The last time the Beauty Bug fell in love with a Clinique mascara was 2008. Fast forward two years, and the brand has introduced a mascara that will make you look twice. The Beauty Bug will start by saying that this mascara is not for beginners, so be patient and take your time. It brings lashes alive for those that know how to use it, so practice daily and follow instructions! Using a new curved “willow” wand, the fine toothed comb  grabs each lash at its root, but it’s all about the hand to wand maneuvering. Begin at the base of the lash line with the brush laced through the lashes, gripping them. As you slowly comb upward and move the brush up, twisting it 90 degrees  so the wand creates a “u” or a smile.  Continue to  twist it until the wand has made its way completely through your lashes.  For added drama, reapply at the tips of the lashes. Understand?

Bottom line is, this brush makes sense and, it means business. Two plus coats yields the best results; The Beauty Bug prefers 3-4. What was most noticeable to Her was how instantly lush and densely packed Her lashes appeared.  The thin formula, made from a combination of soft waxes and a light-as-air thickener, goes on incredibly smooth with no clumping. Great for those who want to achieve that long, feathery look, High Lengths is precise, has supernatural lengthening abilities, and even adds a healthy curl to top things off!

File this under: don’t just a mascara by its first application – practice makes perfect.

Clinique’s High Length’s Mascara is available at Clinique counters everywhere and at clinique.com for $14.

Disclosure: A press sample was  provided to The Beauty Bug.

Shu Uemura’s Limited Edition Luring Powder – From the fall 2008 Instinct Collection, Luring Powder is a light, naturally rosy powder that provides a light, sheen mist to skin. The Beauty Bug was first introduced to this product by Boston’s Best, Dani Wagener and it has completely changed the way The Beauty Bug applies brush. Thanks to a great tip from Dani, The Beauty Bug is now sporting rosy cheeks with an extra little pop. Dani instructed Her to use wider strokes when applying the Luring Powder. Using a big fluffy brush, The Beauty Bug applies the Luring Powder generously, covering most of Her cheek. To accentuate the apples of Her cheeks, Dani advised taking a brighter, slightly darker blush and applying just a little to the apple with a smaller more concentrated brush. This creates definition and pop.

Why are limited edition products always the best?

Anthony Logistics Blue Chamomile Body Gel and Shampoo – The Beauty Bug Fiance has finally stopped using all of The Beauty Bug’s shower gels thanks to the new manly super-sized bottle of Anthony Logistics Blue Chamomile Body Gel in our shower.  Containing chamomile, aloe vera, glycerin, sea kelp and wheat protein, the gel and shampoo has that instantly recognizable classically clean, i-just-stepped-out-of-the-shower-smell, and leaves skin and hair conditioned and soft. This limited edition giant was launched last month to support the fight again prostate cancer. Known for their charitable work, Anthony Logistics will donate 100% of the proceeds from the sale of this item to prostate cancer research. While it’s now October, this limited edition size is still available.

Clinique’s Superdefense SPF 25 Age Defense Moisturizer - In The Beauty Bug’s experience, She hasn’t come across very many moisturizers with a high SPF content that also wear well under makeup. Clinque’s new Superdefense SPF 25 Age Defense Moisturizer was just added to Her short list. To date, it’s Clinique’s most advanced age prevention daily moisturizer. The lanundry list of key benefits/ingredients include protection again both UVB and UVA rays, red microalage that works to counteract the negative visible effects of stress, padina pavonica extract which helps skin better absorb calcium, resulting in a stronger barrier to help prevent the first signs of aging, Vitamins C and E, soothing agents caffeine, sucrose and sea whip extract, and a patented “skin signaling technology” that encourages and activatess skin’s natural repair process to “clean up” damage. The lightweight, scentless moisturizers feels great on skin, and offers a refreshing and comfortable feel. Available in three skin-typed formulas, Superdefense is The Beauty Bug’s new favorite daily moisturizer.

Shu Uemura’s Luring Powder is available at Shu Uemura boutiques and at shuuemra.com for $38.

Anthony Logistics Blue Chamomile Body Gel is available at anthony.com for $32.

Clinique’s Superdefense APF 25 is available at Clinique counters everywhere and on clinique.com for $42.50.

Prescriptives All You Need Continuous Action 24-Hour Moisturizers – Prescriptives has reformulated their All You Need franchise to 24-hour moisturizers! Available in normal, drier and oilier, The Beauty Bug loves the normal moisturizer because it absorbs quickly and She can readily apply Her makeup right after using it. The gentle formula boasts brightening agents, antioxidants, and caffeine. Make it your new everyday moisturizer for $39.50

Clinique’s Air-Kissed Colours Collection – The design on Clinique’s Happy in Bloom fragrance says it all – this collection is about colour in bloom…and gloss! The collection includes a new limited-edition Colour Surge Eye Trio in Kiss of Pinks, the Fresh Bloom Allover Colour that has become one of Clinique’s signature products, Longlast Glosswear SPF 15, Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief – which is The Beauty Bug’s best weapon again summer dryness, and The Beauty Bug’s favorite from the collection – the Superbalm Moisturizing Gloss. Available in Passionfruit, Guava, Hazelnut and Cocoa, the balms provide mega shine and moisture. Pucker up!

Elizabeth Arden’s Bronze Look Collection – This is one of the most impressive summer collections that The Beauty Bug has seen thus far – the products are reasonably priced, the packaging is sensible, chic, and easy to transport (especially the Bronzing Beauty Kit), and all the products come with solid brushes. The aforementioned Bronzing Beauty Kit, that retails for $35, features four beach-inspired eye shadows and a bronze/blush duo that creates definition on the cheeks. The stunning Sun Goddess Bronzing Powder in medium, complete with a Kabuki-style brush ($32), provides a healthy glow with a shimmery finish and the Color Intrigue Gel Eyeliner and Brush ($22.50) in Bronze Pearl and Black Pearl apply evenly and easily with an alluring pearlized formula.

No, it’s a mask!

Moisturizer!

Mask!

It’s both!

Clinique’s new Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief is truly a one-stop-shopping product; a jack of all trades. This new super-product is The Beauty Bug’s new go-to moisturizer. It can be used as a daily moisturizer, it can be applied over another moisturizer, it can be used throughout the day as a refresher, or finally, a thick layer can be applied for a 5-minute facial mask. Parched skin, beware!

For those that are old fans of this, you’ll know what The Beauty Bug is referring to when she gushes about the amazingly lightweight cream-gel silky texture that glides on skin like butter. It’s the same addictive moisturizer, but the formula has been updated – it now maintains moisture levels in skin for a full 12 hours.

With the change in seasons and climates upon us, The Beauty Bug has been experiencing some funny dry patches of skin on Her face – Her skin’s moisture balance is way out of whack. After about a week of using Moisture Surge, The Beauty Bug’s skin was back in action and fully restored and ready to take on whatever Mother Nature throws at Her.

A couple more things you should know about the product – The Beauty Bug told you that it was lightweight – and because of the unique texture and consistency, it absorbs remarkably quickly. The Beauty Bug will apply the moisturizer and then brush Her teeth – by the time Her head hits the pillow, it has completely absorbed into Her skin.

Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief doesn’t make any promises that it can’t keep, which nowadays, is refreshing. It’s a moisturizer that performs.

Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief is available for $32 on Clinique.com and at Clinique counters everywhere.

]]> http://bitbythebeautybug.com/2008/05/14/get-ready-for-a-moisture-surge/feed/ 3 http://bitbythebeautybug.com/2008/02/20/cliniques-lash-power-mascara/ http://bitbythebeautybug.com/2008/02/20/cliniques-lash-power-mascara/#comments Thu, 21 Feb 2008 03:35:55 +0000 The Beauty Bug http://www.bitbythebeautybug.com/?p=773 Tired, cold and sluggish – those three words pretty accurately describe The Beauty Bug these past 2 weeks. She’s been yawning so much, She’s going to start catching flies. Not only that…the excessive yawning causes Her eyes to tear, which doesn’t bode well for her eye makeup. Lucky for Her, She’s been wearing Clinique’s new Lash Power Mascara.

Simply stated, Lash Power lasts all day (24 hours) in any kind of weather, without any flaking, running or smudging. To put it to the ultimate test, The Beauty Bug contemplated sleeping with it on, but since it had already won Her over and proved its worth by lasting over 14 hours, there was really no need. It made its way to the US from Asia, where it was developed especially for the humid Asian environments. Why is it that the Far East always gets the good stuff first?

Here’s what you need to know about Clinique’s Lash Power Mascara:

• Don’t let the brush fool you. It is small, but very effective. It has the features of a bigger brush, but also gets at those small, inner-eye lashes.
• No clumps. Whatsoever. Enough said.
• The Beauty Bug had to take a little extra time to wash her face to make sure all of the mascara was off – but putting in the little extra elbow grease is definitely worth it. No pulling, no tugging – just a little more pressure.
• Two coats gets you perfect separation and length, but don’t wait too long to apply the second coat. The formula dries and sets in about a minute or so.

Clinique’s Lash Power Mascara is available at Clinique.com for $14.

Having executed many direct mail campaigns herself, The Beauty Bug was thoroughly unimpressed and a bit baffled. There’s not much to running a promotion like this – determine the offer, design the postcard, print the postcard, send it out, and the last and most important step – make sure the stores have the product. A big brand such as Estée Lauder should be able to execute this promotion without a hitch.

She next made her way over the Clinique counter to check out Fresh Bloom collection. This particular counter only had 2 out of the 4 Allover Colour compacts in, so, The Beauty Bug was a bit disappointed. She saw the Posy, and immediately deemed it to dark for her pale complexion, and next tried the best-selling Peony. The Peony is a deceiver. All the photos the Beauty Bug has seen of it makes it look lighter and softer than it really is. While it is a very pretty color combination, the Beauty Bug was hoping for a paler, dewier, quieter pink. Perhaps on Her next time shopping trip at a different Clinique counter, she will be able to see the full line of the Fresh Bloom and actually try them.

Clinique’s (new) Pink Chocolates Holiday Collection has been the subject of many posts in the beauty blog circuit – all of them boasting that it’s full of shimmer and glow. While I do really like the Shimmering Tones Powder (what can be bad about Shimmering Powder), I have to say that I’m quite disappointed with the Cream Liner for various reasons. First off, the color isn’t rich or full at all. In order to get a bold brown color, I have to re-draw my line at least twice, sometimes more. The first application the color looks sheer and lacking. Since I have trouble getting the line exactly how I like it, this makes the task that much harder for me, espeically when I’m trying to get out the door to go to work. Secondly, the reason why I bought it was because of the lustre – I’m a fan of the sparkles and at first glance, the added gold shimmer/sparkle georgous. However, when worn, the sparkles aren’t visible at all – quite disappointing. So, the Beauty Bug is 1 for 2 with the Clinique Pink Chocolates Collection. If she had all the money in the world to spend on cosmetics, The Beauty Bug would next try Eye Shadow Quad.

For those who are looking for a good eye liner, I recommend MAC’s Fluidline Eye liner. It’s an ultra-smooth gel and while it stays put during the day, it comes off easily with makeup remover.

In the past 10 years the only item that I’ve purchased from Clinique is their Turnaround 15 Minute Facial. I bought it after reading about it in Allure. They just aren’t and never really were on my makeup and skin care radar. For some reason, I associate them and their products with older women – just not having the “in” colors and not updating their makeup product lines often. While this older crowd may be their core customer, I think they should focus some of their marketing efforts to the 20-something crowd. I think it’d prove to be beneficial.

Anyways, why all this Clinique talk? I went to their counter at the local mall on my lunch hour today to try a sample of their 3-step skin care system. I had heard about it on the radio and was curious. Unfortunately, they were all out, and the sales girl said that most Macy’s in the area were out too. Why didn’t they pull all the radio advertising? That irked me. Anyways, I was over at the counter so I took the opportunity to look around. The Pink Chocolate collection was extremely nice (in store in November) – Erika from the Makeup Bag breaks it down for us here. I want the Shimmering Tones powder. The Spicy Eye Shadow quad also caught my eye (the picture really doesn’t do it justice) – the sales girl was wearing is and I asked her show it to me. It reminded me a lot of the LORAC Snake Charmer palette (minus the blush), but was $25 instead of $35 – I was expecting it to be more. I also got a sample of the Superdefense Moisturizer, which I like. It’s heavy, but it’s the kind of thing where I know I’ll wake up in morning with soft moisturizes skin.