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Makeup that can multi-task is what lots of people want, and that's what Clinique claims its Pop Lacquer Lip Colour + Primer can do. But is it really a two-in-one product? Not quite, but it still has enough going for it that it nearly earns our highest rating.
Pop Lacquer Lip Colour + Primer comes in standard liquid lip color packaging, a clear tube with a sponge-tipped wand applicator. One detail we appreciate is that the wand is a bit shorter (and the sponge a bit smaller) than most other applicators. This allows for greater control and precise application.
Speaking of that, the fragrance-free lip color glides easily across lips with bold, rich color in a single coat. True to its name, this is more of a lacquer formula than a gloss, which means this has a slightly tacky feel. Your lips won't be glued when you press them together, but it's definitely stickier than a balm or lightweight lip gloss, so that's something to keep in mind.

Pop Lacquer Lip Colour + Primer has a high-shine finish that lasts for the first hour or so of its wear time, then fades to a softer shine. When it comes to wear time, Clinique says this can last "up to" six hours, which it likely can—provided you don't eat, drink, or dab your lips with a napkin while you're wearing it! This is not a longwearing formula; we found it wore for about two or three hours before fading to an attractive stain.
So what about the "primer" aspect of this lip product? It's definitely moisturizing, and felt comfortable on our lips the entire time we wore it. Our lips even seemed softer once it wore off, but that's true of many emollient lip products that don't have "primer" in the name. One of the functions of a lip primer is not only to condition lips, but also to make lip products wear longer, and that was not the case at all with this—but at least the wear time wasn't noticeably shorter than similar products.
Pop Lacquer Lip Colour + Primer comes in a small but good range of shades that include neutral options as well as brighter colors, like poppy red and fuchsia.
Overall, there's a lot to like about Clinique's Pop Lacquer Lip Colour + Primer. Were it not for some overstated claims, it would easily earn out highest rating!
PROS:

• Convenient applicator.
• Applies easily with bold color in a single coat.
• Feels moisturizing during its wear time.
• Leaves lips feeling conditioned once it's faded.
• Fragrance free.

CONS:

• Not a long-wearing product, despite what claims imply.
• The "primer" aspect of this product is overstated.

Hourglass' Ambient Lighting Blush is a mica-based, fragrance-free blush which excels in terms of its velvety-smooth, pressed powder texture that allows you to build color without looking powdery or cakey. The marbleized shade range is built on hues of pink, peach, and beigey-mauve, each with a light-reflective quality that imparts subtle luminosity.The Ethereal Glow and Dim Infusion shades go on the sheerest, while the others impart more pigmentation but still leave cheeks looking naturally flushed. There isn't a whole lot of variety in the shade range so not everyone will find a color to complement their skin tone, but those that do will love the lightweight texture and super smooth, luminous wear. Consider Ambient Lighting Blush a beauty splurge that's worth the money!PROS:

• Velvety, pressed powder texture goes on smooth.
• Buildable color without looking powdery or cakey.
• Subtle, light-reflective luminosity.
• Fragrance-free.

CONS:

• Lack of shades for every skin tone.

Becca is well known for its illuminating makeup products, and Shimmering Skin Perfector Poured continues that reputation with this solid cream highlighter intended to "accentuate the high points of the face." There are a handful of shades to choose from, each of which impart shimmering, sheer color for a beautifully glowing sheen on skin. More to love, the fragrance-free formula is emollient enough to glide on smoothly, yet the thin, lightweight texture doesn't feel greasy so it can be used by both dry and oily skin types or any combination in between. The only exception is if you plan to apply this to your acne-prone areas of skin since the waxy formula and solid form of this cream can potentially trigger breakouts.

Becca recommends applying Shimmering Skin Perfector Poured with its The One Perfecting Brush (sold separately), but we actually found it much easier to blend it onto skin with our fingertips. In either regard, you can build the pigmentation (slightly), although we wouldn't go as far as to call it "high color payoff" as Becca does. We do agree, however, that this offers "a soft, sophisticated shimmer." It's enough to noticeably enliven skin with a luminous finish without looking glaring or the least bit glittery.
Shimmering Skin Perfector Poured wears beautifully on bare skin as well as over foundation. How well it wears under foundation depends, as with light coverage foundations, sheer BB creams or tinted moisturizers, the gleaming finish peeks through, but don't expect much visibility when worn underneath heavier coverage products.
The texture of Shimmering Skin Perfector Poured is particularly handy for strategic highlighting (cheekbones, bridge of nose, cupids bow, etc.), but it's also workable as a blush, or as a shimmering base to apply your blush on top of. The finish has an almost cream-to-powder feel which helps it stay in place—no slipping and sliding all over your face. The color and luminosity last impressively through the workday, and we saw only minor fading towards the evening.

Turning to the shades, Shimmering Skin Perfector Poured is currently available in golden, bronze, pearlescent, and rosy tones to complement and attractively illuminate a variety of skin tones—given their flexibility and sheer color payoff, we would suggest experimenting to see which you prefer.
The overall verdict? If you're looking for an easy to use highlighter with a dash of color (albeit a bit on the pricey side), Shimmering Skin Perfector Poured is absolutely a beautiful option to consider!
PROS:

• Attractively illuminates skin with a hint of color + luminous finish.
• Solid cream texture glides on smoothly without feeling greasy.
• The color and luminosity last impressively through the workday.
• Suitable for any skin type (unless you're applying it in acne-prone areas).
• Fragrance-free formula.

CONS:

• Doesn't deliver "high color payoff" as claimed.

Shade & Light Contour Palette joins the numerous options recently launched by many cosmetic brands (capitalizing on the trend with a capital C). Thankfully, it's a refreshingly exceptional palette, which stands out from the crowd for several reasons that we'll review!
If you are unfamiliar with the concept of contouring with makeup, it is the strategic placement of deeper and lighter tones to the face—the goal to create an optical illusion of a more defined bone structure (cheekbones, for example), or a smaller nose or forehead.

Housed in Kat Von D's trademark heavy matte-black packaging, Shade & Light Contour Palette contains six powder shades of varying depth: There are three larger neutral brown tones for contouring, and three smaller pans of lighter shades for highlighting. All have a true matte finish—not even a hint of shimmer—and each has a beautifully soft texture that's pigmented yet blends easily into skin (no fallout among them). Another bonus: Each pan size is wide enough to work with that color cross-over isn't a problem.


In a thoughtful move, Kat Von D cleverly categorized this palette of six shades into three matching duos, with each contour and highlight shade complementing the other's tone and color depth. This grouping takes some of the guesswork out for you, but don't be afraid to experiment with any of the shades depending on your intended purpose (Kat Von D also included a handy instruction card demonstrating a few techniques to get you started).

All six shades are mostly neutral, with some straying a bit into a slightly warmer undertone range. Let's take a closer look at each.

Contour Shades:

•     Subconscious: A taupe/tan shade that is the lightest of the contours and has subtle grey undertones.
•     Shadowplay: A soft, tawny brown that has a slightly warmer undertone than Subconscious.
•     Sombre: A deep chocolate shade with warm undertones.

Highlight Shades:

•     Lucid: A pale, pink-hued sand shade.
•     Lyric: A light, golden beige.
•     Levitation: Light to medium peachy-pink.

Each of the highlight shades lends a brightened look to skin without shimmer, and doesn't leave a grey or ashy cast.

The shades are easy to work with and are suitable for multiple skin tones, but those with very fair or porcelain complexions may find that they are limited to the very lightest of what this palette offers. We should note that all of the shades are also suitable for use as powder brow color or eyeshadow.

On that note, you may also find Shade & Light Contour Palette appealing for a different reason: It also doubles as an excellent bronzer "palette," allowing you to create a more natural tanned appearance to skin. We tried it on a few different skin tones, and the lighter and deeper shades worked well for this purpose, as a natural tan isn't uniform in color.

It's tricky to use bronzers to contour because such products tend to have inherently warmer undertones, but here you can have the best of both—one more reason we're loving this truly versatile palette!

Shade & Light Contour Palette earned our highest rating for its concept, value (there is a substantial amount of product here), and range of shade options for different skin tones. Each shade looks beautifully natural on skin, and lacks the shimmer and unnatural undertones of other contour palettes we've come across. If you've been searching for a contour (or bronzing) palette, this is one to check out on your next trip to Sephora!


Pros:

•     Contains a wide range of natural-looking shades.
•     Each color is matte, blends easily, and wears well.
•     Clever design groups highlight/contour shades into groups.
•     Doubles as a bronzer palette.
•     Fragrance-free.

Cons:

•     None

Talk about a long time coming! Well past the time when Clinique clearly knew Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion wasn’t dramatically different in the least, they still recommended their poorly formulated lotion as an essential skin-care step in their famous three-step routine.

Although the original lotion remains a mundane, not-as-good-as-Lubriderm option for normal to dry skin, it is and always has been ill-suited for those dealing with oiliness or breakouts. Therefore, for those loyal to Clinique’s basic regimen and for those looking for a more affordable department-store moisturizer, Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel is a welcome addition.


The formula is more a lotion than a gel, but does feel quite light and silky on the skin. It does not contain any oils or heavy thickening agents, and this fragrance-free moisturizer is appropriate for normal to slightly dry or slightly oily skin. The only issue we have with the product is its meager antioxidant content (most of which function best as anti-irritants). Most of Clinique’s moisturizers are brimming with state-of-the-art ingredients, but this one, though certainly effective for its intended skin types, is plain by comparison—yet dramatically better than their original and still incredibly popular lotion.

• Cream formula
• Nude/luminous barely there eyeshadow
• Soft and satiny feel and even color pay-off
• Preservative free
• No animal testing
• Smudge-tip applicator for easy blending and smoking

BIOTHERM's Aquapower Hydration Programme. This ultra-hydrating moisturizer is specially designed for keeping skin constantly quenched. It contains the equivalent of 5,000 litres of Thermal Spa Water in every bottle. Plus, it is rich in vitamins B, C, E and trace elements to keep your skin balanced and regenerated. Apply this ultra-moisturising light gel moisturiser to instantly quench, cool and soothe your skin while keeping it hydrated for 24 hours, non-stop.  Use daily and your skin will never feel parched or dry again.
BenefitsTEXTURE: An aquatic, green-water gel with a highly-invigorating and refreshing texture and scent for men

• Quenched and refreshed skin
• Constantly moisturized skin
• Healthier and stronger skin

How to

• Apply a nut-sized amount of product after having applied the lotion.
• Smooth the product into the skin with stroking movements.
• Finish at the chin.
• Use morning and evening on cleansed skin.

Intensive Skin Serum Foundation SPF 40 is a mixed bag of excellent qualities and unfortunate drawbacks. Housed in a 1-ounce heavy glass bottle with a dropper applicator, this lightweight formula delivers moisture and medium coverage plus a dewy, natural-looking finish best for normal to dry skin. What could've been a more recommended foundation was held back due to its degree of fragrance in the form of lavender oil.In general, it's best to avoid fragrance in your beauty routine due to its potential to irritate skin. Products that use fragrance in lower amounts—or less problematic varieties of fragrance—are sometimes given a "pass" if they're included in a formula that is otherwise exceptional. Unfortunately, lavender oil has its share of issues beyond the norm (discussed in the More Info section) and Intensive Skin Serum Foundation SPF 40 includes it in an amount that made it a challenging product to award a higher rating. We were so torn on this one!Bobbi Brown included UVA/UVB sun protection via its blend of titanium dioxide, zinc oxide and the non-mineral active octinoxate. At SPF 40, it's one of the higher levels of broad-spectrum sunscreen foundations available—it's unfortunate that that the type and degree of fragrance makes this one we can't be more enthusiastic about.The packaging and name is similar to the brands Intensive Skin Supplement, and the "serum" part of this product's name refers to the added antioxidants in this formula. Though the Intensive Skin Serum Foundation SPF 40 doesn't rise to the level of potentially replacing your go-to anti-aging serum, it does feature a variety of beneficial plant-based antioxidants such as watermelon, apple and litchi seed extract. Bobbi Brown also added the interesting ingredient Cordyceps sinensis extract, which is a fungus that's related to the mushroom family. It has some research showing physiological benefits in mice, but none as of yet (that we could locate) concerning people's skin, topically or otherwise (Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 2009). There's a peptide and sodium hyaluronate as well, but in relatively lower levels.As is the case with most Bobbi Brown foundations, the shade range is a winning assortment of 16 neutral to warm-toned options that offer choices from the very fair to deep complexions. There's much to like about this foundation: Its light but moisturizing texture, natural-looking coverage, a dewy finish and beautiful range of shades. Despite these positives, the amount of lavender oil made it difficult to recommend with more enthusiasm. When you're paying this much for a foundation, you should expect that drawbacks (if present at all) are minor, but in this instance the drawbacks are likely to be too risky for your skin. Rather than deal with the cons of this formula, we would recommend checking our top-rated Foundations with Sunscreen section instead.Pros:

• Natural-looking, dewy medium coverage.
• Superior shade range.
• Broad-spectrum sun protection (unusually high for a foundation).
• Added beneficial antioxidant ingredients.

Cons:

• Contains the ingredient lavender oil—in an iffy amount—which research has shown poses more of a risk to skin than other forms of fragrance.

• The amount of alcohol poses a risk of irritation.
• Witch hazel is an additional source of irritation.
• Formula isn't the best for use around the eyes.

Wear a natural afterglow with the help of this highlighter. It adds definition to your features and makes all skin tones look attractive. Upon application, it delivers a subtle satin finish. Apply this beauty wonder on your cupid's bow to give an appearance of fuller lips.

Benefits

• Pink shimmery formula
• Ideal for spot highlighting and creating an overall glow
• Promotes a natural, translucent appearance

This intensely hydrating night cream ensures that you get your much-needed skin repair while you sleep. Formulated with persian silk tree extract, it aids the skin in getting rid of glycotoxins that speed up skin ageing. It also contains hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid and other oils to keep the skin firm. Wake up to luminous, plumped up skin with this lovely night cream.Benefits

• Accelerates skin repair during sleep
• Intensely moisturises with hyaluronic acid, shea butter, jojoba and evening primrose oils
• Minimises lines and wrinkles
• Detoxifies the skin with persian silk tree extract
• Increases healthy cell production with retinol
• Leaves skin smooth and young-looking
• Unless otherwise stated and to the fullest extent permissible

• Steeper cost per ounce than most of its high-end competitors.