Escentual have sent me a couple of bases to try – the first is Clarins Tinted Olio-Serum, a glowy oil serum with pigment. I’m trying to cast my mind back to any other tinted oils I might have come across but I can’t think of any so I’d say this is an unusual formula.
The formula is a blend of oils (jojoba, squalane, hazelnut) and ceramides so it’s very comfortable in the wear – not for you if you’re not a fan of skin oils – and gives that kind of nourished glow rather than oily shine. I liked it a lot when I tried it – if you’re making a transition from summer tints to more hydrating formulas as we step into autumn I’d say that it’s ideal especially if you still have some warmth to your tone that flourishes with some dewiness.
Squalane is really such a great oil – I always like to see it in products – although the main oil that’s flagged is hazelnut (I’d suggest that any nut allergies steer clear) which isn’t used so readily as other oils. It’s a rich source of vitamin E, anti-inflammatory and supposedly soothing. The feel on the skin is indeed quite soothing.
This is shade 4 – it’s a little warmer, I’d say, than it looks in the picture but I like the light bounce from it. There is some evening out of tone which is pleasant but it does allow your natural skin to show with more vitality than it would have with nothing at all.
Shade 4 is above. The one thing I’m not keen on is the dropper – it’s all glass so has the benefit of recylability but it’s fiddly when there is colour involved. There are ten shades from light to deep and Escentual has all in stock. It’s £39. For you if your skin runs dry or suffers with the temperature, not for you if don’t like oils and prefer a matte finish.