Clinique Gift With Purchase

FREE MAKEUP. As a makeup junkie, those two words are just about my favorite thing to see or hear.

Clinique's fall gift with purchase at Bon-ton, Bergner's, Boston Store, Carson Pirie Scott, Elder-Beerman, Herberger's, and Younkers has started and all you have to spend is $25 to receive 6 free products and a makeup bag.

Check out what's in the gift!

Makeup Bag - This bag in particular gives off a real 70's vibe. If you have so many makeup bags that you don't know what to do with like I do, keep in mind that they make great gifts and can be used as a "gift bag" for small gifts for someone.

Liquid Facial Soap in Mild - This cleanser is step 1 in Clinique's 3 step system. Make sure you remove any face makeup before using this product to really get a benefit from it.

Take The Day Off Makeup Remover - This makeup remover is awesome! It can be used on your lids, lashes, and lips and removes even waterproof makeup. Just hold a cotton ball on the area you want to remove makeup for a few seconds and wipe it all away.

Lash Doubling Mascara - This mascara is both volumizing and thickening. I love the brush on it because it is skinny on top and gets gradually thicker. This makes it easy to coat all my lashes.

Different Lipstick in Surprise - This shade is a golden brown with hints of violet. It might look like a kind of scary bronze shade in the tube, but it is a pretty plum shade when swatched. I like this shade because anyone can make it work. If you think the color is too bronze/brown on your lips, try a different shade of lip liner underneath or a lip gloss on top.

 Soft-Pressed Powder Blush in New Clover - This blush shade is probably the most universal shade Clinique has. The soft violet color looks good on almost all skin types. You can dust the color on lightly or build the color to be a little more vibrant.

Even Better Liquid Foundation - This gift is a little different than what Clinique usually does for their gifts. It comes with a deluxe sample one of four shades in the Even Better foundation. This foundation evens skin tone, is oil-free, and has SPF 15. The four shades are 02 Fair, 03 Ivory, 04 Cream Chamois, and 05 Neutral. Be sure to get matched to one of these shades for the gift to make sure you are getting the right color for your skin.

Make sure you check out my two-part brand review of Clinique I did a couple of months ago to learn more about Clinique products.

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Clinique Cosmetics PART 2

This is PART 2 of my overview of Clinique cosmetics. In PART 1, I talked about Clinique skincare. If you missed my blog post on it, check it out here.

In PART 2 I will briefly discuss the makeup products I have used from Clinique and what my thoughts are on them. Swatches are included.


Mascara:

• High Impact - This is probably my favorite Clinique mascara. It's main purpose is to add volume to lashes. It coats evenly and covers very well with one coat. I love the way it defines my lashes. This mascara is somewhat similar to Lash Doubling but thickens the lashes more and makes them pop a little better. It retails for $16.

• Lash Doubling - This mascara is supposed to thicken and volumize the lashes, which I think it does. It separates them and helps them stand out but not too much. I like to wear this mascara when I want my eyeshadow to pop more than my lashes. It retails for $16.

• High Lengths -This is my least favorite product I have tried from Clinique. The brush/comb is a strange shape and does not fit well around the lashes. It applies super clumpy and is just a complete mess. I just don't like how it looks on my lashes. It is $16 for anyone that can actually make it work for them.

Lipstick:

•  Long Last Lipstick - I have these lipsticks in shades All Heart, Bamboo Pink, Pink Spice, and Sugared Maple. All heart is a strawberry red. Bamboo Pink is a neutral brownish pink shade that is good for any skin tone. Pink Spice is a deep berry pink. Sugared Maple is almost the darker version of Bamboo Pink with a little more red in it. These all have a slight shimmer to them. They are non-drying but are not as long lasting as I would prefer. They stay on a few hours before wearing off without eating or drinking. They retail for $15.

All Heart, Bamboo Pink, Pink Spice, Sugared Maple

• Different Lipstick -  I have these lipsticks in shades Glazed Berry and A Different Grape. Glazed Berry is a soft pink with a bit of shine. It is a fun pink without being overly bright. A Different Grape is a burgundy violet. This color is deep, but it is still very wearable. I think it is a great lipstick to wear with a subtle smokey eye look. These lipsticks are moisturizing and shiny. They wear for a few hours before having to reapply. They retail for $15.

Glazed Berry, A Different Grape

•  Butter Shine Lipstick - I have the shades Baby Baby and Pink-a-Boo. Baby Baby is nude pink that is gorgeous on all skin types. Pink-a-Boo is a pretty, golden pink. These lipsticks definitely live up to their name. They are super shiny and are also very moisturizing. These wear just about as well as the other Clinique lipsticks. Baby Baby is one of my favorite Lipsticks from Clinique. They retail for $15.

Baby Baby, Pink-a-Boo

• Almost Lipstick - I have this in the shade Black Honey. This color is a deep violet. It looks very dark in the tube but is a sheer shine lipstick. Once again the wear isn't as great as I would like it to be, but it is non-drying like the other lipsticks. It retails for $15.

• Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm - I have the shade Curvy Candy. It is a light pink. These Chubby Sticks are Moisturizing like they claim to be but lack pigmentation. They are good to wear when you are looking for just a little bit of color. I do not own any of the new Intense Chubby Sticks, but I have tried them on at work at would recommend them above all Clinique lip colors. They stay on well and are nicely pigmented. Roomiest Rose is my favorite. Both the regular and Intense Chubby Sticks retail for $16.

Chubby Stick in Curvy Candy, Almost Lipstick in Black Honey

Ligloss:

• Long Last Glosswear - I have these in Air Kiss, Kissyfit, Sunset, and Fireberry. Air Kiss is a golden pink shimmer. Kissyfit is a bright pink with shimmer. Sunset is a golden copper shade that fits the name perfectly. Fireberry is a deep red with gold shimmer. The glosses are beautifully pigmented. They have SPF 15 and wear for quite a while. They retail for $15.

Air Kiss, Kissyfit, Sunset, Fireberry

Eyeshadow:

• Colour Surge Eye Shadow Quad in Plum Seduction - I am obsessed with basically anything purple (clothes, makeup, and my hair), so naturally the one eyeshadow product I own from Clinique has purple in it.The dark plum and the dark taupe color are my favorite shades in this quad. The colors are nicely pigmented and they stay on best with a primer underneath. It retails for $27.

Eyeliner:

• Cream Shaper in Starry Plum - This eyeliner is very creamy. The shade is a deep purple with a very slight shimmer. I love wearing this color with my Plum Seduction eyeshadow quad. It stays on nicely and last for most of the day. It retails for $15.

Plum Seduction Quad, Starry Plum Eyeliner

Blush:

•  Soft-Pressed Powder Blusher - I have these in the shades New Clover, Mocha Pink, and Fig. New Clover is a pink-y violet. Mocha Pink is a nude pink like the name suggests. Fig is a reddish brown shade. These blushes wear for a long time and are not overly pigmented. They retail for $21.

• Fresh Bloom Allover Colour in Peony Blend -This shade may have been changed or updated since I got it. Mine is almost a peach when mixed together. It is very natural-looking and is also great for every day wear. I love the design on the blush as well. It is a great color for spring time. It retails for $29.50.

New Clover, Mocha Pink, Fig, Allover Colour in Peony Blend

Have you tried any of these products or any other Clinique makeup that you love? What brand would you like to see me review/discuss next? Let me know in the comments below!

Thanks for reading and don't forget to subscribe to my blog, my feed, by entering your e-mail on the right-hand side, or through Google+ if you haven't already. I update frequently and have many more things coming soon! :)

Clinique Cosmetics PART 1

I want to start reviewing cosmetic brands every so often here. I think it would be fun to talk about what I have tried from a certain brand, what I like, what I don't, etc. However, I NEED FEEDBACK! I want anyone who reads my posts to feel like they have some input on what they read on here. If you like what I am doing or want to see something different, I need to know! So leave comments please!

Moving on, today I want to talk about Clinique. I started using Clinique products when I started working at Younkers a few years ago. Since then I have tried a good amount of their products. They are a pretty affordable high-end brand for the most part. I have not tried many of their serums or things from their lines like Even Better because I don't have a need for them yet, so I won't have much information on those things. 

This is PART 1 of 2 posts I will do on Clinique. This one is about skin care and makeup remover. Stop back tomorrow for PART 2, which talks about Clinique's makeup.

• Acne Solutions Clarifying Lotion - This is a liquid exfoliator that is used after cleanser and before moisturizer. This particular one has a white powder in it that soaks up the oil that acne-prone people like me have. It also contains salicylic acid, which helps fight acne. I have been using this for over a year now with my cleanser and moisturizer and I have seen an incredible improvement in my skin. My acne has cleared up immensely. I still get acne, mainly on my chin, but it nowhere near as bad as it was before. It is best used with the acne cleanser and moisturizer, but I find that it dries out my skin and causes irritation if I use too many products with salicylic acid. It retails for $15.

• Acne Solutions Spot Healing Gel - This is a spot treatment for acne that also contains salicylic acid. I use this on blemishes that are just coming in or that are very noticeable. The treatment dries the blemish up and reduces the size and redness. The bottle lasts a long time because you don't have to use very much of it. It retails for $16.

• Acne Solutions Oil-Control Cleansing Mask - I really can't say much about the results I have had with this because I just got it a few weeks ago and have only used it twice. It is a clay mask with salicylic acid in it that helps heal acne, unclog pores, and fight oil. It says on the packaging to leave it on for 5 minutes and then rinse off, but I leave it on until it completely hardens and then rinse it off. It does leave my skin a little red after using it, so I would recommend using it at night a little before going to bed. I would also not use it more than once a week. So far I like it and will continue to use it to see what kind of results it will bring me. It retails for $22.

•  Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel - This is their most popular moisturizer. They recommend using it with the other 3-step products (cleanser and clarifying lotion). It comes in a lotion for dry/normal skin and a gel for oily skin like mine. I started using this a few months ago and think it is an ok moizturizer. I haven't noticed too much difference in my skin from it, but it does feel nice and helps a tiny bit with cutting back on the oil on my face. It retails for $25.

• Moisture Surge Moisturizer - This is my favorite moisturizer ever! I have developed some annoying dry, flaky patches on my face from the dry Iowa winter we had. This moisturizer, which is like a "big drink of water for your skin," as my Clinique consultants would say, leaves my skin feeling hydrated but not oily. I use this one mainly at night before going to sleep and on days when my skin feels a little dry. The large jar (2.5 fl. oz.) retails for $49.50 and the small (1.7) retails for $37.

• Moisture Surge Overnight Mask - This is a new product for Clinique. It is a creamy mask that you put on at night after all your skin care and then wash it off in the morning. It helps bring moisture back to your face and it feels amazing. I use this once a week. When I wash it off in the morning, it leaves my face feeling super soft and hydrated but not oily. It retails for $32 and will last for a long time because you barely have to use any of it to cover the entire face.

• Pore Refining Solutions Correcting Serum - This serum, used before moisturizer after clarifying lotion, is supposed to smooth out the skin and diminish the look of your pores. I have not tried this product consistently enough to see any real results, but I love the way this serum feels on my skin. It makes my face feel baby soft and smooth. To see results, it needs to be used twice a day, every day like the rest on Clinique's skin care products. It retails for $42.50.

• Take the Day Off Makeup Remover - This makeup remover can be used on the eyelids, lashes, and lips. It is very easy to remove my makeup with this stuff. All I have to do is put it on a cotton ball and hold it on my eyelid or lips for 5-10 seconds and then wipe everything away. It takes off both regular and waterproof makeup. I do have to rinse off my eyelids after using it though because it does leave behind that oily residue. I also want to to point out the Take the Day Off is the perfect and most awesome name for a makeup remover ever! It retails for $18.

 Have you used any of these Clinique products before? What do think of them? Are there any other Clinique skin care products not mentioned that you really like? Let me know in the comments below!

Lancôme's Gift With Purchase

Today is the first day of Lancôme's Gift With Purchase at any Younkers store (or store affiliated with Younkers) near you. All you have to spend is $35, and you get to pick out some free items. I have most of what you can choose from pictured down below and descriptions of each item. This is a great opportunity to try out Lancôme if you have never used their products before or a good time to stock up on anything. The Goodwill coupons are applicable and take an additional 15% off of each item you have a coupon for. The gift with purchase is valid through March 30 as well as the Goodwill sale, so stop by your Lancôme counter and take advantage of this awesome opportunity.

If you are not sure if you have a Younkers or other store affiliated with Younkers nearby, you can check at this link to find a store nearest you: http://www.younkers.com/content/find-a-store/content.html

You can pick between two different makeup bags. I chose this polka dot one. The other is a lighter blue bag with darker blue flowers and small dots.

You can choose a moisturizer. I got Bienfait.

Every gift comes with a sample size of Hypnose Star, Lancôme's newest mascara.

You get the option of either Trésor lotion or La Vie est Belle lotion (not pictured).

You can choose to get a sample of either Génifique or Visionnaire skin care serum.

For the rest of the gift, you have three options. The first is the Cils Booster primer for lashes and an eyeshadow quad with purple-y colors.

Lavender Girl (Top Left), Pink Pearls (Top Right), Pink Zinc (Bottom Left), and Zip Me Up (Bottom Right)

The second option includes the Cils Booster again and an eye shadow quad with more nude colors.

The last option is a blush and a lipstick, which are both beautiful berry colors.

Click (Top Left), Daylight (Top Right), Kitten Heel (Bottom Left), and Vintage (Bottom Right)

Brilliant Berry

Vintage Rose