Clarins Radiance-Plus Golden Glow Booster

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of attending a wonderful event hosted by Clarins at the Montréal Ritz-Carlton, where a truly innovative product was introduced: Radiance-Plus Golden Glow Booster, or ‘made to measure self-tan’. Aimed at providing you with that gorgeous Summer glow, but with none of the harmful effects associated in getting a tan, three tiny drops mixed with your evening facial moisturizer are all it takes and voilà: Winter pastiness is but a distant memory.

Clarins Radiance-Plus Golden Glow Booster

Radiance-Plus Golden Glow Booster (CAN $30.00) – Forget every scary thing you’ve ever heard of self-tanners, because the next generation is here. A relatively unscented concentrated amber liquid, designed to be mixed with a carrier (your preferred moisturizer – which can be either lotion, oil, cream, or gel) and applied to a thoroughly cleansed face, helping you to achieve a natural looking sun-kissed glow, built to an intensity that you can basically control. It is recommended to wash your hands thoroughly after contact to prevent any staining that might occur (or alternatively, wear disposable gloves).

How it works: Depending on the results you’re aiming for (ie: how “tanned” you want to look), all you need is 3 drops of the Radiance-Plus Golden Glow Booster mixed with your usual day and/or night facial moisturizer and then applied all over the face, neck and decollete. The colour is thus gradually achieved and you also keep your regular moisturizing, anti-wrinkle or firming benefits of your skin care in this manner. It is recommended to begin with 3 drops combined with your evening moisturizer for the first 3 nights, then you can reduce that to 1-2 drops on subsequent evenings to maintain the glow.

My results: I must note here that the HydraQuench Cream (CAN $49.50) I was gifted with to test the Radiance-Plus Golden Glow Booster, feels and smells absolutely divine, and while it’s meant for normal to dry skin, I loved the effect on my more combination skin I began by first ensuring my face was completely cleansed and exfoliated (this ensures that the skin is optimally prepped and will provide an even surface for a natural looking glow). After placing a good dollop of the moisturizer into the palm of my hand, I then measured 3 drops of the Radiance-Plus Golden Glow Booster – done by turning the bottle upside down and depressing the rubber stopper – onto the cream and quickly mixing the two together then immediately applying to my skin, followed by thoroughly washing my hands after that. Once the moisturizer felt absorbed, I went to bed (where there was absolutely no transfer of the product onto my pillow case); come the morning, I didn’t really notice much of a difference, although my face seemed to look much better rested than usual.

Later that same afternoon, the effects became noticeable: I had the beginnings of a sun-kissed glow! Two more subsequent evenings in this manner deepened the colour and provided me with that relaxed tone & look that is usually achieved the more conventional way and had people asking me if I had gone away (soon …), then I dialled it down by applying 1 drop a night for the next 3 nights – just to maintain the level of colour reached, not to add more. Once this phase had passed, the effects lasted easily a week, before gradually fading away without any unevenness or splotchiness. I must say that during the process, my skin somehow felt a bit more sensitive, but that may have been due more to hormones and a new moisturizer; still, it’s worth noting.

Ingredients: Aqua/Water, Dihydroxyacetone, Alcohol, Glycerin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Erythrulose, Xantham Gum, Caramel, Citric Acid, Athylene Brassylate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate [S1390A]

Clarins Radiance-Plus Golden Glow Booster

Clarins Radiance-Plus Golden Glow Booster and HydraQuench Cream

Clarins Radiance-Plus Golden Glow Booster event, Ritz-Carlton Montréal

Preview of the Clarins Summer 2014 Collection (that Bronzer, though!)

The shade I was gifted with: Clarins Rouge Éclat #09 Juicy Clementine

… but first, let me take a #selfie

Proper suncare was not advocated back in my younger days, which means that I now have to erase some of the damage cause by my earlier ignorance. That being said, and as an AVID beach-bunny, I still want to have sun-kissed skin in the Summer, but I’m now careful in how I go about getting there. What’s great about this Clarins Radiance-Plus Golden Glow Booster, is how beautifully it mimics the effects of a tan and in a manner that you can control – without any of that nasty stench usually associated with self-tanners (I swear: NOTHING detected). Seeing as how I’m now vigilant in protecting my face from the sun, this little beauty will definitely be coming with me on my upcoming vacation – and will help me hang on to that beach glow long after I’ve returned.

Available now at all Clarins counters – find more information via: