Okay…I’m rambling. Time for some vacation-worthy (and blog-worthy) beauty. From Clinique.
NEW Moisture Surge Tinted Moisturizer (SPF15)
Blurb: Smooth on an instant moisture boost with SPF protection and a hint of skin-perfecting colour. Refreshingly lightweight formula provides a no-makeup look and feel, yet covers imperfections with a natural, hydrating touch. Oil-free.Wow! This made my skin look great! It smoothed on easily, blended almost effortlessly, and turned into weightless, sheer-to-medium coverage. It evened out my skin tone extremely well, and the finish was very natural looking. It also felt nice and light – perfect for the warm weather.
Another great thing for the warm weather – sunscreen. An SPF of 15 is a mighty good thing.
Right now if you visit the website, you can take advantage of an awesome gift with purchase (a silvery cosmetics bag and your choice of 6 treats with any purchase of $21.50). And if you want to try out a few swatches in person, click on the store and event locator. Clinique is available at fine department stores and Sephora.
(ftc disclosure: sample/product received from manufacturer or representative)
Blurb: Super-nourishing balm is loaded with mango and shea butters. Just what dry, delicate lips need to feel comfortably soft and smooth. Eight natural-looking lip tints in all, each with a subtle sheen.
This is one glamorous, gorgeous lipstick. The color is a rich, deep crimson with a luxurious, satin finish. My lips looked absolutely lavish. (Think warm nights, expensive cocktails, tangos and Antonio Banderas.) This is knock-em-out, dressed-to-kill, femme fatale red. It also has great staying power (femmes fatale need staying power). For something a little different, I also smudged this on my lips with my finger and got a fab I-look-really-hot-in-just-my-jeans lip stain.
This one goes on silky, silky smooth. It feels like it’s hydrating and softening. It's meant to nourish and condition – and it does. It's also exactly the right shade of brick red. It goes on in a thin layer, and it's highly pigmented. The result is smooth, even texture and deep color. It even left plenty of pigment behind after some of the shine had rubbed off – making my lips look slightly stained. Very nice.
A sheer, yet vibrant cranberry in Clinique's super comfy, shiny, moisturizing Butter Shine formula. I love the soft shine combined with the flattering (and festive) cranberry color.
Fab! It's called "Ruby," but it's really a sweet, delicious, fun cherry red. Perfect for a pretty cherry pout.
These are a great cross between a gloss and stick. The packaging is excellent for keeping in your bag or desk drawer (or even your pocket). "Paramour" is a medium brick red, and "Rendezvous" is a brownish red with a bit of shimmer. Both are highly pigmented. They feel really lovely and soft on the lips and have better than expected staying power.
I am still in hot freaky love with this lipstick - highly pigmented, creamy color that glides on and feel absolutely weightless. And it looks stunning – full coverage lipstick with a lovely sheen. It also lasts like you wouldn't believe - eating, drinking, talking, singing, whatever. And when the lipstick finally does rub off, there's still color left behind on the lips. This is the kind of drop-dead, gorgeous red that could only come from a French company. A warm, deep, velvety shade that flatters almost every skin tone. Sexy, voluptuous and decadent. Sigh!
Just when I thought my obsession for red lipstick had run its course; this one pulled…me…back…in! I can't vouch for each person, but it sure worked for this particular person (aka: me). The color looked a little orangey when it went on; but within a couple of seconds, the shade changed slightly and looked exactly right for my complexion. The formula is smooth, creamy and has a soft shine. It also leaves a gorgeous stain that lasts forever.
Well believe it or not, there are still quite a few tubes that I tried out, but still haven't found time to review. So in the hopes of getting "caught up," I decided to talk about a few of them (non-reds!) today. So let's get the lipstick party started!
Blurb: “Intense-Wear” formula enriched with 50% more long-wear color-boost pigments. Lasts up to 8 hours! Vitamins C and E provide essential antioxidant protection.
Blurb: Indulge lips with silky, rich color and lasting moisturization. Our innovative, exclusive sila-silk formula is enhanced with light reflecting polymers and silica for exceptional shine and flawless application. Vitamin E and Tahitian flower provide non-stop hydration and plush, cushion-like comfort. It’s like moisturizer for your lips! Winner of a Self Magazine Healthy Beauty Award and a Glam Beauty Award Nominee for Best Lipstick.
Blurb: The creamiest, richest, smoothest lip colour you can imagine. Our revolutionary gel formula delivers the shine of a gloss, the comfort of a lipstick. Drenches lips in moist, lush colour that glides on buttery-soft, feels luxuriously smooth.
Blurb: Laura Mercier Lip Colour - Shimmer now changes the way you feel about lipstick in one swipe in the newest, revolutionary lip colour formula. The wide range of shades and finishes enhances your lips appearance, protects them from the elements, provides hydration and cares for the lips like skincare.
Blurb: Lips are sealed with decadently creamy, long-lasting color, a wide variety of textures, and a sweet lick of crème caramel. Armored by a menacing dagger, our Lipstick is a weapon of love.
I use this a lot because it's a great reasonably priced, makeup-friendly sunscreen. It's lightly tinted, zinc-oxide based, feels weightless and actually helps even out my skintone. It has a slightly higher than usual SPF and is also fairly water resistant. Contains anti-oxidants, oil-free, non-comedogenic, allergy-tested and fragrance free.
This is one of the few non-zinc oxide sunscreens I recommend because it goes on like a dream. It feels smooth, weightless and absolutely melts into skin. It's lightly tinted, incredibly soothing and slightly moisturizing. Oil-free, dermatologist and opthamologist tested.
Micronized zinc oxide means no white cast. It offers great protection and comes in a convenient, travel-friendly plastic jar. It's also fairly water-resistant. Contains vitamins A, C, E, aloe and green tea. Non-greasy, hypoallergenic, fragrance-free and doesn't clog pores.
Contains transparent zinc oxide and doesn't leave a white cast. Slightly moisturizing, but doesn't clog pores. This works pretty well as a makeup base too. My dermatologist recommends this highly for every day use.
I reviewed this in an 
This is another non-zinc oxide sunscreen. What makes it a standout is its ability to soothe and calm irritated skin. My neck can get extremely sensitive sometimes, and this moisturizer calms it right down and feels wonderful while it protects. Oil-free, non-comedogenic, hypoallergenic, dermatologist tested.
Next blurb: Serious shine and sexy color in sheer, creamy and semi-sheer formulas. Extremely wearable and versatile shades may be worn alone or over other lip products for heightened drama.
