Clinique Redness Solutions Daily Protective Base Primer

While I'm waiting for the discoloration on my swatch hand to fade, it seems perfect to discuss a green product. In full disclosure, I found this post photographed and saved as a draft when I restarted the blog. I checked to see if the product had been reformulated in the interim. It hasn't, so my feelings on it are still valid.

Let me be blunt: I am a naturally pink human being. That said, I suffer from mild rosacea on my cheeks that requires a hefty quantity of concealer to cover. So when Clinique's Redness Solutions Daily Protective Base SPF 15 ($23) was recommended to me, I was so happy to give it a try.

It's a great value- $23 for 1.35oz of a multitasking primer/sunscreen/corrector. I assume that the SPF is functional since I never burned while using this tube up. That's about all I can say about this product in a positive manner.

Let's take a look at just how green this is:

For those who don't understand color theory, it's supposed to cancel out red. So, I blended it out on my very pink skin:

Do you see problem #1? There's essentially no difference between the area on which it was applied and my bare skin. Using this primer didn't reduce the amount of concealer that I had to use- which is the main reason why I was testing this primer out! I have other primers that perform much better for just priming.

Problem #2 is just that: it's a mediocre primer when paired with my usual foundations. Perhaps it has much better performance with Clinique's own line but I really didn't like this as a primer.

So, it's a poor primer and doesn't color conceal. That leaves just sunscreen; I swear by SPF50 rather than 15! Overall, this product just doesn't perform up to expectation. I'll still be pushing for an effective color corrector, but this Clinique primer just isn't it.

Clinique Long Last Lipstick 0A Runway Coral

It's almost time for the Nordstrom Spring Beauty Trend Shows to commence throughout the country, and I wanted to share with you the best impulse purchase I made last year. The ironic thing is that I was afraid to wear it out of the house for half of the summer.  Silly me, I missed half a summer with the best coral lipstick out there!

First, the details.  Clinique Long Last Lipstick retails for $15 and Runway Coral is available at Clinique.com.  I see it on pre-order at Nordstrom, which leads me to think it'll be another Beauty Trend Show exclusive.

Long Last Lipsticks have a buttery formula, and moderate wear time. I touch this up every few hours, but I drink throughout the workday.

Runway Coral is a vibrant red coral that pulls a little orange on me.  It's lovely on my very pale complexion, and pigmented enough to cover my dark lips.


A quick note- flash photography makes it look brighter than it is in real life.

This shot in front of my trusty swatch shrub really makes it look more red than it is:

I didn't get to grab lip photos before the weather turned (as is the case lately, I was able to rapidly photograph a number of products), but I do have some swatches:

Outside, no flash:

Outside, no flash- nothing blocking natural light:

Outside, with flash:

Outside, with flash (nothing blocking natural light):

Inside, without flash:

Inside, with flash:

Although this isn't the most long-lasting lipstick (despite the name), I love the color. It's so flattering on any number of skintones.  This is the first bright coral lipstick that I incorporated into my wardrobe.

Bottom Line: I highly recommend this shade to anyone.  I suspect that Nordstrom will have an exclusive in-store for a limited amount of time, so go see it.

NOTD: Clinique Fizzy

Today's NOTD is Clinique A Different Nail Enamel #03 Fizzy.  I really enjoy the formula on these.

Three coats, no top coat.  This might be that perfect neutral nail I've been in search of.

NOTD: Clinique Cosmo Chic

Today's NOTD is a re-swatch from the Holiday 2013"Party Favors" gift set: Clinique A Different Nail Enamel in Cosmo Chic.  I forgot to photograph it the first time I wore it.

Cosmo Chic is a limited edition deepened raspberry creme with certain jelly tendencies.

Swatches are 2 coats, no top coat:

Clinique Brush-On Cream Liner- Black Honey

It's been a few days since I brought you another slice of Black Honey heaven.

Today's offering is the Clinique Brush-On Cream Liner in Black Honey. It retails for $16 and weighs in at 0.17oz, making it an excellent value. It comes with an accompanying brush, although I prefer my existing eyeliner brushes for the highest level of precision.

This is a small pot of gel eyeliner similar to any other product like MAC Fluidliner.

Swatched out, it's a mid-range black raspberry color.  It's very warm, but wearable- especially with Black Honey eyeshadow.

I love layering this with other Black Honey pieces for a tone on tone look that's both sultry and daytime appropriate.

In case anyone was wondering, it's significantly warmer and lighter than the LE Quickliner in this year's Party Favors Holiday set.

Admittedly, this is the only shade in Clinique's cream liner range that I've tried, but it lasts for a full work day (usually 14+ hours door-door for me) without touch-up.  I highly recommend the formula for ease of use.

Clinique Gel Blush in Black Honey

Today's dose of Black Honey goodness is Clinique Gel Blush.  This is a GWP size and I'm not sure when this was originally offered.

Admittedly, I'm not used to working with a squeeze tube of blush:

It's quite scary out of the tube:

But blended out, not so bad:

Outside

Inside, with flash

Overall, it's a beautiful shade that works on a number of skintones.

Clinique Sheer Shaper for Lips- Black Honey

Today's dose of Black Honey comes in the form of a discontinued lipliner.

Clinique Sheer Shaper for Lips is the absolute perfect twin to the classic Black Honey Almost Lipstick.  I'm not sure why this product was discontinued- I'm sad that I didn't discover it until recently.  I don't know of another product like this on the market- a truly sheer lipliner with a wash of color.

A swatch should help illustrate what I mean:

Outside, natural light

Actually, I think you need to see it with Almost Lipstick in Black Honey to get just how genius this lipliner is:

It is stunning and so perfectly matched. Why would they get rid of such a unique and perfect product?  I'm going to be a one-woman campaign for the re-introduction of this product.  Dear readers- did this come in any other shades? I'd love to know!

Clinique All About Shadow- 02 Black Honey

I have a problem, dear readers.  And its name? Black Honey.  The cult favorite has me by its sweet, sultry grip this fall.  If I was to sum up my makeup this fall in one color, it'd be Black Honey.  You're going to be seeing a lot of different Black Honey products on this blog over the next few days- hold on, it's going to be a beautiful ride!

Let's start with the fundamentals.  For those living under a rock since the 1980s, Black Honey is a classic Clinique Almost Lipstick that looks scary in the tube but is a perfect fall stain on anyone's lips, no matter the pigmentation.  Its siren color has spawned many different forms of it.  Today, we'll talk about Clinique All About Shadow.

Admittedly, it's been many years and several repackaging cycles since I last bought a Clinique All About Shadow single, so I was glad to have the opportunity to give Black Honey a test.

Clinique All About Shadow comes in a mirrored-front compact with clear bottom (for easy identification of the shade). It weighs in at .07oz/2.2g and retails for $15. You won't be seeing the front because I couldn't get a good photo sans camera reflection on the compact.

Black Honey in this form is a show-stopping warm rosy brown with a decidedly burgundy shimmer.  I love this shade because it's one of those take-your-breath-away pops of color for icy blue eyes (of which I own a pair).  Sheered out or applied with a light hand, it's office appropriate.  Layered on as part of a smoky eye, it's a sultry, deep brown that makes your eyes go ka-POW!


Now that I've raved, here's a couple of swatches:

Outside, in natural light

Inside, with a bit of flash

Bottom Line: Just go get it. Trust me.  You can find it at your local friendly Clinique counter.

NOTD: Clinique A Different Nail Enamel for Sensitive Skin- Black Honey & Formula Review

Today's NOTD is another of those bonus posts I've been doing lately, where I'm reviewing a new nail formula as well as showing you a yummy NOTD.  If you pay attention carefully, there's a new tag on the post.  I have a slight obsession with every product that Clinique releases in the Black Honey range, and I'll be bringing you a number of them over the next couple of weeks.

Today's NOTD is Clinique Black Honey, from the A Different Nail Enamel for Sensitive Skin Line launched this summer.  Swatches are with three coats, using the A Different Nail Enamel Base/Top Coat.

Outside, but with flash

This is a luxurious, saturated shade that is similar to the appearance of the famous shade in the tube.

I love it.


In terms of the formula, I'm still experimenting with it a bit.  I enjoyed it, but was very careful to use thin coats.  There was a significant difference in terms of wear time when I used the base coat versus when I used my normal Deborah Lippmann base coat.  I got 2.5 days of wear before the first chip appeared, which is exceptionally good for me.

I love the price point ($12.50).  I don't get the overly negative reviews on a number of retailer websites.  Just use the base/top coat (it's a 2-in-1) and thin coats and you'll be fine.

Clinique Party Favors Set (Holiday 2013)

Today, I bring you Clinique's largest set for Holiday 2013: Party Favors Set.

This set is contained in a neon fold-over cosmetic case.  It has a snap that holds the fold in place.

This kit has all you could ever want in a value set, and includes both perennial favorites and some limited edition products worth grabbing.

The kit contains:

• All About Shadow Quad
• High Impact Mascara (full size)
• Quickliner for Eyes Intense
• Chubby Stick Intense (full size)
• A Different Nail Enamel (deluxe sample)
• All About Eyes (deluxe sample)

First, lets talk about two of the products I won't be reviewing in-depth: High Impact Mascara and All About Eyes.  One is full sized, the other a deluxe sample. Both add value to the kit.

The All About Shadow Quad contains the following shades:

Inside, with flash

Limited Edition Pink Shade, Hazy, Raspberry Beret, Chocolate Covered Cherry.

Swatches:

Inside, with flash

Outside, no flash

One of my favorite things about Clinique quads is that they give instructions for a full-eye look.

I really bought this kit for three products: Black Honey eyeliner, a new Chubby Stick Intense, and to try the nail enamel.

The Chubby Stick Intense for Lips- 09 Roundest Raspberry is a new, limited-edition Chubby Stick Intense shade. Given my love for the formula, I had to nab this new release.

It's a cheery raspberry that gives a wearable berry sheen.  It's much warmer than the other berry products in the Chubby Stick Intense lineup. I've reviewed the other shades elsewhere on this blog.

Swatches:

Outside, on my hand

Inside, no flash

Inside with flash- this looked well within the lip line in person! Wow!

Quickliner for Eyes Intense in 18 Intense Black Honey is another genius application of the classic Black Honey.  I'm having a small obsession with Black Honey right now.  Quickliner for Eyes Intense has a creamy, long-wear formula.

Outside, on a cloudy day

A Different Nail Enamel in Cosmo Chic is a saturated magenta with warm undertones.  I enjoyed this color on my nails, but didn't grab a photo the day I had it on my nails. I'll be reviewing the formula in-depth in the coming days, but I found this to be a one-coater, self-leveling.

Outside, no flash

Outside, with flash

Outside, with flash

Overall, this set is on-trend because of the berry theme. I found it to be a great value, and I'm already enjoying most of the items.  The eye quad will be a struggle for me to incorporate, but it was worth the gamble.

Bottom Line: I think Clinique has hit it out of the park.  Grab this set while there is a GWP at Macy's- you won't regret it.

Pricing/Availability: $39.50, at Clinique counters.