Sample Series #11: Beyond Perfecting Foundation + Concealer in Neutral by Clinique

Clinique's Beyond Perfecting Foundation + Concealer was a sleeper surprise for me. I had zero expectations before trying it and once I realized less is more due to it's super pigmentation, I've got to admit I was impressed.

I've gotten probably a weeks worth of use from the sample packet, as just a few small dabs is enough to cover my entire face. The first time I used it I went way overboard, not realizing that less really is more. This can be a true full coverage foundation that still manages to not look cakey or mask like.

My preference is to use my Beauty Blender for more sheer coverage that still does a good job of evening out my skin and covering dark spots and other imperfections. Since this is also billed as a concealer, applying a little extra over trouble spots makes my skin look even better.  The finish is a satin-matte that does not look flat, although I'm one that likes to mix foundation with liquid luminizers for a bit of glow. The pigment in the Beyond Perfecting Foundation + Concealer does tend to eat luminizers for dinner, just so you know.

Clinique's Neutral shade is usually a good match for me and I did not have issues with it oxidizing. I do set the foundation with a light dusting of powder due to my oily skin, and at the end of an 8-9 hour day the foundation is just starting to break up a bit. Overall, pretty impressive! I'm also liking the price ($27), as so many mid-level brand's foundation prices seem to be creeping up to the $40 range these days.

Combining and Customizing Facial Masks with Clinique, Glam Glow, and Dr. Brandt

Disclaimer:  I purchased these.

I go through phases where I'm really good at using facial masks and other times when I completely forget all about them.  Prior to the new year I was in a  "use them regularly phase", and I'm especially good on holidays, when I've got extra time to lolligag pamper myself. The following was my Thanksgiving facial.

Clinique Meet Your Mask gift set ($29.50)

Before the holidays I picked up a trio of Clinique masks in a limited edition gift set, as that seemed a good way to sample their leave-on mask line.  One them was the Clinique Even Better Brightening Moisture Mask, which is supposed to restore radiance and revitalize dull, dehydrated looking complexions.  

First, a mini-rant:  this mask has some great ingredients in it, so why does Clinique make their ingredient lists so hard to find online?  I threw the box away and it took a bit of digging online to find what is actually in this. Fortunately, beautypedia.com came to the rescue (they give this one 5 stars, incidentally):

Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Isostearyl Neopentanoate, PEG-100 Stearate, Squalane, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Glyceryl Stearate, Isopropyl Isostearate, PEG-40 Stearate, PEG-8, Cetearyl Alcohol, Polysorbate 60, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Betula Alba (Birch) Bark Extract, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract, Hordeum Vulgare (Barley) Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract, Salicornia Herbacea Extract, Saccharomyces Lysate Extract, Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Extract, Rosa Roxburghii Fruit Extract, Porphyra Yezoensis (Algae) Extract, Sucrose, Yeast Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seedcake, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Isohexadecane, Caffeine, Nylon-12, Sodium PCA, Oryzanol, Propylene Glycol Dicaprate, Sodium RNA, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Acetyl Glucosamine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hydroxide, Polysorbate 80, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Sulfite, Calcium Chloride, Carbomer, Sodium Metabisulfate, Trisodium EDTA, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Titanium Dioxide.

So, this has moisturizing (sweet almond oil, squalane), antioxidant (birch bark, apple fruit, barley, cucumber) and anti-inflammatory (turmeric) ingredients galore. Although my skin is quite oily, I'm now of the mindset that it still needs intense moisture on occasion and non-pore clogging levels of moisture all the time. I'm actually seeing a reduction in the amount of oil my skin produces now that I've upped my efforts in hydration.

For this mask session, I used the Even Better Brightening Moisture Mask on the perimeter of my face plus my chin, Glam Glow's Bright Mud Eye Treatment around my eyes, and Dr. Brandt's Pores No More Vacuum Cleaner on my forehead and nose area.

I think what I liked best about Glam Glow's eye treatment was the holographic packaging. That's not saying much, is it?  I just haven't been that impressed with Glam Glow in general. I find them over priced and think there are better options at more reasonable prices. I did receive one of the BrightMud Eye Treatments as a GWP somewhere along the line though, so I gave it a go.  A full set of 12 will set you back $69, but you could get two treatments from each pack if you enclosed the remainder in a ziplock bag.

According to Sephora's site, this one offers the following ingredients and benefits:

• Nitroffeine™ 14%: Provides an immediate temporary ‘zing’ sensation; provides awakening and fatigue reduction. 
• Juvelane™ 2.5%: Designed to activate retinol-like activity without the disadvantages. 
• Dihydroxymethylchromone: Supports natural collagen synthesis and reduces its breakdown. 
• Cyclicpeptide: Fights visible signs of aging. 
• Troxerutin: Supports natural capillary microcirculation. 
• Ectoin: Repairs and defends. 
• TEAOXI™ Peppermint Technology: Activates sensory trpm8 cold compression to de-puff eyes; helps skin look noticeably smoother and brighter.

It's okay, but nothing I would lay out that kind of money for.  Online reviews are decidedly mixed, so I'm sure your mileage may vary (YMMV).

Dr. Brandt's Pores No More Vacuum Cleaner ($47) is supposed to be a blackhead and oil extractor, and the deities know that would be wonderful if true. The star ingredients and supposed benefits of this one are:

• -Silicone Dioxide: Extracts dirt and excess oil and absorbs sebum.
• -Salicylic Acid: Helps loosen blackheads and unclogs pores.
• -Glycolic Acid: Exfoliates and softens skin.
• -Eijitsu Rose: Helps tighten pores.

I personally have never found anything that completely eliminates the blackheads on my nose area, but this one did absorb oil and temporarily tighten my pores.  If I was good about using it regularly, it could have potential. Considering I only have a trial size and $47 is more than I want to pay...

Post-facial + makeup

To wrap up, I really like the Clinique Even Better Brightening Moisture Mask, am neutral/slightly positive about the Dr. Brandt Pores No More Vacuum Cleaner, and would pass on the Glam Glow Bright Mud Eye Treatment.

Amber Monochromatic FOTD Featuring Clinique and Makeup Geek

Disclaimer:  I purchased these.

There are certain colors I gravitate towards on a regular basis (hello amber), and occasionally it's nice to do a monochromatic makeup look using variations on one color. Today I'm going to show you a look featuring various products from Clinique, Makeup Geek, Revlon and Estee Lauder.

Clinique Ample Amber shadow stick

Amber shades work particularly well with both my eye color and fair complexion.  Amber is between orange and yellow on the color wheel, and since blue and orange are opposite blue on the color wheel, they are complementary. Clinique's Ample Amber Shadow Stick makes for a super easy wash of color over the id and lower lash line.

The eye liner is Urban Decay's discontinued Lucky (full review here), a gorgeous copper in a blackened base.  So glad I got my hands on one before they disappeared.

For my blush, I combined Makeup Geek's Infatuation with Secret Admirer.  I used the warm terracotta of Infatuation over the entire cheek area and then popped the uber cool-toned Secret Admirer on the center of my cheeks for a bit of pink glow.

Infatuation

Secret Admirer

On my lips I combined the soft reddish brown of Revlon's Brown Sugar Lip Butter with Estee Lauder's Wired Copper lip gloss.  Estee Lauder has some seriously nice glosses, by the way. Love the shimmer in Wired Copper.

Brown Sugar

Bottom:  Wired Copper

Brown Sugar + Wired Copper

So there you go - a warm monochromatic look that works equally well for me in all seasons!  Also, Lily Raisin wanted to say hello with her pink bunny ears :-)

Clinique Skinny Meets Chubby Set: Review and Swatches

Disclaimer:  I purchased this.

I picked up the Clinique Skinny Meets Chubby gift set ($27.50) back in November, as it seemed like a good way to try two of Clinique's eye products that were new to me: the Skinny Tints eye liners and the Chubby Shadow Tints. Mine arrived with two of the bullets loose (hence the damage you see above), but it was easy enough to fix so I did not return them. The set does give you a bit of savings as it's worth $45, and it's still available at Nordstrom, which is also having a Clinque GWP offer at the moment.

The set contains:

• Bountiful Beige Chubby Stick (0.04 oz.)
• Skinny Jeans Skinny Stick (0.001 oz.)
• Lavish Lilac Chubby Stick (0.04 oz.)
• Petite Plum Skinny Stick (0.001 oz.)
• Ample Amber Chubby Stick (0.04 oz.)
• Slim Sable Skinny Stick (0.001 oz.)

The Chubby Sticks are super easy to use for a one and done lid color and once they set I got a good 8 hours of wear on my oily lids (over primer, always). They are not what I would call impactful colors, as the shades are soft but do have a nice luminosity on the lid. I like 'em for an easy day look.

The Skinny Sticks leave me a bit ambivalent, as I was hoping they would be good waterline liners. I can get maybe 2 hours of wear on the water line but they seem to fade pretty quickly. I would not call these soft liners either, as it takes a bit of pressure to lay down color. I did not have any migration or smudging issues when worn on the upper lids, so there's that.

Ample Amber + Skinny Jeans

Bountiful Beige + Petite Plum

Lavish Lilac + Petite Plum

Overall I'd say I like the Chubby Sticks more than the Skinny, and I'll be reaching for the Chubsters again.

Clinique Up-lighting Liquid Illuminator in Blush

 Disclaimer:  I purchased this.

Last summer was the time I became enthralled with liquid illuminators and acquired more than a few, include the lovely Clinique Up-lighting Liquid Illuminator (awkward name).

Described as a sheer blushing pink with white shimmer, it can be used to highlight strategic spots or to bring an all over facial glow when mixed with foundation.  I love mixing highlighters with foundations, and thought Clinique's version was comparable (perhaps a bit more sparkly) to the Giorgio Armani's Fluid Sheers, or at least the one I've tried (full review here).

Concentrated

Blended/bright sun

When blended with BB/CC creams or liquid foundations, the sparkle is minimal at best.  When used on the cheeks or to highlight other areas of the face, you can definitely see glow with a hint of color.

Clinique CC Cream + Up-lighting Illuminator + CoverFX drops

You can definitely see the highlight on my cheeks, and for a touch more color I used Estee Lauder's Pure Color Blush in Pink Kiss on the apples of my cheeks.  On my lips I'm wearing one of the lip duos from Le Métier de Beauté's Gemini Kiss lip/cheek kaleidoscope (full review here).   I really enjoyed this FOTD, as I wanted something polished but light for an all day faculty workshop I attended.

For the next look I used two pumps of the Up-lighting Illuminator mixed with Hourglass Immaculate Liquid Powder foundation in Sand.  Again, I think Sand is not quite right the right shade for me, as my neck seems lighter than my face in pictures.  You can get an idea of how the illuminator looks on it's own as a blush, however.

Clinique's Up-lighting Liquid Illuminator is available in 3 shades - Natural, Bronze, and Blush - and retails for $26.  Very nice.

Plum Pop Cheek Pop by Clinique

Yes, I've had Plum Pop for over a year and am now just posting a review.  And yes, Clinique recently released 8 new shades to the original 4, for a total of 12 Cheek Pop blushes. 

I've been rediscovering Plum Pop and trying to decide if I need any of the new colors (ha, like I'll ever need another blush again in my lifetime).  I do love the daisy design in the clear acylic case, as they are both adorable and easy to identify in my drawer full of blushes. 

Plum Pop is a cool toned medium pink that lays down a natural looking satin finish.  While there is no visible shimmer in normal light, it's definitely not flat or chalky looking, and in bright sun you can see a faint shimmer.

Color is buildable but I find the pigmentation strong enough that a few swipes are enough for my fair/warm toned complexion.  I like concentrating it on the apples of my cheeks for a pop of color and then contouring/blending with bronzer, now that spring is turning into balmy hot days where I live.

I'm glad I dug Plum Pop out, I really like it!  Still not sure if I'll get one of the new colors, although a good Clinique GWP offer could definitely tip me over the edge.  I'm torn between Heather Pop or Rosy Pop, or maybe Pansy Pop for something different.