One of my favourite lip products to date has to be the Clarins Instant Light Lip Perfector in the shade Candy Shimmer. Back when they were released a few years ago they really were hyped up; everybody seemed to love them! Looking back now I think that is the reason as to why it took me so long to try one for myself. They were obviously a bit more expensive than your average lip product therefore I simply just didn’t want to risk it. Fast forward to the present day I’d argue that Candy Shimmer is one of my most used lip products; in fact I have even considered picking up Rosewood Shimmer which looks equally as beautiful.
When I heard that Clarins were releasing a balm within the line I have to say I was incredibly keen to try them out, purely because I knew how much I liked the Instant Light Lip Perfectors. For a couple of weeks now I have being trying out the new Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Balm Perfectors* and have arrived at my conclusions. Pictured above is Coral and Orange; no prizes for the given names but do they live up to their predecessor? Can we even compare them or are they two different products entirely?
Obviously there is a slight difference between this product and the original Instant Light Natural Lip Perfectors. They were packaged in a squeezable tube and have sponge applicators, which if I’m honest I’m not a huge fan of, however I’m willing to overlook that aspect because in my opinion the product itself is fantastic. The balms as you can see are much more like a traditional lipstick in terms of appearance but are pretty similar in terms of packaging to the original lip perfectors. I like this factor as I think that the presentation of the product is spot on, it’s chic, pretty and compact.
An important aspect to me when considering lip products is scent, I can’t abide the make up scent that lipsticks can so often have. Luckily these smell just as good as the original lip perfectors with that lovely hint of vanilla being easily detectable. In terms of pigmentation I found myself quite impressed because for a product that is marketed as a balm which I’d normally associate as being quite sheer, I’d say that they are actually pretty good. They do provide me with a really lovely hint of colour without being too bold; in fact they really are quite lovely for day time wear. They’re not going to win you any awards for a bright bold lip however that’s not the purpose of this type of product. The Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Balm Perfectors are there to hydrate and nourish the lips; the colour is just a nice added touch which can be tailored to suit your daily make up look.
Coral despite its name is more peach toned in my opinion and is the my favourite of the two featured here. Orange is quite simply orange and will be a fabulous fruity shade for the summer time. I’m aware that there is a red within the six shades available which I’m quite keen to go and have a look at when I next get the chance.
Whilst the original lip perfectors have a more glossy finish I would argue that these are not as wet looking if that makes sense. They’re still glossy to an extent but they sit better on the lips which makes them in my opinion easier to apply, although I can’t say I had much trouble with the original if I’m honest. I really do think that Clarins have produced another fantastic product again as the balms moisturise my lips wonderfully and leave my lips feeling hydrated for at least three or so hours before I find myself wanting to reapply. They’re available in six different shades at the moment and are priced at £18 which is the same price as the original lip perfectors.
Having now tried both of these products myself I honestly can’t decide which one I prefer, the new balms gain two extra points in my eyes as I do prefer the packaging on a whole, purely because I never was a fan of the applicator on the original lip perfectors. They’re also not as messy as a squeezable tube can lead to a potential disaster in your hand bag if the lid hasn’t been put back on properly.
In a way I’ve found myself drawing a bit of a comparison between the original product and the new which wasn’t my intention. I think it just came naturally to me having been such a fan of the lip perfectors to begin with. I’ll be honest with you in that I can’t pick a favourite; they’re so similar in my opinion and achieve the same type of result. If you haven’t yet tried either of these then I’d definitely say that they are worth checking out if you get the chance.
