New: Clarins Ombre Minerals Collection for A/W 2012

Clarins may not be the first brand you think of for make up, such is their expertise in skincare and tanning products but the Ombre Minerals for A/W 2012, following on from their Enchanted collection this Summer is bound to change that.

This time out we are treated to several new and innovative products to not only help us achieve our desired make up looks but, using Clarin's world renowned luxe packaging, we get to feel a little spoiled while doing so too.

Clarins Skin Illusion Mineral Loose Powder Foundation

Illiciting the most oohs at the event, the Skin Illusion Mineral Loose Powder Foundation is one of the innovative designs I mentioned. The formulation itself is designed to bring effortless, barely there luminous coverage to your face, without feeling heavy or weighing skin down.

This heavy glass and gold packaging houses its very own densely packed but super soft kabuki brush in the lid, so as you never need fumble through your foundation brushes for this product. Light weight and buildable for coverage, this loose foundation smells stunning. I'll be trialling it fully in the coming weeks so be sure to check back for results.

Clarins Mineral Eyeshadow - Ombre Minerals 2012 - €18.50

Shadow lovers will be delighted to hear that Clarins have added 16 new flattering, mineral eye shadows to their line. The colour palette used to make these up is soft and complimentary with pinks, taupes, aubergines and some darker additions - perfect to achieve the 5 minute smokey eye as demonstrated by the delectable Claude at collection launch.

They are grouped into four categories Naturals, Basics, Intense and one Illuminator so there really is something for everyone. Their consistency is soft and silky yet they are decently pigmented for a great colour pay off.

Clarins Colour Accents Face & Blush Powder - €37 

Designed to both mattify and bring a flush of colour to your entire face, the Colour Accents Face and Blush Powder is a heavy weight compact with several uses. Used to contour, blush or even bronze your skin, this divinely scented powder is one of my favourites of the collection. 

New Rouge Prodige Spiced Orange, Dark Cherry, Orchid Pink & Fig (not pictured) - €20.33

The four additions to the Rouge Prodige are deeply pigmented and great all rounders. They apply like a dream and my wear time is up to 3 hours so far. Again, the heavy weight, high shine gold packaging is joy to behold. (Have I told you about my grá for luxe packaging?)(It's the shiny, I can't help myself). 

Ombre Minerale - 3 Dot Liner - €24 and Kohl Pencil - €15

Both eye lining offerings with Ombre Minerale are black and designed for ease of use. The revolutionary 3 dot liner is set to do away with eye liner flicks gone bad, it's an intense, long wearing black marker that can be used to place dots on the lash line and follow with ease for the perfect flick. It's ideal as a tightliner too as Claude demonstrates above. 

The Kohl liner is soft on application but dries quickly and stays put once there. It's ergonomic design is very similar to a Geisha's hair stick, just using this kohl make little ol' me feel elegant. 

Intense Plum Instant Definition Mascara €25.42

Finally another favourite of mine from the collection is Intense Plum Instant Definition Mascara. This wand is designed to bring both precision definition and volume intensity to your lashes and boy does it. With no clumps, lumps or mess, Intense Plum is deep purple hue, just slightly lighter than black and is the most flattering mascara I've used in quite a while. The wand separates and lifts lashes, while applying just the right amount of mascara for softer than black peepers. I'm in the love with it.

All products will be on Clarins counters from September and, as I've said, there truly is something here for everyone. Is there anything you'll be rushing in to try?

Monday's Moments - 07/05

It's a Bank Holiday, yo! That's one reason these moments are going live slightly later than usual but that doesn't make them any less epic, no Siree!

1. Oooh La La 

'The aroma of Cherry, zis makes me smile, non?'

I was delighted to be invited along to the Clarins press evening during the week to meet the delectable Claude Defresne, more on that during the week. But one moment that stands out to me has to be as soon as I entered the room. Claude gave a little sniff and declared that someone was wearing a woody scent. Ever the shy and retiring Cherry ( I AM!) I said nothing until he came closer, sniffing the air.

'Ehm, it might be me' I offered, at which point he leaned right in and inhaled deeply *fans self at the memory*. 'Oui, it is, what are you wearing?'. I happend to be wearing what I mostly wear, Estée Lauder's Sensuous, it feature such wonders as notes of ghost lily accord, magnolia, jasmine petals, molten woods, amber, sandalwood, black pepper, juicy mandarin pulp and honey. Claude loved it, I will always love it. Give it a sniff, I'm sure you'll love it too!

2. This is Why He's Owed One of Many Slaps!

I speak often about my eldest Broseph, the one that lives in Wales and works in London. Mostly those times I talk of gratitude for his thoughtfulness or delight at seeing him in the flesh as it doesn't happen nearly often enough. This is neither of those times.

Above is a screen grab from my Facebook page, me being all professional and posting a nail picture for all and sundry. Take a moment to note Rob's comment there will you? It was bad enough posting the first, but then a reply to Rach? He's dead, deader than a dodo, dead.

3. Oh God!

I mentioned a while back that, while Netflix doesn't have enough content to justify me subscribing, it did bite me with the Dexter bug. I watched the first two seasons in quick succession and only yesterday finished the sixth online. 'Oh God' is right! HOW are they going to continue?

I missed all the hype first time round, wanting to keep Michael C Hall in my mind as David from Six Feet Under (one of my all time favourite series) but devoured the entire back catalogue with ease. Do you watch? Does Deb grate on your nerves as much as mine? Have you too got a serious soft spot for Batista? Lemme know! I need some way to keep myself entertained until season 7...

4. I am, I AM! 

It would seem I've gotten over my fear of looking like a camel in public (even our lashes are similar) and have completed Day 1, Week 1 of the Couch to 5k. After my Darth Vadar moment last week I knew something had to give. 

It didn't kill me (yet) and I'm not about to bore your faces off with updates, just suffice to say that I'm delighted I've started - I've yet to get through the above book yet (Thanks, Helen) but I'm actually doing it. Who'da thunk it?

5. Pitch Perfect Sound

Source

I had a ridiculously exciting phone call this week, I'm going to be all boring and say I can't reveal all the details but I can say that it means some very cool stuff coming up for this here blog, my obsession with nails and Moi. During the call we bounced a couple of ideas round and I happened to mention a thought I had. 

What followed was a sound, the likes of which I've never heard before but actually made my day. Kind of like when a moose is tickled mercilessly and tries its best not to laugh (It happens, I'm sure). I'm guessing it was good, I'm hoping it was great. It'll be a hive of activity around Casa Cherry this week trying to put my ideas into action but that sound? It'll keep me enthused, I've no doubt!

Sin an scéal arís. How's your Bank Hol going so far? Anything delightful you'd like to share?