ProductWhores

Clinique For The Cure

If you're one of the many women who uses Clinique's Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion, now would be a great time to stock up.  For a limited time, you can get a 6.7 ounce bottle for only $35.  The lotion comes draped with a pink bracelet and two charms: a Clinique "C" and a Breast Cancer Awareness Pink Ribbon.  Even more importantly, for every bottle sold during October, $10 will be donated to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.  I love that so many companies are helping to join this fight now.  There's nothing better than getting a great product and doing something good at the same time.

You can purchase the limited-edition bottle here. 

Achieve The Perfect Balance

I'm not usually one to get super excited about powder, but I'm totally into Clinique's new Superbalanced Powder Makeup SPF 15.  (Apparently, I'm practically alone in my powder indifference because according to Clinique, loose powders have grown in popularity by almost 70% over the past several years.  Weird.  I always did like to go against the grain...)  This powder is the companion to their best-selling liquid foundation Superbalanced Makeup and the two make a great pair.  (Although I've also been using the powder on its own and I like that too).  What's super cool about it is the way you apply it - instead of it being like most loose powders, which inevitably end up all over my sink and floor, it's a compressed powder that gets turned into a loose powder when you twist the package.  So you can totally control how much powder you "shave," which means a lot less mess and a lot less waste.  (It's recession-proof powder!)  The formula works well on me too - it has something called "smart technology" which maintains skin's moisture balance and controls oil at the same time.  It definitely gives my skin a matte appearance, but it doesn't dry it out.  I like that it has an SPF 15 in it too - I never rely entirely on SPF in my makeup and always use some under it, but it's always nice to get a little more sun protection.  It comes with a little brush in it which is fine for touch-ups, but if you're going to use the powder for overall coverage, I'd suggest using it with a full-sized powder foundation brush for a more polished look.  Overall though, if you're a powder fan, this is a great one to check out.  (And using the shaver is kind of fun!  Which might be the saddest thing I've ever written.  Clearly I need to get out more...)

The Superbalanced Powder makeup is $32.50.  Find your perfect shade at clinique.com.     

Have Some Smoothie

True story - I don't drink smoothies anymore since what has come to be known as "The Day of Three Robeks."  That would be the day when, for reasons that are way too long to go into here, I ended up drinking three of those big Robeks smoothies in the span of about 5 hours.  It was... not good.  I was so full I could barely walk and I was seriously sick for days afterwards.  So needless to say, the word "smoothie" doesn't exactly conjure up good memories for me anymore.  So when I first heard about the new Clinique Vitamin C Lip Smoothies, my first thought was, "Ooh, I want to try those."  Followed quickly by, "Smoothies.  Yuck."  Well I'm happy to say that the Lip Smoothies have changed my reaction to the "S" word.

The Lip Smoothies come in eight different shades with adorable names like Goodness Grapecious and Mango-thon.  I tried out Nude-tritious, which is a light nude shade that's perfect for the summer.  What I really liked about the formula was that it goes on really smoothly (which you would expect, given the name!) and it's not sticky, like some glosses.  Even better, it's full of ingredients that are good for you, like Vitamin C, Pomegranate, and Acai Berry (known to reduce the appearance of lip lines caused by aging ).  It's super moisturizing, almost like wearing a lip balm, and I really like the brush applicator.  All in all, a great addition to my gloss collection. 

You can pick yours up at Clinique.com for $17.50 each.  

Bamboo Beauty

Gorgeous palettes for eyes, cheeks and lips presented in silvery sculpted cases.  Inspired by Bamboo Pink, one of Clinque’s best-selling lip shades. Colour your world with these limited-edition, summer-fresh shades only at Clinique.   

Clinique's new Bamboo Pink collection is so soft and pretty, I totally covet it all.  The limited-edition collection is on counters now, but it won't be around for long, so if you're loving this look as much as I am, get yourself to your nearest Clinique counter right now.  The entire collection is gorgeous, but here's what I must own:

The Fresh Bloom Allover Colour in Bamboo Pink ($29.50) is SO pretty.  You can use the powder all over to create a light, subtle glow or just on your cheekbones as a highlighter.  And how gorgeous is the palette itself with the floral design?  Part of me wouldn't even want to use it so it could always be so cute, but I would get over that pretty quickly because what fun is makeup if you can't play around with it?

The Colour Surge Eye Shadow Quad in Bamboo Pink would be great for a simple, pretty daytime eye look.  The pinks and browns go together perfectly and they would look great with the Long Last Soft Shine Lipstick also in Bamboo Pink.  It's just a soft and easy look that wouldn't be too overdone or dark for the summer sunshine.

You can get more info on the Bamboo Pink collection (and order it for yourself!) now on clinique.com.  

Sun Your Self

I have a lot of products in my closet.  (A LOT).  So sometimes things sit in there for awhile until I get a chance to try them, which usually doesn't bother me.  But every once in a blue moon, I'll finally get around to using something that I fall in love with and then I'm all, "Dammit!  Why didn't I look on this shelf before?!"  This weekend, that product was Clinique's new Self Sun Body Tinted Lotion in Light - Medium.  (The only thing that makes me slightly less annoyed is that it was in the front of my closet because it only came out recently, so it's not like I've been pasty white for months for no reason.  But still!)  Anyway, there are many, many reasons that this is my new favorite self-tanner.  It's reasonably priced ($20), has barely any of that nasty smell a lot of self-tanners come complete with, and it's tinted, so you can see exactly where you've already applied it, making a streak-free application much easier.  It took about 20 minutes or so to dry after I put it on, but I did it at night and then put on pajamas and went to bed and in the morning, none of it had rubbed off on my pj's or my white sheets, which almost never happens.  (If I graded products on a point scale, that would totally give it at least 10 extra points because nothing makes me give up on a self-tanner faster than if it makes me do extra laundry).  The next morning, I had a totally natural golden glow - it really did look like I had lounged poolside for the perfect amount of time the day before.  I'm dying to try the Self Sun Face Tinted Lotion to see if it's equally as great because if it is, I know what two products I'll be buying all summer long.  (The collection also includes Self Sun Body Airbrush Spray and Self Sun Body Daily Moisturizer, but I haven't gotten a chance to try those yet either).  Plus, the great thing about buying Clinique is that if you time it right, you can get a gift with purchase a lot of the time.  Not that I need an incentive to be tan and therefore able to go out in shorts without blinding people from the reflection off my white legs, but hey, free stuff never hurts!  

Gift With Purchase!

I'm such a sucker for a gift with purchase.  Is there anything better than buying something you already wanted and getting other stuff for free?  No, no there is not.  From May 20th to June 6th at Nordstrom stores and Nordstrom.com, you can get this exclusive Trina Turk cosmetics bag packed with Trina's favorite Clinique summer essentials.  (And if you can't tell from the picture, the bag is adorable.  You know how some gift with purchases come in bags you would never use?  That's totally not the case here.  I'll definitely be packing this bag in my suitcase on weekend trips).  Even better, the Trina Turk for Clinique gift is free with any purchase of $25 or more.  It contains:

• Take the Day Off Makeup Remover for Lids, Lashes and Lips
• Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion
• Blushwear Cream Stick in Rosy
• Colour Surge Eye Shadow Duo in Sun Burst
• Lash Doubling Mascara in Black
• Different Lipstick in Tenderheart
• Superfit Makeup (you get a choice of three different shades)

Happy shopping!

Even Better

I love that makeup has gotten so high tech that now it not only does what it's supposed to, it also does extra things.  Clinique's new Even Better Makeup SPF 15 was dermatologist-developed, so the oil-free formula not only covers blemishes and other fun stuff you don't want anyone else to see, after using it for 4-6 weeks it gives your skin "improved clarity, a more even skin tone, and visibly diminished age spots."  I mean, that's just cool.  Because even though I have a ton of different products, I'm lazy and sometimes I don't want to go through all the trouble of finding them to use (especially at night, when I just want to go to sleep).  All of this wouldn't really matter if I didn't like the way it worked as a foundation though, but the good news is, I really do.  It covers great and blends into my skin nicely (no weird, dark streaks anywhere), plus it has the SPF 15 in it.  Also (and I'm willing to admit this is a totally shallow thing) I really like the bottle it comes in.  It's totally portable and the tip lets the foundation come out in drops, so you can always dispense only the amount you think you're going to use (no waste!)  I usually don't take foundation with me during the day, but if I decided that I needed to one day, I think Even Better would be my choice. Now if I could only get it to clean my apartment, too...

Even Better retails for $24.50.  You can find it on Clinique counters or at Clinique.com.

First Blush

 

For Spring 2009, Clinique is introducing First Blush, a soft and feminine collection meant to bring back memories of a "first, innocent flush."  The focus is on the cheeks and they're given a youthful glow.  The eyes are kept simple, with a monochromatic wash of color, a defined upper lash line and a strong brow.  Lips are subtle and glossy.  The whole look is totally wearable and gorgeous - perfect for the transition into warmer weather.

I've been playing around with the collection for a couple weeks now and I totally love it.  I think my favorite products are the Fresh Bloom Eye Shadows.  Not only are the colors amazing, but the compacts are so cute.  The two shades are pressed into a floral shape, so you can use each individually or blend them together.  So pretty.  I also love the Quick Blush sticks.  I normally don't carry blush with me because it's a total pain in the neck - you have to pack the compact and the brush and it just doesn't seem worth it (can you tell I'm lazy?)  But with these, you just throw one in your bag and go.  It's great for days when you're going out right from work and need to redo your entire look at the office.  I've also been using the new High Impact Curling Mascara. It works great on me - I get thicker, curlier lashes without having to use an eyelash curler (again, I'm lazy) which makes my morning routine simpler.  Always a plus!

Here's the full collection:

What I'm Loving Right Now

As usual, I'm testing a bunch of products all at once.  Some of them I love, some of them... not so much.  Here are the ones I've been telling my family and friends to go out and buy.  (Or at least listen to me talk about!)

Estee Lauder's new Nutritious Vita-Mineral Makeup is my foundation of the moment.  I really like using mineral makeup, but don't usually love powder foundations, so this if perfect for me.  It goes on smoothly and blends easily, and it comes with an SPF (although it is only an SPF 10 - I'd love it if they could make it a 15 or higher).  It's oil and fragrance-free (who wants fragrance in their foundation?), but it does have minerals, Vitamins C and E, and pomegranate-extract, which is a strong anti-oxidant.  It also helps erase signs of fatigue, which is perfect for me because lately, I look like I'm permanently in need of a nap.  (Getting older sucks!)

After I put in the Estee Lauder foundation, my powder is Clinique's Redness Solutions Instant Relief Mineral Powder.  (I'm all about the minerals lately!)  It's also oil-free and gives my skin more of a matte look, but what I really love is the way it takes the redness out of my face.  It makes it look more even and less blotchy whenever I need that to happen (like when I've been running around all day and then have to go back out without having time to shower.  This product is totally made for days like that).

Bare Escentuals Face Fashion is a great all in one makeup kit.  It contains two eyecolors, one liner shadow, one blush, and a Buxom lip polish.  The colors create a great dark smoky eye, and the lip color is a sheer nude to go along with them.  (Plus, you get that tingling sensation when you use it, which I love).  And the small sizes make it easily portable and perfect for a trip or a weekend away.  I love it when companies put shades together for me so I don't have to think about what matches.  The less thinking in the morning, the better!

Comfort On Call

The weather has been playing havoc with my skin lately.  I've been back and forth between the east coast a few times this winter (during a blizzard!), not to mention the fact that it was 86 degrees here in Los Angeles today, so I think the exteme variation in temperature is making my body a little crazy.  There are even little dry, flaky patches on my legs, which never happens.  (I'm definitely not helping things by showering twice a day either because I think that's drying out my skin, but I'm sorry, I hate going to bed sweaty and when it's 86 degrees, sweat happens).  And then I remembered that I had Clinique's new Comfort On Call cream in my closet, so I figured I might as well try that out and see if it could fix the flaky patches.  After only a week of use, it's totally mission accomplished, which kind of amazes me, to be honest.  I figured if it did work, it would take a month or so, but I was wrong.  (Sadly, that happens a lot).  In only 7 days, the dry patches are noticeably better.  The cream is really thick and as far as I can tell, fragrance-free (or VERY lightly scented), so it goes on more like a treatment than a lotion, which I like, since it lets you easily use it in specific areas.  Clinique's website says that it's "Ideal for dry, cracked, easily irritated skins and those bothered by wind and extreme cold [and] appropriate for people with eczema or sensitive skin."  So basically, if your skin is bothering you at all, this is your product!  It's definitely making mine better.  (Just in time for it to get cold and start raining here, but that's a whole different story...)

Comfort On Call retails for $39.50 for 1.7 ounces and can be found at Clinique counters and Clinique.com.