Clinique Chubby in the Nude Foundation Stick.

Clinique is adding to their Chubby Stick franchise with a foundation and I was excited to give it a try! I mean, what's better than a portable foundation stick that can travel easily? I took the new Chubby in the Nude Foundation Stick with me on my recent Florida vacation and I was seriously impressed.

Clinique Chubby in the Nude Foundation Stick was built to be portable and provide on-the-go touch-ups, but honestly, it' so long-wearing that touch-ups are not needed with this. It's not what you'd expect out of a cream stick foundation. What is really great about this, is that it's super buildable — you can build up your coverage from sheer to medium depending on how much you apply. It's really moisturizing but leaves a soft, sheer, natural finish giving me a no-makeup, makeup look.

Chubby in the Nude is made up of a superior blend of gels and waxes that provides the long wear and keeps color true all day long. It even lasted on me through all of the Florida heat and humidity.

There are 10 shades in all, and what I really like about this is that I used 'Bountiful Beige all over as foundation but also have 'Intense Ivory (a much lighter shade) and used that as highlighter. It's super easy to just draw it on across the tops of the cheeks, down the center of the nose and blend out to give skin the perfect highlight with the lighter shade.

Clinique Chubby in the Nude Foundation Stick is available now at Clinique counters nationwide in stores like Macy's, Sephora, Nordstrom and online at clinique.com.

Fake a Good Night of Sleep with Clinique Pep-Start Eye Cream.

I'll be the first to admit that I don't get enough sleep. While experts say that the average adult should get seven to nine hours of sleep each night, I average about six to seven hours of sleep each night; there are plenty of times that I look exhausted. I am known to use a few makeup tricks and rely on skincare to to help me look more awake then I am and fake a good night of sleep. Clinique is out with a brand new product called Pep-Start and this is an eye cream that does just that — fake a good night of sleep.

Clinique Pep-Start Eye Cream is a really lightweight cream that instantly (and over time, the more you use it) brightens, refreshes and wakes up the entire eye area. Between the blend of seven peptides, special extracts, caffeine to reduce puffiness along with a really unique spherical massaging applicator, Clinique has a winner on their hands.

The peptides in Pep-Start help maintain and stimulate collagen which helps to plump the skin so fine lines are diminished. At the same time, caffeine helps to de-puff and energize the skin. The blend of extracts help to diminish the appearance of dark circles and brighten and smooth the skin.

I was immediately drawn to the bright orange tube and unique shape of this eye cream. The end of the tube has a ball on it. I couldn't figure out exactly how to open and use it, but once I read the directions, it all made perfect sense.

You simply snap pen Pep-Start Eye Cream's spherical applicator to dispense a very small amount of eye cream until it comes out of the tip. I only need the size of about a baby pea to cover both eyes.  Then dot the cream under each eye, pop the applicator to the closed position and swipe the product around in small, circular motions all around the eye area, massaging the eye cream into the skin. Whatever product is left, just gently pat in with your ring finger.

Eyes are instantly de-puffed and tightened. I notice that they take on a brighter appearance. It looks like the cream might have a little bit of optical diffusers in it, which always helps too.

Clinique Pep-Start Eye Cream is available exclusively at Sephora for $26.50.

Getting Smart with Skincare and Clinique.

One thing I am very particular with is my skincare products. With thousands of skincare products available, I just have to be smart about my choices. One brand that is super smart about their skincare is Clinique and they have designed an entire SMART franchise that is full of multitasking products. These are no ordinary multitasking products either; the products in the SMART line up all can do at least four things at once to the skin.

I told you about Clinique's Smart Custom Repair Serum when it launched about 18 months ago and that is how this line all began. Now there are four more products in the line-up that are equally smart.

Smart Custom-Repair Eye Treatment
Smart Night Custom-Repair Moisturizer
Smart Treatment Oil
Smart Broad Spectrum SPF 15 Custom-Repair Moisturizer

I decided that the smartest solutions for my skin were the Smart Treatment Oil and Smart Night Custom-Repair Moisturizer. No matter how much I have been moisturizing, my skin is just so extra dry.

I have been incorporating oils into my skin care routine when I can and Clinique Smart Treatment Oil ($44) was a great choice.  This oil nourishes, builds up hydration, smooths, plumps and de-ages as it protects against daily aggressors. It's a really lightweight oil that is chock full of anti-aging ingredients that help to deeply condition dry and damaged skin. It is a non-greasy oil that leaves my skin instantly radiant and feeling smooth. Vitamins C, E and Cranberry Seed Oil (powerful antioxidants) work over time to help shield against harmful free radical damage. I use this oil in addition to my daytime moisturizer by adding in two to three drops. At night, I warm up a few drops and gently pat it into my skin right after cleansing.

Also at night, I have been using Clinique Smart Night Custom-Repair Moisturizer ($57). This multi-tasking oil-free cream instantly plumps and hydrates my skin and works overnight while my skin is in its resting night. It is filled with hard working ingredients like Glucosamine, Caffeine and Hyaluronic Acid Fragments to bind that moisture in and retain it in the skin. I wake looking more fresh. It says that overtime, skin will be more firm, lifted and toned. I honestly haven't used it long enough, but it does smooth and plump my skin better than my average night creams.

Look for the entire Clinique SMART range of products online at clinique.com and at all Clinique counters in Macy's and at Sephora.