Gloss Menagerie: Holiday Lip Color Rotation

Yes, it's a super crappy pic, but I wanted to give you a quick run-down of my current gloss rotation. I've provided links to those I've reviewed previously. The ones I haven't fully discussed include a bit of info.

Murad Soothing Skin and Lip Therapy

Clinique Long Last Lipstick in Beach Coral

Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment

Lipstick Queen in Medieval (a Betty Page-esque sheer red)

Custom Blend Prescriptives Gloss I'd asked for a nudish pink - more nude than pink. My Px mixologist mixed these base shades: 2 clear, 2 rose, 2 pink base with 1 white modifier, 1 fuchsia and 1 pink shimmer and bellini flavoring. Yum, yum, yum.

Stila Pomegranate Crush

NARS Lip Gloss in All Night Long Lionel would agree that this sheer, glossy plum would precipitate "dancing on the ceiling."

DuWop Venom Rocks in Garnet

The Body Shop Shea Lip Care Stick Comes in a "one for me, one for you" package to encourage your selfish ass to share. Softens snaggy dry lip skin in a flash and tastes subtly divine.

Can't get enough of the Gloss Menagerie series? Click here to read two more installments.

Gossip Girl's Cast and Crew Part Holiday Party with Clinique Goodies

Gossip Girl''s cast and crew left NYC’s Upper East Side lounge, Haven on December 6 with hot holiday items from Clinique in their gift bags.

Ladies recieved:

Long Last Glosswear SPF 15 in Bamboo Pink provides long-lasting, high shine with the added benefit of SPF 15. Thanks to powerful film-formers that create a “seal” holding the gloss to your lips throughout the day, Long Last Glosswear SPF 15 stays put for up to 8 hours! $14
Blushwear Cream Stick in Shy Blush is a modern cream-to-powder blush that blends effortlessly into cheeks to provide a natural punch of colour. This silky, oil-free formula provides buildable coverage that can be applied anytime, anywhere. $18.50
High Impact Mascara in Black is an instant gratification mascara that delivers intense, glamorous, dressed-up lashes in a flash! This multi-benefit mascara delivers – dramatic volume and length, fast! $14

Guys received:

Skin Supplies for Men Face Scrub sloughs out dead skin flakes, excess oil and surface dirt, and lifts beard hairs with a chemical and manual exfoliation action. Its non-greasy formula contains menthol to help the skin feel clean and refreshed. $16.50
Skin Supplies for Men M Gel-Lotion is an oil-free formulation offering oilier skin the perfect amount of hydration as it helps to normalize oil production and protect skin from the environment. $20

All items are available at clinique.com.

Clinique's Happy Weekend

Friday, December 12 marks the beginning of Clinique’s Happy Weekend. To kick it off and in an effort to “pay it forward” and bring happiness and good will to consumers, Clinique will be brandishing shoppers with Random Acts of Happiness at the Happy Weekend Hospitality Tent in key cities across the country (New York, Chicago and Miami).

At the Happy Weekend Hospitality Tents, Clinique Happy Santa and Elves will present passersby with free hot chocolate, cookies, Happy candy canes and complimentary gift wrapping (regardless of where the gifts were purchased).

• Clinique counters nationwide will be gifting free iPods to lucky consumers chosen from those who enter to win, regardless of whether they have purchased a Clinique product.
• Happy Elves will be on the watch for anyone in need of help.

Clinique partnered with mentoring charity Big Brothers Big Sisters to provide the mothers of children participating in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program with makeovers at Clinique counters. The New York tent activity will be going on Friday, December 12 from 11:00am – 2:00pm at The GM Plaza; 5th Avenue between 58th and 59th Streets, New York.

Amber Ventures out of "Warms" for a Day

"Love the bag, love the shoes, love everything." --My Best Friend's Wedding's George Downes

That quote pretty much sums up how I feel about Clinique High Definition Lashes Brush then Comb Mascara ($14). Last night, I attended a Clinique Mascara event, where Twiggy lookalike and makeup artist Cheryl introduced me to the sublimity that is High Def Lashes and I am so hooked. One coat glides on with the brush half, then, a second separates each lash with the comb side. The result is drag queen chic lashes that go on for DAYS.

Cheryl created a divine look (see pic above) with a water nymphesque color palette into which, I normally wouldn't delve. I usually stay in the "warms," shadow-wise. It's Clinique's Colour Surge Shadow Trio in Ebb and Flow ($21). Then, she used a fab "greige" cream liner - Clinique Brush On Cream Liner in Smoke Grey, to be exact. To get a perfect cat eye every time, Cheryl recommends you aim to angle the liner tip a little above the real corner of your eye. It should be aligned with the end of your eyebrow, if you were to take a pencil and place it diagonally from the corner of your eye to that point. The liner should end slightly above the corner, but would fall along the transversal of the pencil. You with me? Also, dig out a bit of the liner with the OTHER end of the brush (the handle) and apply it to the back of your hand. Then, dip your liner brush into the dollup of liner so that you don't load up too much onto it, as you could if you were submerging the brush into the jar. Works like a charm! Lastly, Cheryl applied some peachy pink blush and then dabbed on a bit of loose powder using her hands. It's the "Clinique method," she told me.

Cheryl also advises you to chat up your local Clinique sales associate, but make sure to mention you're planning to purchase something. They're happy to help you and provide guidance, but so many people want makeovers and advice for free and these gals are working on commission. If you plan to go for a little Q&A sesh exactly when your Superbalm in Lilac has run out and you need to replenish it, it'll make a huge diff.

P.S. My somewhere-between-golden-blonde-and-Edward-Cullen-copper highlights are courtesy of Miss Jane at Hiro Haraguchi this weekend.

Totes Get a Free Festive Tote with Clinique.com Purchase of $50 or More

Get a FREE Festive Tote with your clinique.com purchase of $50 or more! Hurry, offer expires 11.20 or while supplies last!

Clinique Partners with Trina Turk for Gift with Purchase

Clinique Gift with Purchases (GWPs for short) have delighted the heck out of me since the FIRST Bush administration. I used to strategically time a new tube of their Different Lipstick in Tenderheart (a color I still wear!). The silver and white mini-tigress print is so chic (very grrr, baby!) and the bright yellow lining is an added bonus. The eight-piece GWP features the below products hand-picked by Trina!

Must-have Trina Turk for Clinique Cosmetics Bag
Zero Gravity Repairwear Lift
Rinse-Off Foaming Cleanser
Colour Compact with Colour Surge Eye Shadow Duo in Beach Plum/Soft-Pressed Powder Blusher in New Clover
Long Last Glosswear SPF 15 in Bamboo Pink
Lash Doubling Mascara in Black (a BBJ fave!)
Long Last Lipstick in Twilight Nude
Lipstick Case with Mirror

The GWP is available free (one per customer, please) with any purchase of $25 or more November 5-18. It's a $60 value, dolls! Available only at Nordstrom stores nationwide and Nordstrom.com. What will you buy to get it? Tell me in the comments! I am LOVING their Beach Coral lipstick from their Summer 2008 collection (but it may not still be available.) I successfully recreated Gucci Westman's GORGE coral lip with it from the Tibi show at Fashion Week. I even made sure to dab it onto my lips with my fingertip JUST as she did.