always, Clarins have produced a range that's as easy to apply as it's pleasant to use. Unlike some other make-up lines, you won't need a degree in fine art to pull off a polished, modern look. Blush Prodigue Illuminating Cheek Colour (€32) comes in six shades â€â€ each one of which combines three complementary tones to gently sculpt the face. Containing bamboo powder and tomato extract, the formula produces a light, natural glow. The blusher comes in a gorgeous gold case, with a mirror and high-quality brush to ensure perfect application, even when you're on the go. NEO Pastels Eye Colour and Liner Palette (€35) is a limited edition product, so it's likely to fly off the shelves at jet speed. The palette contains six eye shadows in flattering brown, pink and violet shades. The beauty of these shadows is that they can be applied dry for a subtle look, or with a damp applicator for a more intense result. To enhance make-up and give the eyes more depth, a black eyeliner is included in the palette, and comes with a dinky sponge applicator. Rouge Hydra Nude Smoothing Cream Lipstick SPF6 (€20) is a really exciting addition to the range. If you buy just one item for the new season, this should be it. Formulated with skin care benefits this new generation lipstick transforms into a cream on contact with lips. It glides on perfectly, for easy application and a perfectly defined lip contour. The lipstick promises to 'moisturise and nourish lips, repair and protect them, while smoothing and enhancing their beauty with natural tones'. It's a tall order, but with Clarins you're always guaranteed a great result. The lipstick comes in four â€Ëœnude' tones from rose to caramel, so there's a tone for everyone.