One of my dear readers has requested for a review of Guerlian L’OR Radiance Concentrate with Pure Gold Makeup Base. I started using this product on and off since I came back from my holiday. It is the perfect time to test this product out because the weather has been so cold. As a result my skin is dryer than usual and needs some extra help to make my makeup look better.
Guerlain does some amazing makeup bases. The L’OR Radiance Concentrate has been around for the longest time of them all – it is almost a cult product as a makeup base.
Guerlain’s promise about this product:
It is a hydrating makeup base gel. The 24 carat gold has been fashioned into precious flakes using a unique time-honoured method, to integrate them magically into the gel. As though suspended in the air, the flakes sparkle to reveal their precious treasure: radiance. The complexion is immediately awakened, thanks to the formula’s extreme hydrating action.
My thoughts:
Love the packaging. It speaks luxury. It is packed in a sterdy heavy glass bottle, not plastic. The reflection of gold flakes makes the product look ultra luxurious.
I have mixed feelings about this product. To sum it up it is basically a soothing makeup gel that hydrates your skin and gives you a dewy complexion. It is definitely the most hydrating makeup base I have ever come across. When applied on the skin it does feel slightly tacky – I normally wait for a minute till the tackness wears off. This product allows the foundation to glide on like a dream – it saves you time from blending and the foundation sinks into your skin without a sign of cakiness or flakiness.
As for the radiance, the gold flakes dissolves with the gel into your skin. It gives a nice dewy finish without any shimmers, which is what I prefer anyway.
To give you a better idea, I am brave enough to show you my bare skin and the after effect! (*please excuse my freckles, large pores..)
What the camera can’t show is that my skin looks more hydrated and supple. The radiance on my skin is very subtle, because this product is so hydrating it plumps my skin up a little giving a dewy glow. But please note it will NOT give you an ultra luminous glow as some other shimmer products do.
Once I apply the foundation over, the radiance effect becomes less noticeable. It only makes your foundation sit better on your skin and keeps your foundation looking fresh (without oxidizing) for an extended period of time – about 8 hours indoors for me.
with foundation
Would I repurchase it: No for now.
Although it is a good all rounder makeup base and I love the hydrating effect it gives. (imo it is definitely better than my Nars makeup base) I won’t classify this product as a makeup base that will give you a radiant glow. For such an expensive product (around $110 in Australia), it should work more than a hydrator . There are a lot of other cheaper hydrating makeup bases that might work just as good as this one. For now I am going to explore further on other products.
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