I’m really loving this little beauty that arrived at my door this week. I’ve mentioned before that I have oily skin. There’s nothign like looking in the mirror an hour after applying perfect make-up to find a horribly shiny forehead and nose. I’m not talking about a nice, dewy complexion here. To have oily skin is to watch your make-up slowly slide off your face as the day goes on – no matter how much you spend on foundation.

So Clarins have taken pity on us poor oily girls with a couple of new releases. The first one is the Pore Perfecting Mattifying Kit and quite frankly, I don’t know why no-one has thought of this before.

The compact features mattifying or blotting papers. Remember them? I bought them for about a pound at Superdrug when I was at school and kept them in my blazer pocket. These are the upmarket alternative and have formulated not to dry the skin out. Dryness can actually be a problem with oily skin, believe it or not. The papers in this kit are refillable so you can use as many as you like and they work in tandem with the white clay translucent powder. Although this appears white in the compat don’t worry, you won’t look like a ghost after application. it just tones down the sheen and the wonderful thing is it lasts and lasts, without looking too cakey. I happen to think the compact is gorgeous too. This will be great for dealing with a shiny nose when you’re on the go.

And next to Clarins Pore Perfecting Mattifying Foundation and again, this is a product I’m really excited about. I haven’t been having much luck with foundation recently. Either they are too sheer and lack coverage or they are too thick, look orange on my pale skin and give me spots.

I was delighted by how little of this I needed for full coverage and how you can immediately see the skin looks smooth and covered. It looks natural and light – not dry and cakey. I thought it might be too dark for my lily-white skin but as you don’t need much it blends in beautifully. Both products are ever so slightly scented.

Both of these fabulous products will be available in store and online from Clarins – the compact will be priced £33 and the foundation will be £28 and available in five colours.