I received L'Or Radiance Concentrate by Guerlain the same time as I received the Meteorites Perles Light Reflecting Perfecting Primer. After hounding everyone as my birthday approached, I was over the moon to unwrap both products on the day. As with the perfecting primer, I had become bedazzled by the appearance of this product and hadn't known much about what it did or how much it cost. When I found out, I felt like a very lucky duck!

What does it do?
L'Or Radiance Concentrate is a radiance boosting product which has been designed to brighten the complexion using real flecks of 24 Carat Gold. It is also designed to work as a primer, smoothing over and filling in imperfections, leaving you with a perfect base on which to apply your make up. It also claims to tighten and hydrate the skin meaning that you should look youthful, healthy and glowing after use.

How does it work?
The little flecks of Gold are included to reflect light off the skin, giving an illuminated complexion that is healthy and glowing. It prevents the skin from looking tired and dull by providing it with a natural radiance. The flecks are absorbed by the skin and so thankfully, they don't sit on the surface making you look like a glitter ball.

Rice Protein is present in the product which tones the skin leaving it looking firmer and more youthful. This also means that pores will be reduced in size, making your complexion more even, spots less likely and fewer oils being released by the skin. It also softens the skin and gives you a smooth surface on which to apply your make up.

Imperata Cylindrica Root Extract is present because of its ability to draw water into the skin meaning that your skin will be hydrated and remain hydrated for a long time. Alcohol is included in order to tone the skin further and Linalool is present to soothe the skin, stimulate the growth of healthy new skin cells, reduce inflammation and balance out the production of oil by the skin.

How do you use the product?
The product is to be used on clean, dry skin. You pump a small amount from the bottle and you don't need too use much in order to achieve the desired effect. You can use it all over the face if you want to use it as a radiance booster or a make up base.

Sometimes I just use it on my cheeks and nose because these are the areas where my pores are enlarged and obvious and the areas which can make my foundation look patchy. It can be used alone or beneath make up but never on top of make up.

Packaging and Price
The packaging is what making this product truly special. It comes within a heavy glass bottle which is transparent and you can see the product inside. The product is a clear gel and the particles of Gold are floating within the gel making the whole of the contents look like it's full of sparkling Gold.

The lid is lightweight and some of the colour will start to come as it's knocked around in your make up bag so be careful with it. You'll probably want to display this item anyway because it is as beautiful as an ornament. To access the product, you simply push down on the top of the dispenser gently.

This product does not come cheap at all due to both the brand name and the fact that it contains real Gold. It costs around £40 for 30ml of the product and it can be bought from most large department stores and many online websites. The price does vary quite a lot so if you're interested in the product, it's a good idea to shop around before purchasing in order to save money.

My thoughts
The first thing I was worried about with regards to this product was about the flecks of Gold. I thought they were going to sit on my skin and sparkle which is no better than coating your face with glitter to achieve radiance. Suprisingly though, the Gold flecks are absorbed by the skin and literally disappear into your face so they produce the radiance from inside. There is absolutely no sparkle or shimmer left on the skin which makes it suitable for daywear.

The product looks like a clear gel and it is absorbed by your skin very quickly. It leaves a dewy sheen on the skin which others may like but as a person with oily skin, I have more than enough natural shine as it is. My instant reaction is to grab for my mattifying powder and cover it up but this also seems to cover up much of the radiance, cancelling out the benefit of the product.

It does brighten the skin and it will still make you look radiant, even through foundation although the effects are dulled down a bit. When I apply my powder, it dulls down the radiance completely. For this reason, I would say you could use it on bare skin for radiance or under make up as a base and primer but you can't really achieve both effects unless perhaps you wear it under only a tinted moisturiser.

Although it looks a little greasy on the skin, it doesn't actually feel greasy. It is lightweight and comfortable on my face, providing that I go easy with the application. It hasn't caused any new spots because many of the ingredients tighten pores and absorb excess oils. It also doesn't irritate my sensitive skin at all and feels fairly soothing. It does come with an added fragrance which also evident, is not overpowering or off putting.

Those will normal to dry skin will love this product. It really does hydrate your skin well and it maintains the moisture levels throughout the day. Even though I have oily skin, there are one or two patches which can get dry but they never do when I am wearing the product and I never get any tightness as the product dries.

As a make up primer it works really well. It stops my skin producing so much oil meaning that my make up doesn't start to slide off and it looks fresher for longer. The product also fills in and tightens my pores and fills in my fine lines so that when I apply my foundation, it no longer settles into my imperfections and highlights them.

All in all, if you have dry or normal skin, you will be hard pressed to find a better product. It is so hydrating, really makes your skin look healthier and is a great make up base. As a person with oily skin, I don't like to wear products that add a sheen to my already shiny face. It works really well as a primer but I could never wear this alone so I lose the benefits of the radiance which is created by the Gold. I'll continue to use the product but I won't repurchase as I don't reap all of the rewards that the product has to offer.