Clinique Insiders Club

Fun news from Clinique, girls! Clinique will be selecting 20 women to be "Clinique Insiders." As "Insiders," the women will get an exclusive sneak peek at the latest Clinique Skincare, and Makeup products and will have the opportunity to give product reviews and opinions which will be seen, heard and read on Clinique.com. Insiders will also have access to special upcoming events and will receive a special welcome kit which includes full-size Clinique products and a Flip Video digital camcorder! Sounds fun, right? Interested candidates can apply here.

Wedding Makeup Courtesy of Three Custom Color

I'm on the left - notice the Flamenco Dancer slash Malibu Barbie 'do. Next to me are Dana and Tiff. I used my new custom grey shadow, custom brow gel, and Three Custom Color Watercolours for Cheeks in Pink Hyacinth.


A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to go to the Three Custom Color Specialists office in New York to have my "colors done." It sounds very Bridget Jones' mother, but in fact, it's the OPPOSITE of matronly. The fantastic Chad Hayduk met with me and gave me a tour of the place which includes a makeup lab and a counter of "ready to wear" makeup items. Both Chad and one of the other founders, Trae, are makeup artists. The best part about Three Custom? Well, remember I told you about the more-than-a-decade-old Clinique Lim Edish Metallic Pewter Palette I've been toting around since the '90s? Their marketer, a doll named Tess, heard my plea and invited me to have them CREATE ME A NEW ONE. Can you even? (I can't.) They got it EXACTLY right, girls. It's the heat, as my friends at Fashion Binge say. And thank goodness, because I had to hold my breath when I allowed Chad to scrape out all the remaining shadow with a tiny baby spatula so he could make a new one. Just an FYI - it's easiest for them to create a new makeup item when you have at least a dime-sized amount left. They create EVERYTHING there except for nail polish. Discontinued lipstick you're dying to try but found in your grandmother's attic? Done. Limited Edition item you've been holding on to since the Reagan administration? No prob. Have an old Maybelline Kissing Coolers lying around since Duran Duran was something "the kids were listening to?" It's no match for Chad. My new shadow is in a large compact with a huge mirror (my fave thing) and Chad even provided me with two bronze shadows - one lighter, one darker - to encourage me to wear warmer shadow tones, which I've been doing.

I also mailed them a lock of my hair so they could mix me up a brow gel that matches my eyebrows PERFECTLY. If you have naturally blondish-brownish-verging-on-auburn hair as I do, then you know what a NIGHT TERROR it is to find matching pencils. I always have to settle for something that's kind of sort of okay. This stuff? PERFECTION. Sublimity in a tube. If you only go to Three Custom for one beauty item, let it be for that.

Let me tell you about the Ready to Wear item I rocked to the wedding as well. Watercolours for Cheeks in Pink Hyacinth ($21) (pictured, top) is the sheerest pink kiss of color. I LOVE. I like to dab it on my cheeks, nose and forehead for a where'd-you-go-this-weekend? burst of color.

And their Light Brights lipstick line ($19)? Total beauty product porn. Bright for summer, but not so reminiscent of the 80s that they come with their own side of Corey and Corey. Get you some of that, here.

Photo credit: Beautybloggingjunkie.com; threecustom.com

#1 Lip Gloss in the Rotation: Clinique Superbalm in Lilac

Girls, I've done you wrong. I've been raving in person so much about Clinique Superbalm ($13.50) that I actually convinced myself (wrongly) that I'd written about it. It's the #1 gloss in my rotation at the moment. In fact, I'm nearly out of it. It's non-sticky, moisturizing and long-lasting. It comes in eight colors, but as Daneen pointed out, you really only need it in Lilac, a for-everyone mauvey pink. I hereby award it HG status.

Stay tuned for Hairadise Week, coming shortly!


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No Need to Compromise, Even if you Have Sensitive Eyes

I wear contacts because I am totally skeeved out/squeamish to the max about anything having to do with eyes. The idea of LASIK surgery makes me so nauseated. But, the beauty downside of all that is that a lot of regular eye makeup irritates my contacts. When I wear more eye makeup, say, for a night out or a black tie event, the potential for contact irritation increases.

To ensure my eyes will look fly as opposed to red and irritated, I've been on a major Clinique kick as their products are ALWAYS allergy tested and fragrance free. My favorite event eye look lately includes their Brush-On Cream Liner in Bronze, $14.50. This color is LIMITED EDITION, dolls, so stock up. The formula is long-wearing and looks absolutely gorge on green- and blue-eyed girls. I am loving it applied with a larger brush (although it comes with its own which is divine for lining) up to the crease for a smoky eye.

I've been pairing the liner with Clinique Lash Power Long Wearing Formula. Like the liner, it's ophthalmologist tested and even wears for 24 hours with nary a smudge. It vows to last through rain, sweat, humidity, and tears, yet removes easily with warm water. I can attest this is true, girls. I rocked it to my coworker's father's funeral a few weeks ago (tragic situation, he died very suddenly) and this stuff stayed the course. Reasonably priced at $14.

Photo Credit: bloomingdales.com