What it is: Clinique Strawberry Fudge Holiday Compact
The blusher: This compact features a Soft-Pressed Powder Blusher in New Clover, a subtle neutral-warm shade. The pigmentation is very versatile (it can be worn quite sheerly, or layered for a lot of intensity) and, while it is indeed “soft,” it’s not so soft that it’s crumbly and dusty.
(Yes, I know it’s ridiculous that I was worried about that. Shh!)
Sunlight. First two swatches on the left are both New Clover, first heavily and then lightly.
The shadows: I’ve raved about these already, but I’m more than happy to do it again! I’m a total sucker for a pink shadow with gold shimmer, so of course this hits the spot for me. Clinique actually did a great job coordinating these shades; they can definitely be worn day or night: more of the pink during the day; more of the dark brown at night. Plus, because they’re all neutral with a bit of a “lean” (the light brown to warm tones, the dark brown to cool tones) I think that most light and medium skintones should be able to pull this off without any worries at all.
Flash in indirect sunlight. First two swatches on the left are both New Clover, first heavily and then lightly.
The packaging: Solid. So solid. Solid like a lightweight brick.
No, but seriously. Being the total klutz that I am, I’ve already dropped this mirrored compact on numerous occasions… and it’s completely fine.
For in-compact applicators, the ones in this are actually pretty decent. Not so awesome that I’d use them if I had regular brushes on-hand, of course, but they’re nice enough that I know I could rely on them in a pinch. Plus, I love that Clinique’s put a blending brush on the other end of the sponge-tipped applicator — talk about handy!
The verdict? At first, I was going to say that this was nice-but-overpriced… and then I realized that it retails for $36 USD. Um, seeing as that works out to $9 per pan, that is very much okay with me! (ETA: It’s $43 up here in Canada.) The products are lovely, and I can definitely see myself wearing all 4 of them throughout the year. Plus, they’re actually up to the line’s standard, unlike some holiday palettes >:(
This would be perfect if:
- You’re looking for a natural palette to use all year ’round,
- You want a palette on-hand that can create a fast office look or amp it up for the nighttime,
- You’re short a Christmas gift — this would be great for a neutrals-loving makeup junkie!
- (Or your mother, or an aunt, or anyone else who’s not quite a junkie but still likes makeup.)
More Strawberry Fudge…
- Clinique’s Strawberry Fudge Holiday collection makes my Monday
- Clinique Strawberry Fudge FOTD
- Clinique’s Strawberry Bliss: one pretty Smoothie I’d skip
P.S. For those of you in the US, Clinique online shipping is free until the 28th (no code needed). {Clinique online shop} Oh, and TOTE gets you a free silver tote bag with orders over $49.50. I saw one the other day, and they’re (dare I say it?) actually kind of cute!
(It was weird, because some Asian guy was walking away for the Clinique counter holding it. Perhaps a Christmas gift for a lucky spouse, or a men’s skincare/frag purchase? He really didn’t look the makeup type to me, but heck, you never know!)
