Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Face Lotion +

One of the product releases that I was the most excited about in the past few months is the topic of today's post, a new piece of the Clinique skin care is always an intriguing prospect for me and I usually end up purchasing it in within a few months of the initial release.  This release is one that I have been reading about in every single fashion and beauty magazine for at least a month and I have been waiting for it to finally become available and I ordered it as soon as I could get my hands on it from the Sephora website.  Clinique has revamped the formula and brought out a new version of their best selling and award winning face moisturizer, the Dramatically Different Moisturizing Face Lotion.  I have used this product many times before in its original version and found that it was best for me in the warmer weather months and therefore I am going to try the new version in the same type of weather.

This is one of the few products that makes the Allure Best of Beauty list nearly every single year and then also wins the Reader's Choice Award from this very same magazine.  It is the first product that comes up when Clinique is brought up on the Sephora website and then first product that comes up when one looks for Moisturizers too.  I have met very few ladies who have not tried this product at least once.  I first tried this lotion when a small size came in a Clinique Gift with Purchase several years ago and have turned it to many times since.

The new version has the same name with a "+" added to the title.  This new formula delivers twice the hydration while still remaining a great choice for all skin types.  This lotion is best for me when used as a day lotion in the late spring through early fall, I need a heavier product in the fall and then through the early spring months. 

"A luxurious moisturizer that promotes smooth, healthy-looking skin.  The world has changed since Clinique first debuted Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion, and it’s had an impact on our skin. That’s why Clinique created a dramatically different version. This formula features all the same benefits as the original—plus more. Step 3 in Clinique's 3-Step Skin Care System, this moisture "drink" developed by Clinique's dermatologists maintains optimal moisture balance for very dry skin or comfortable to oily skin in the T-zone. With a new complex yet same silky texture and quick penetration, this lightweight formula strengthens skin's own moisture barrier by 54 percent and locks in essential moisture. It delivers twice the hydration all day, leaving skin silky-soft, springy, and absolutely radiant.  This was developed for Skin Types 1 and 2: very dry to dry, dry combination. For oilier skins (Skin Types 3 and 4), try Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel."

This is a day lotion for me, it absorbs quickly and hydrates well without any type of greasy feeling on the skin.  Two pumps of the product is enough for face to hydrate my face without wasting product.  I don't find this lotion to be thick enough to hydrate my skin at night and be the only product that I use for moisturizing, the new additions to the formula do not make is strong enough for it to be my only face lotion.  The texture of this product is exactly the same as the original, I wouldn't have noticed the difference from just pumping the product out and applying it to my face.  I do notice a difference in the formula of the product, it hydrates better and absorbs quicker than the original formula. 

This is a great improvement over the original and I love the new version of the formula, I still will only use it as a day lotion in the warmer weather.  It hydrates better and absorbs faster than the original version but still will not be enough hydration to serve as a night cream (for anyone with dry skin) unless your skin is considered normal to slightly dry.  The same thoughts hold for using this in cold weather, even though this product is made for drier skin types it is not a replacement for an oil or thick face cream when the temperatures drop.  I am very happy with this product and will keep using it for the rest of the summer until the bottle runs out in the fall months.

Great upgrade on a solid product from this company!

photo courtesy of Sephora

Clinique All About Eye Shadow - Quad

I was looking back over some old blog entries the other week and was looking at my obsession with Clinique makeup about two summers ago and realized that I had looked at almost every single Clinique eye shadow product...but not the All About Eye Shadow Quad  The Quad was one of the last items that I added to my Clinique eye makeup collection.  I had bought the Duo and Trio years before buying one of the Quads and then skipped over reviewing it when I bought one earlier this spring.  Good thing that I decided to review some of my archived posts the other week!

The Clinique All About Eye Shadow Quad combines four complementary Clinique Eye Shadows into one palette, this is a larger version of the Duos and Trios that we looked at several summers ago.  I haven't been quite as into Clinique color as I was at that time and now purchase more of their skincare than any other products but I still do appreciate how well this company can put together a lovely eye shadow palette that works equally well professional life or getting dressed up at night.  My palette contains one shade that works best as a highlighter, one in the crease, and then two that would work on the lid (one that works better in a professional and the other that is deeper and better for the nighttime hours). 

The description that the Clinique website provides is slightly weak so I will include it and then the one from the Sephora website for more detailing.  From the Clinique website, "Wear shades alone or layered together in different combinations. Crease- and fade-resistant. Ophthalmologist tested for even the most sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers. Mirrored compact with illustrated how-tos plus two sponge-tip applicators."  This is the very basic description and doesn't include as many usage details as the description on the Sephora website.

The Sephora description of this product, "A palette of eye shadows in four complimentary colors that allows you to create a variety of looks, from natural to dramatic.  All About Shadow Quads feature four versatile, complimentary shades to wear alone or layer together in different combinations. For dark skintones, lighter shades will impart a more dramatic look and dark shades for a more natural style. Dark shades look more dramatic on fairer skins; light ones look more natural.  These powder colors are formulated to be crease and fade resistant, and are ophthalmologist tested for contact lens wearers and those with sensitive eyes. This set includes a mirrored compact with illustrated instructions plus two sponge-tip applicators."

This product is available in the following shades...

- Galaxy - shimmering white/shimmering medium aqua/shimmering light aqua/shimmering charcoal
- Teddy Bear - medium warm white/medium bronze/medium chocolate/deep brown
- Going Steady - pale pink satin/deep plum satin/medium lilac satin/shimmering charcoal
- Smoke and Mirrors - pale white satin/deep silver satin/shimmering deep charcoal/black satin
- Pink Chocolate - matte pale pink/matte medium brown/medium pink satin/deep brown satin
- On Safari - matte champagne/matte medium olive/medium gold satin/deep brown satin
- Morning Java - matte champagne/medium red brown satin/shimmering gold/deep chocolate satin

I only have one of these palettes at this time, I prefer not to review a product until I have at least two (if not three or more) shades of the product however the formula is exactly the same as the all of the rest of the Clinique eye shadows so I have already used every finish in this formula many times over and did not feel that I needed to buy more than one Quad to fully review the formula.  Every Clinique Eye Shadow is the same basic formulation with subtle differences in the textures and formulation as the finishes differ.  None of the shades or finishes are very dramatic from this company, even the "Super Shimmer" description is not the glitter-infused shadow that many other brands use.  Most of the shades have a medium level of pigmentation and are very easy to blend.  Clinique makeup is usually one of the easier brands to wear and works well in a professional environment with only the deepest shades being best left for nighttime.

I have Teddy Bear, all the neutral and brown hues in this palette work nicely together and I can easily create a neutral eye that is polished enough for work or class.  I have used this palette in multiple ways so far and have liked every single one of them.  The white shade is always used as the highlighter in the look and I have used both the medium bronze and the medium chocolate shades in the crease and on the lid.  I have only used the darkest shade in palette directly on the lid or as a liner for work.  I will always play around with mixing a gold into this look, Urban Decay's Half Baked would be the first shade that I try out and we will see how the look changes.

Clinique makeup is always a safe bet, they have many go to shades for me and are easy to wear to work or on casual weekends.  This collection doesn't contain quite as many shades for dressing up but there are many other brands that fit that bill perfectly.

photo courtesy of Clinique

Fitness Fridays - Plank

Today is my first Fitness Friday post and I wanted to start off with a simple strengthening exercise that everyone should be doing at least three or four times a week yet I feel that many people are not aware of.  "Holding plank" is a term that I saw in many issues of Women's Health over the years and never really understood what this exercise is or how I should be doing it for best results.  It took some articles and Google searches for me to understand the power of this exercise and today my goal is teach many of you about the benefits of holding the Plank position and the best way to reap the benefits.

Plank is basically push up position...if you can do a true push up, then this exercise will be absolutely no problem for you.  Imagine getting into push up position (different arm positioning) and then holding the position for as long as you can.  Like any exercise, this will not be easy the first few times that you try it and will get easier the more than you practice it.

The Women's Health magazine is one of the best sources of information for females that want to get and stay in shape.  I am going to use their website for many of the Fitness Fridays and I hope that many of you will take more time to read their great magazine or check our their website articles.

This is categorized by Women's Health as a Basic Workout, this is a good way to start strengthening and toning as a workout beginner.  "Starting at the top of a pushup position, bend your elbows and lower yourself down until you can shift your weight from your hands to your forearms. Your body should form a straight line. Brace your abs (imagine someone is about to punch you in the gut) and hold for 60 seconds. If you can't make it to 60 seconds, hold for 5 to 10 seconds and rest for 5 seconds, continuing for 1 minute. Focus on form: Don't drop your hips or raise your butt."

The key of this paragraph is holding your abs in, your should feel your core tightening and the muscles being used.  The second key piece of information here is keeping your body in a straight line, you not feel your butt up in the air or see your hips at a lower place than the rest of your legs.  Once you have the feel of the position memorized, it is a very easy position to correctly get into each day you do a workout.

This position is not as easy it appears the first few times that you try it out.  I personally found that one minute is not realistic for someone just starting out with this position or with anyone that hasn't been working their core for several months beforehand.  The first time that I held plank, I couldn't get much longer than five seconds and then I had to go back and forth in between holding for five seconds and then resting for five more seconds.  After a month of doing this three times a week, I still cannot hold this for more than ten seconds without starting to feel a good burn in my core.  I will keep holding for about five more seconds with the burn and then I have to rest for five seconds. 

Holding plank is a key part of a great core workout and I have already found that core and abs are my hardest areas to work out and keep toned.  This move is one of the best ways to tighten your core and I mix it ups with multiple kinds of crunches to keep the toning power going.

Hope you enjoyed a change from the beauty products and next Friday we will continue health and fitness!

photo courtesy of Women's Health

Chanel Fall 2013 Collection - Superstition

One of my favorite makeup companies has released a fall collection that I have been looking forward to ever since the end of the summer collections.  Actually I look forward to the fall Chanel collection right after the spring Chanel collection has been released, fall and spring are two of the best collections for Chanel and are usually among the best collections for those seasons.  Chanel sets the trends for the seasons and releases their collections on the early part of the season and most other collections usually get compared to the standard of excellence that is set by these collections.  It may be the Fourth of July but I am now ready to jump right into fall and start shopping for new makeup, boots, and new jeans (fall staples!).

The new collection from Chanel is called Superstition and calls upon the belief that Coco Chanel had in luck.  I read her biography last fall and now every color name or collection piece has a new meaning for me and that means that I want to collect every product and shade even more than I did before...

"A firm believer in luck, Gabrielle Chanel surrounded herself with her favorite charms and talismans, as much for good fortune as for inspiration.  The symbols that warded off superstitious fears now serve as silent muses for an enchanting Fall makeup collection.  Sumptuous khaki tones are set off by new 'lucky charm' duos: entrancing, shade-matched pairs for cheeks and lips.", states the Chanel website.  I have a feeling that I am going to want a lot of the shades from this collection and that I should find many new shades to really build my fall makeup collection.

Here is the Superstition collection from Chanel!

Blush Crème de Chanel - This innovative formula offers an enticing new way to blush.  Simple to apply with fingertips or a brush, the powder-cream colour features sheer yet vibrant pigments for instant luminosity.  The silky texture offers a longwear satin finish, both soft and comfortable for every skin type.  Mix and match the eight versatile shades, use as primer to enhance the wear of another blush or powder, or pair seamlessly with a complementary lip colour for a mesmerizing match.
- Destiny - golden beige
- Presage - apricot
- Revelation - soft shimmering pink
- Inspiration - soft blue pink
- Affinite - intense blue pink
- Fantastic - burgundy

Rouge Coco Hydrating Lip Colour - A modern interpretation of classic creme lip colour as an homage to the rich life and legacy of 'Coco' Chanel. Lightweight lip colour glides on for easy application, and features a Hydratendre complex to help soften, soothe and condition lips... More - even boosting their ability to hold in moisture - for a plumper, smoother and healthier-looking appearance. A range of wearable shades with full-coverage finishes, from matte to pearl to soft shimmer.
- Icone - golden beige
- Mystique - apricot

Rouge Coco Shine Hydrating Sheer Lipshine - The next chapter in the brilliant ROUGE COCO SHINE story: ROUGE COCO SHINE Hydrating Colour Lipshine, an innovative formula with intensified pigments to take colour and sheen to a new level of vibrancy. Sheer, shiny, colour-rich shades are effortlessly chic,... More infinitely wearable. Hydratendre Complex softens and plumps lips for a healthier, fuller appearance.
- Secret - soft shimmering pink
- Instinct - soft blue pink

Ombre Essentielle Soft Touch Eye Shadow - An instant CHANEL classic, this ultra-fine powder eye shadow is sensuous in feel, foolproof in its application, and fabulous in its range of matte, satin and shimmer finishes. The versatile formula can be applied dry for subtle shading, or dampened for... More more intense colour -- and the complementary shades can be blended with one another to lighten or deepen tone.
- Gri-gri - metallic taupe
- Hasard - matte lavender

Les 4 Ombres Quadra Eye Shadow - LES 4 OMBRES debuts an expanded shade wardrobe of vibrant, versatile palettes for elegant eyes. Each easy-to-wear compact offers endless possibilities, with two medium tones to colour and contour, a deep shadow to intensify and a light shade to highlight.
- Mystere - golden khaki/golden ivory/silver taupe/matte khaki

Stylo Yeux Waterproof Long-Lasting Eyeliner - Waterproof, smudge-proof eyeliner delivers long-lasting definition with a twist of the wrist: Colour winds up when you need it, winds down when you don't. Gentle, soft, silicone-enriched formula delivers smooth, even lining. A built-in sharpener at the opposite end detaches for quick refreshes.
- Khaki Precieux - khaki with bronze tint

Le Volume de Chanel Mascara - This high-precision mascara achieves instant volume and intensely lush colour in a single stroke. Its innovative formula expands, plumping lashes to their fullest. The exclusive new ‘Snowflakes’ brush combines long and short bristles to deliver an extreme, eye-opening effect.
- Khaki Bronze - khaki with bronze tint

Le Vernis Nail Colour - Classic and trend-defining shades in an exclusive formula that strengthens and moisturizes nails as it delivers high-shine colour. Applies evenly without streaking.  All Chanel nail products are formaldehyde-free, toluene-free and DBP-free.
- Elixir - milky pink
- Alchimie - golden khaki
- Mysterious - deep khaki

This collection will be one of my favorites for the season and I am now seeing what many other companies will try to emulate over the next few months.  I will be starting with the Les $ Ombres in the newest shade that was brought out with this collection, these four shades will pair very well together and I can think of many combinations that I could do with using only these four and then many more that I could create when combining it with the Urban Decay Naked 2 palette.  This is an eye shadow quad that I will use for many more years to come!  My second choice from this collection is the Le Vernis Alchimie hue, I loved the fall color that I bought last year from this company and I hope that I can use this one as much (and bring last year's out again in two months!).  Those are my two top choices from this collection and the products that I consider the "must haves".  I would be very happy with only these two products but there are still a few more that I would like to own.

Chanel limited edition collections go very quickly and I will start with the two products that I have listed above but then I will go back for a few more in a second round of shopping.  I would like to own both of the new shades of Ombre Essentielle, I have only seen a handful of matte lavender shades before and this one should work well on its own and then paired with silvers and charcoals.  Onto the lip products...I love the Rouge Coco Shine Hydrating Sheer Lipshine in Instinct.  This blue pink should be a good neutral for me and will work in many different makeup looks and occasions.  The Blush Crème de Chanel will be a top pick for me this fall season, I want Inspiration and Affinite.  Both pinks will complement my skin tone and will get rotation in my makeup collection this fall and long after.  Lastly...I want both of the other two shades of the Le Vernis Nail Colour.  I can never resist Chanel polishes and always want more!

This is my favorite collection that I have looked at so far and I bet that it will be one of the best collections of the fall.  I will be grabbing items in this collection with my first (and most important) round of fall beauty shopping!

photo courtesy of Chanel

Butter London Hardwear P.D. Quick Topcoat

I have been playing around with the Butter London Base and Topcoats over the past few days and I have used them in all different kinds of ways to determine how high quality these products are.  I wrote a very favorable review on the Nail Foundation Basecoat the other day and I loved how I could it by itself for a natural look and then under nail polish to anchor the shade.  My favorite way to use it was actually alone, I loved the pretty finish that it gives my nails and I have now used it with and without the topcoat over it.  The topcoat makes this great basecoat even better!

The Sephora website has been my go to for Butter London lately, Ulta has been sold out of most of the products each time that I go and the exchange rate is just too horrid for me to even consider ordering from the Butter London in England.  So I tend to hope that Sephora will have what I want in stock and know that they will email me quickly when items come back in stock. 

The Sephora website states, "A quick-dry, ultraglossy, chip-resistant top coat.  Hardwear™ P.D. Quick Topcoat protects the layers of color beneath it and gives a super shiny finish. Nails look wet, vibrant, and freshly painted even when they are dry. This expert formula protects your lacquer, significantly extending the life of your manicure.  In case you were wondering, P.D. Quick stands for "Pretty Darn Quick!" butter LONDON™ is a new-era design house, creating extraordinary moments in color by living on the inside edge of fashion. butter LONDON does not add formaldehyde, toluene, or DBP to any of its nail formulas. It's color without compromise."

We will look at this product in two ways; first how it performs as a topcoat and then how I use it in conjunction with the basecoat from this polish line. 

As a topcoat, this product performs very similar to most high quality topcoats.  It helps to keep polish shiny and allow only very minimal tip wear for about five to six days.  I found very little difference between this product and the topcoats that I have used from Deborah Lippmann and China Glaze.  I really can't say that I have ever seen that much difference between most topcoat formulas and they either perform well for about five days or they don't even last two or three days.  This is a solid topcoat formula but I can't say that there is anything special about its performance in this aspect.

Like with the basecoat, I prefer to use this product without  a colored nail lacquer.  The combination of the top and basecoat provides a lovely natural finish to the nails with a nice shine.  The combination is easy to wear with any type of style and provides a low maintenance approach on busy weeks.  Two coats of the basecoat and one of the topcoat is the perfect formula for this and I can see myself using this approach a lot. 

I love the combination of the base and topcoats and I would love to see these product recognized for the look that they create together, I want to see Butter London sell these two products in a set and then explain how well they work together.  This combination creates one of my favorite nail looks and will be one that I can wear for many years to come.

photo courtesy of Sephora

Vincent Longo Duo Eye Pencil

I have been doing a bit of cleaning and re-organizing over the past few days and I decided that I was going to work on my traincase last weekend and dig all the way to the bottom to find some long lost favorites.  I haven't really unearthed anything new but I did find two old Vincent Longo eye pencils and I out both of them to the test later on that weekend.  I bought any new Vincent Longo products since Bath and Body Works and Sephora stopped carrying this makeup line. I want to find a brick and mortar store that carries it and play around with anything new that has come from this line.  I see some items that I don't recognize on the website and I am curious to see if the formulas and quality have remained the same or have been revamped.  Overall, I have found that the Vincent Longo collection contains some amazing products and then formulas that are complete duds.  It is one of the two extremes and therefore I am wary of just ordering the products online without seeing or being able to play with testers.

The Duo Eye Pencils are what I dug out of the bottom of my traincase this time around, I first bought and used these at Bath and Body Works many years ago and I wasn't in love with this product but didn't hate it.  These two came from a friend who could not get the formula to cooperate with her contact lenses and gave up trying after a few weeks.  Since I have been wearing my glasses exclusively for a few years now, I took these off her hands and then gave them a try.  I don't remember what I thought of them when she first gave me the pencils (maybe a year ago) so I worked with both of them over the past few days.  I can already state that this is one product formula that has not been changed since I first tried the line...and this is not a positive statement.

"Using two shades of eye pencil is a professional technique and easy makeup tip for creating intense and smoldering eyes. Combined complimentary shades encourage maximum creativity and remove the guess work for fast and easy application.  A must have for every makeup bag.  Smudge resistant and long wearing.  Glide-on application prevents tugging of delicate eye tissue.  Creamy texture and rich pigment blend easily to give maximum definition and shape to eyes.  Sharpens to a fine point without breakage.  Suitable for eyes of all ages.", states the Vincent Longo website.  The website goes on further to give more instructions about the best method of use for the product.  "Use the darker shade to define and shape your eyes by applying it along the lashline and in the outer corners.  Apply the lighter shade to the inner corners of your eyes to brighten and open them up.   The lighter shade may also be smudged over your upper lid to highlight your brow bone as well as intensify the color of your eyeshadow.  Blend the two shades together along the lashline midway between each corner to bring-out your eye color."

The colors are as follows...

- Mystic Sabine - deep shimmering brown/black
- Cabaret Urban Nights - matte plum/matte charcoal
- Brown Fawn Silk - medium brown cream/lilac cream
- Brown Orofila Golden Moss - medium gold cream/medium charcoal cream
- Jet Black Brown Black - deep black cream/deep brown cream
- Knight Spell Carnaby Pink - medium gray cream/pale pink cream
- Lapiz Lazlu - medium blue cream/medium jade green cream
- Lime Forest - pale green cream/medium navy cream
- London Glimmer Jet Black - deep charcoal shimmer/deep black cream
- Midnight Smoke - deep navy blue cream/medium charcoal cream
- Raisin Cabernet Esmeralda - deep purple cream/deep charcoal cream
- Satin Plum - light blue cream/medium navy cream

I have the Jet Black Brown Black and Brown Orofila Golden Moss pencils from this shade line up.  The best aspect about this product is that the shade line up is extensive and the idea for the use of the two shades to line the eyes is very unique and works well once the product is actually applied (sort of).  I get the most use from the Jet Black Brown Black shade, it is a very nice neutral that works with all kinds of eye makeup shades.  The other shade that I have (Brown Orofila Golden Moss) is a pretty gold hue but I don't love the look when used with the charcoal shade.  I only use these two shade alone with complementing eye makeup shades. 

The aspects of the product that I dislike will take much longer to write up.  The first aspect that I dislike is the hardness of the liner, it pulls and tugs on my eye area and would be much improved by having a softer formula that would glide on much easier.  I can barely use this formula without getting annoyed at the formula and therefore I would rarely use the two pencils that I own and have no reason to purchase any more shades of it.  The pigment is lacking in the lighter shades of these pencils, the gold hue kills me when I use it.  I have to go over the line at least twice and then work with the hard to use formula even more than I would like to.

This is one of the Vincent Longo products that is a complete dud, I like the concept of the complementing shades but the formula is so bad that I hate using the two liners that I already own from this company.  I much prefer gel or liquid liners to begin with and this formula is great example of why I prefer to purchase many types of liners other then the traditional pencil liner.  I would be willing to try a gel liner from Vincent Longo but I would hesitate before ordering any type of pencil liner from this company since I have gotten such horrible results from this formula.

photo courtesy of Vincent Longo

Most Wanted July 2013

We are in the heart of summer and I am establishing all of my warm weather beauty routines and beginning to think slightly ahead to the fall months.  I might pick up a few last summer items and fragrances but more of my focus is on fall items that could be used early on with my summer makeup looks.  I am craving some new eye shadow palettes this month and I have decided that fall will be my time to add several palettes and single eye shadows to my collection and try to temper the amount of lipsticks and lip glosses that are crowding my traincase.  I will continue to update with how this mission plays out when I go shopping at Sephora...

One additional feature that I will be adding to my blog is Fitness Fridays, I joined a gym for the first time about a month and half ago and already it becoming a big part of my life.  I am looking and feeling better than I did this spring and the combination of the exercising and clean diet are improving my skin and hair like nothing else that I have tried.  Each Friday, we are going to look at an exercise, workout fashion, or healthy food choices.  Don't worry...we will still spend most of our time talking about beauty brands and products but I want to expand and move into how inner health affects outer beauty. 

Here is my early July shopping list!

- Bath and Body Works True Blue Spa Smoothing Shower Smoothie in Strawberry Banana
- Clinique Dramatically Different Face Lotion +
- Benefit Ultra Plush Lip Gloss in Kiss You
- Calvin Klein Eternity Aqua for Women
- Jin Soon Nail Lacquer in Poppy Blue
- Too Faced Pretty Rebel Beauty Eye Shadow Palette
- Smashbox Fade to Black Photo Op Eye Shadow Palette in Fade Out
- Smashbox Waterproof Shadow Liner in Black Gold
- Stila Lip Glaze in Vanilla
- Bath and Body Works Summer Chill White Mango Chill Shea-Infused Shower Gel

This month will hold my last fragrance purchase in the warm weather, I will be going to fall fragrances by August and this is my last month for a light, fun fragrance.  I am picking up very few makeup items yet for summer, most of these are early fall products and will either be worked into my current look or will be put away for the next two months.