REVIEW of Clinique All About Shadow Quad in Pink Chocolate

Hello ladybugs,

I haven't really reviewed makeup products in a while. It's usually nail polish and occasional lippies. I guess it's more difficult for me to review makeup because I don't wear that much makeup on my face and when I do I tend to stick to the same products for the most part. I picked up this Clinique eyeshadow quad from Sephora in the hopes that it would be one of those products that I could integrate into my regular makeup routine. Spoiler, it did not end up being one of those products. Let's break it down.

The Clinique eyeshadow quads are available from Clinique and Sephora for $28 each. Both the Clinique and Sephora websites have occasional sales and promotions so I would definitely wait for one of those offers before purchasing this quad, if you are interested in the product. To dispel the suspense, the main reason I returned this eyeshadow quad was because the colors just didn't work for me. I had some minor issues with the formula but had the colors been more flattering for my skintone, I might have kept the palette. Given the way the colors appeared on me, I would really only recommend this palette for women with fair complexions. I don't think these shadows would show up well on women with darker complexions since they barely registered on me and I have quite a fair complexion myself.

When I initially tried out this palette in March, I used my Urban Decay primer potion as a base and applied the shadows with my Coastal Scents eyeshadow brush, using my old Elf blender brush to blend the shadows together. I recently picked up a more expensive M.A.C. blending brush but I've never really had an issue with using cheaper Sigma or Elf brushes for my eye looks. I immediately noticed that the brush kicked up a lot of powder when I brushed it against the eyeshadow. I don't exert a lot of pressure so this was odd as this doesn't really happen for me with low-end shadows from Wet n' Wild or high-end shadows from M.A.C. or Urban Decay.

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Shade 1
I found this shade to be too light for me to use as a base color all over the lid. For my skintone, I would have to use this as a highlighter in the inner corner or on the brow bone. I don't think it's bright enough for me to use in the inner corner and I find it looks odd as a brow bone highlight on me. I didn't think this shade blended very well. I found it to be a little chalky which isn't unusual for a lighter matte shade but I would expect better from a mid-range brand like Clinique and from a slightly expensive palette like this one. I've definitely used silkier matte shadows from Wet n' Wild. After a lack of success with different brushes, I tried applying this shade with the sponge tip applicator provided in the quad. I had much more success with the sponge tip applicator. The eyeshadow went on more smoothly and I was able to transfer the shadow more effectively so it appeared more pigmented. However, I still found the shade too light for me. It makes for a subtle highlighter, a little shimmery but not shimmery enough to really pop.

REVIEW of Clinique Chubby Stick in 16 Voluptuous Violet With SWATCHES

Hi chickadees!

So, was my experience with Clinique's Chubby Stick in Oversized Orange just a fluke? Not if Clinique's Chubby Stick in Voluptuous Violet is anything to go by. Where Oversized Orange was the lip product I was reaching for the most in the summer, Voluptuous Violet was my go-to color for the fall/winter. It can go berry or (if you really build up the color) you can definitely get a stronger sense of the purple if you pair it with the right makeup and outfit colors.

It's a bit strange to pick up a purple lip balm and think of it as an every day color but because the product is so sheer, I find that it goes with just about everything.You just have to be careful if you want to go for a very dramatic eye look or bold cheeks when you build up this lippie because together it can look a bit overwhelming. I've been having a lot of issues in the past few months with dryness and allergic reactions to the products I've been testing. This product is perfect for those times because you get a bit of color but it won't catch in any flakies or accentuate the dryness of your lips.

Link to Oversized Orange Review: http://smartandsarcasticwithdashesofinsanity.blogspot.com/2012/09/review-of-clinique-chubby-stick-in-12.html

My opinion of the product is basically the same as my opinion of Oversized Orange, though I find Voluptuous Violet glides on a little more smoothly. Both products keep my lips nicely moisturized and provide a sheer wash of color. But I liked Voluptuous Violet so much that I bought a backup after only using it for a few months.

Cat is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. If you would like to help support this site, please consider making your next purchase at amazon.com through the links on my page.
SWATCHES (partial shade, sunlight, shade)

Clinique Long Last Lipstick Mini in Red Red Red

Clinique Haul

Hi chickadees!

I was so thrilled to get my order from Clinique in the mail yesterday. They were running an offer where you could get three free deluxe samples if you spent $30. Now since I already have a ton of Clinique Chubby Sticks, I chose to try out two of their mascaras, Lash Power Mascara in 01 Black Onyx and High Impact Waterproof Mascara in Black. For my samples I chose to get the Take the Day Off Makeup Remover Mini, Long Last Soft Shine Lipstick Mini in Red Red Red, and Chubby Stick Mini in Super Strawberry. Of course, I will be trying out all of these products and reviewing them for you soon.

Promotion running until March 23, 2013. https://www.clinique.com/checkout/samples.tmpl?show_promo=1

Lash Power Mascara in 01 Black Onyx

Lash Power Mascara in 01 Black Onyx

Lash Power Mascara in 01 Black Onyx

I noticed a bit of a scent. The wand is very thin and the bristles are also short and thin. I feel like this will be great for getting corner lashes and bottom lashes.

High Impact Waterproof Mascara in Black

High Impact Waterproof Mascara in Black

High Impact Waterproof Mascara in Black

I didn't notice any scent to this one. It seems to be a creamier formula. The wand is also fairly thin with short bristles but I feel like this one might give a bit more volume. 

Take the Day Off Makeup Remover Mini

Long Last Soft Shine Lipstick Mini in Red Red Red

Long Last Soft Shine Lipstick Mini in Red Red Red

Bright tomato red. I'm pretty happy with this color. It's exactly what I expected it to be. 

Chubby Stick Mini in Super Strawberry

Size comparison to a regular Maybelline Chubby Stick 

Size comparison to a regular Maybelline Chubby Stick 

I would say the mini has about half the amount of product of a regular Chubby Stick.

REVIEW of Clinique Moisture Surge Intense For Very Dry to Dry Combination Skin

Hi chickadees,

This blog would not function if I wasn't honest with myself and with you. I am absolutely petrified of trying this product again. I want to give it a fair shot but I can't bring myself to get it anywhere near my skin. So, before we start, you have to know that I've only tried this product once. But once was enough.

So, my biggest issue is that I have pretty dry skin. It hasn't been as bad this winter as last winter when I was actually getting patches of flaky skin but as soon as I walk into a beauty supply store or up to a makeup counter, they know my main issue is dry skin. I will occasionally get a few pimples but they are only hormonal or due to a product I'm using and they tend to be pretty small.

I tried this product the day I purchased it from Sephora. I applied it in the afternoon and the next morning I had three major pimples. Without exaggerating, I can say that they were the largest, most painful pimples I have ever had. They were swollen and painful to the touch, red-rimmed, and full of pus. It has taken more than a week for my skin to fully heal. I just cannot go through that again. In total I had one pimple near my nose, two on my forehead near my hairline and some tiny pimples around my chin.

But I do want to also include some information about the product other than my terrible reaction to it. The moisturizer is a cream but it feels almost like a gel when you apply it. It's neither thick nor thin. It gives your skin a kind of plush, supple feeling but I didn't like how it was a little bit sticky. I've worked with paints for enough years to recognize the smell. There is a very chemical, paint-like smell to the product. Since there isn't really any pigment I think it might be due to preservatives.

I'm sorry, my dears. I really want to try this product again but I'm too scared. It's going back to Sephora.

PACKAGING

REVIEW of Clinique Chubby Stick in 12 Oversized Orange

Hi chickadees!

As always, it takes me a while to review lip products (unless I hate them) because I want to give everything a fair shot. When I first picked this up from Sephora at the end of July, I was a little disappointed. I had gone in looking for a coral or orange lip product and when I first tried it on at home, it wasn't what I had expected. It was slightly shimmery, in a subtle, but definitely still shimmery way and you know I don't really like shimmer in my lip products. It had a subtle brightening effect but it just seemed so sheer. And it kind of dragged across my lips at first instead of gliding smoothly. I was sad.

But I kept using it. And kept using it. And suddenly, it replaced everything else as the lip product I reached for after doing my makeup. And I began to appreciate it. No, it wasn't a carroty orange. But it did give my lips a slight orange tint that was subtle enough to pair with a little more makeup than I could probably wear with a bright orange or red lip without looking overdone. And in spite of the way it dragged over my lips the first few times I applied it, when I came home at the end of the day (if I had remembered to reapply) I found no peeling or cracking or dryness. That's right. It kept my lips moisturized. Hallelujah.

I think the only thing I haven't liked as I've been using it is that it's a twist up crayon so eventually the end isn't as sharp. This is only mildly irritating as far as application goes. It just means I have to be a bit more careful and twist the crayon as I'm applying it so I don't go over my lip line. However, as a crazy person who used to obsessively sharpen 10 or more pencils for exams, it does not make me happy. (That's your dash of insanity for the day.)

I was really pleasantly surprised with this product and I'm seriously considering repurchasing it when it runs out. I know some people think the Clinique Chubby Sticks are too sheer but I think they're a perfect way to try bolder colors before buying something more pigmented and they're a great, wearable option for wearing a bold lip color in a more professional setting.

I know this is a slightly shorter review (at least for me) so feel free to leave any questions in the comments. :) Also, I kept the swatches kind of sheer so let me know if you want to see what it looks like when I really build up the color. It's not a massive difference but it does look more orange.

   

  SWATCHES