Clarins Splendours Summer Bronzing Compact Review & Comparison

I just had to stumble upon just one image to cave for it. Clarins Splendours Summer Bronzing Compact is the star product of their Summer 2013 collection, certainly deserving this status by its gorgeous design and finely milled quality offering versatile application. But before starting with all that it offers, let's take a moment to appreciate the design.

Its chic plastic case, no way looking cheap with 3-D design on the lid, houses 20g/0.7 Oz. of product, which is double the size of what you usually get ( e.g. Guerlain Terracotta 4 Season or Diorskin Nude Tan being both 10g/0.35 Oz.) and costs around two third of standard bronzers. Is it a steal? Let's look a bit closer...

Inspired by the ruins of South America, Clarins Splendours Summer Bronzing Compact must be the most gorgeously designed bronzer I own. It is composed of a matte bronzer with two distinct shades around a shimmery center embossed with letter C of Clarins. Two matte shades give a sun kissed look on the high points of the face or applied all over. The shimmery shade can be mixed with those for a subtle glow, or can be left out. It is then possible to add this only as a highlighter and/or directly on the eyelids. 

I would like to compare the shade with recently released bronzers to give you an idea of how dark or light it is. For this purpose I took out Guerlain Terracotta 03 Naturel-Brunettes, Tom Ford 01 Gold Dust and Diorskin Nude Tan 002 Sunlight from my stash.

The outer part of the compact is slightly darker once compared to Guerlain 03 Naturel-Brunettes and more brown compared to Diorskin 002 Sunlight (which leans more pink). The inner part of the compact is lighter in shade with fine subtle golden shimmer to it, which is more obvious in photo taken under sunlight. The shimmer particles are small and gives rather a healthy glow for a day time look. These particles resemble the ones in Tom Ford's Gold Dust. If the inner and the outer part of Clarins Splendours are swiped together, than the resulting shade and shimmer effect is very close to that one of Tom Ford's Gold Dust.

One more set of swatches to show the subtle glow of the center part as well as inner and outer parts mixed. I find Tom Ford Gold Dust to be just a bit more long lasting, but given the fact that Clarins costs half the price for the same amount of product, you may want to carry this chic compact with you and apply just one more time during the day. The only problem you may have is having second thoughts not to ruin its beautiful design.

Final thoughts: Gorgeous design, lots of product and butter soft quality powder that comes with a reasonable price. It is very versatile as it can be applied with and without shimmer or the center part can be used additionally as a highlighter. The shade is very close to Tom Ford's Gold Dust once swiped together with the center part. Summer of 2013 must be the summer of gorgeous bronzers (Dior blush bronzers yet to be reviewed) and this one certainly takes its place in top three. Highly recommended.