Clarins Teint Pores & Matité Pore Perfecting Mattifying Foundation

Large pores are such a bummer. Since pore size is mainly controlled by things like genetics and age, the bad news is that you’ll have to live with it. The good news is that there are lots of skincare products you can use to help minimize the appearance of them. As for makeup, with the right products and a few makeup artist tricks, you can make your pores look pretty much nonexistent.

When I was contacted by the Clarins team to review their newly launched Clarins Pore Perfecting Mattifying Foundation, I was highly intrigued to try out this promising product. Mainly because I have enlarged pores and most of the foundations either exaggerate my pores or they seep into my pores and break me out.

First things first, I have a Combination-dry skin. My complexion is light-medium. I have enlarged pores around the cheeks and nose area, and an uneven skin tone with acne scars. Keeping all this in view, I chose this foundation in the shade 03 nude honey with the help of the ever so sweet marketing manager of Clarins and what a perfect match it turned out to be.

Moisturize. If your face is well hydrated, only then your foundation will blend in smoothly. Since Clarins pore perfecting mattifying foundation doesn’t have SPF, hence I like to moisturize my skin first with Clarins Hydra essentiel moisturizer with SPF 15.

Get primed. To conceal larger pores, it’s important to start with a good primer; that way the makeup won’t accentuate pores. I love using Clarins beauty flash balm as a primer after I moisturize my face. It’s weightless and doesn’t feel greasy. It brightens the skin and tightens the pores in a flash.

Description:

“Clarins Teint Pores & Matité Foundation features a lightweight texture that allows your skin to breathe as it smoothes out fine lines and pores. It instantly reveals a more unified complexion, while keeping the skin fresh and moisturized. Formulated with Acacia Gum beads, which are known to seal essential moisture into the skin. Red mud absorbes excessive sebum for a matte, radiant and even complexion.

• Lightweight, mattifying foundation.
• Smoothes out fine lines and pores.
• Seals essential moisture into the skin.”

Packaging: It comes in a 30mL tube with a small nozzle to carefully control the amount of product you need. With a screw on cap, it becomes very travel-friendly and easy to carry in your handbag.

Consistency: Clarins Pore Perfecting Mattifying Foundation has an ideal consistency that is neither too thick to be troublesome to work with and nor too runny to spill over.

Texture: The texture is very creamy that helps in easy application and flawless blending. The foundation blends easily, with fingers or using a professional brush. With a brush, it gives airbrushed and no-makeup look. When blended with fingers, gives a natural look and adds a fresh glow to the face. I will not recommend using a beauty blender as I personally feel that beauty blenders soak in a lot of product.

Application: The foundation blends into your skin easily, with fingers or using a professional brush. With a brush, it gives airbrushed and no-makeup look. When blended with fingers, gives a natural look and adds a fresh glow to the face hence I prefer applying it with my fingers. I would not recommend using a beauty blender as I personally feel that beauty blenders soak in a lot of product and it breaks me out.

Fragrance: It has a very pleasant yet subtle perfume like fragrance.

Shade: For me, I like my foundation to be just one tone lighter for a healthy glow on face and this is what I really wanted. This shade, however, is the exact shade of my skin tone. It almost looks nude and blends in so well that if I apply a single coat, you won’t even be able to guess that I’ve applied a foundation. It’s the most natural looking foundation that I’ve used till date.

 

Finish: Although it feels very hydrating on application yet the finish is matte and very natural looking.

Coverage: One layer gives sheer and the second one builds it to medium coverage. The foundation doesn’t look cakey at all even with 2 layers. I need to use Clarins concealer separately to cover my under eye circles.

Pore Perfector:   Now coming to the pore perfecting claims, the foundation surely minimizes the appearance of pores making them diminish to a great extent. The formula is oil free and light-weight. It doesn’t oxidize at all or sinks into large pores. Dry skins will need a moisturizer underneath or it will enhance dry patches or result in streaky application.

Staying Power: After application, luckily it doesn’t transfer to cell phone screens. It doesn’t even need a setting powder initially, but there is no harm in doing so either. The staying power is pretty good; 6 hours for sure on average. It may vary depending on your skin type and the weather. A good primer underneath will make it last for longer. This is an everyday to party wear product with a natural finish and medium coverage with the definite benefit that you can skip a primer to reduce the appearance of pores. Suitable for even the most sensitive skins for it has never caused me breakout issues.

Pros

• Reduces the appearance of pores to a noticeable extent.
• Doesn’t need a primer for a smooth canvas.
• Aqua based oil-free and lightweight foundation.
• Suitable for dry-combination, combination-oily, and oily skins.
• No breakouts even on sensitive and acne prone skins.
• Natural looking with a matte finish.
• Easy and flawless blending with ideal consistency and creamy texture.
• Really good wearing time, on average 6 hours.
• Sheer-medium coverage without a cakey look.
• Doesn’t oxidize or sink into pores.
• Doesn’t make my t-zone oily.
• Doesn’t transfer, even when not set with a finishing powder.
• Adds a healthy glow to the face.

Cons

It doesn’t contain SPF. But then again, as you would prep and prime your skin with a moisturizer underneath anyways, you can use a moisturizer with SPF instead.

My Verdict

Foundation normally exaggerates pores. The best thing about Clarins mattifying foundation is that it evens out the skin tone. I have large pores, and I’ve been using this on myself. With this foundation, the look of pores and fine lines are instantly minimized. It’s gentle, melting texture with a complexion-perfecting effect naturally evens out the skin and leaves behind a matte finish. The skin gets more refined, imperfections are blurred and pores are tightened. As a result, skin is clear, shine-free, fresh and matte all day long.

I am so happy with the product that I would definitely repurchase it. Also, I was lucky to get the closest match for my complexion. I recommend it without hesitation.

Clarins products are available in the main perfumeries and Department Stores across the Middle East.

Clarins Stores all across U.A.E. You can find the location of their stores on their website.

https://www.clarins.me