Clarins Joli Rouge Brilliant Perfect Shine Sheer Lipstick from the Spring 2012 Colour Breeze Collection

Clarins is featuring two new Joli Rouge Brilliant Perfect Shine Sheer Lipsticks ($24.50) with the Colour Breeze Collection for Spring 2012. The lipsticks combine the transparent color and shine of a lip gloss with the creamy texture of a lipstick, which makes them absolutely perfect for me - and sheer shine lovers everywhere. There are two shades: Pink Coral and Pink Magnolia. I decided instantly that I am a Pink Magnolia kind of gal.

Joli Rouge Brilliant Perfect Shine Sheer Lipsticks offer a unique MaxiLip Complex that helps plump and hydrate the lips for fullness, softness, and suppleness, while the deeply moisturizing and long-wearing formula provides the benefits of a balm with lip care ingredients. If you like semi-sheer, hydrating lip shines as much as I do, you're going to love this lipstick.

Here's a photo of Pink Magnolia taken at home last week, when we still had some sunshine. Look at the color bullet! It's a beautiful mauve-pink in the generous oval tube, and it struts its stuff beautifully on the lips.

My swatch photos were taken in full sun. Add the beautiful pink you can see on my arm to whatever pigmentation you have in your lips, and the result will be a brilliant (hence the name), shimmering, semi-sheer color that will make your lips a stunning focal point. I'm calling the sheerness semi-sheer because Pink Magnolia offers enough saturation that it's more than a tint. The gorgeous color and serious shine are a winning combination. I love Pink Magnolia because it makes me look perky. It's no wonder lipsticks can be a girl's best friend.

Here is Clarins' description of the Colour Breeze Collection...
Spring brings poetic grace and a hint of casualness. The sheer lightness of a high-shine lip gloss, smooth powders, fresh and unique textures. A bright, luminous complexion, beautifully enhanced cheek bones, ultra-shiny lips, and naturally unsettling eyes.

Joli Rouge Brilliant Perfect Shine Sheer Lipstick provides the ultra-shiny lips promised for spring. The swatch photo directly above was taken with the sun's full reflection. Look at the shine!

The only thing I would change is the flavor. The lipstick has a fruity taste. The flavor is fairly strong on application, but it dissipates quickly, unlike the flavor of the new Gloss Prodige. The flavor won't keep me from wearing this gorgeous lip color, though. It's close to perfect.

The spring collection has arrived at the Clarins counter at Bloomingdale's and is also available at the Bloomingdale's Web site and at Nordstrom. It's available at Macy's and should be available at Saks. I'm surprised that it's still not available at the Clarins Web site. Hopefully, you'll be able to see it there soon. I think this collection is exquisite. You won't want to miss the limited-edition colors.

Photo at top courtesy of Nordstrom; other photos by Best Things in Beauty