Weekend Collage

weekend collage by vanessanelson featuring Clinique

Hello!!!  How was your weekend?  Mine was fantastic!  I had the weekend off and the weather was GORGEOUS so of course I went shopping ;)

Some of my FAVORITE things of the weekend were the new Lash Power Feathering mascara by Clinique especially paired with my all time favorite eyeshadow palette "Neutral Territory 2" and Cheek Pop blush in "Berry Pop" also by Clinique!  I went and visited my favorite former co-worker Natalie (y'all should check out her blog too....she and her husband are INSANELY talented musicians) who now works for Laura Mercier and picked up one of my all time favorite lip glosses "Opal" and a new one called "Azaela" that I'm OBSESSED with :)  

I listened to Miguel's song "Simplethings" pretty much on repeat all weekend.  I'm so glad the weather is warming up and we could drive with the windows down, break out the maxi skirts, and SANDALS.

I hope the weather is nice where you are too :)

Hopefully I have time to post this week.  We are going into gift at the Clinique counter which, as my long-time readers know,  is the time my brain starts to malfunction, I live on Diet Coke and crackers, and I self-medicate with NyQuil sooooo basically.....it's the Hunger Games.  

But I love these crazies I work with so it makes it worth it!

Leave me a happy little note about your weekend :)

xoxo 

V

All About Lipstick

I love that quote....I feel like those are the only 3 things I have a way with too....besides having a way with drinking a 12 pack of Diet Coke in less than a week.
So as you may have guessed....because I may have mentioned it a thousand time or two...I LOVE lipstick. You could even say I'm slightly obsessed.  This is a fairly recent obsession.  About 5 years ago I wouldn't even wear lipgloss (I know....hard to imagine right?) then when I started working in make up I would wear lipgloss sometimes....but in the last year or so it's been all about the lipstick. So I thought I would share some of my current favorite lipstick colors for winter.  In the winter I like deeper, richer colors. However...that's not to say I don't like to change it up and go for a nice nude/pink/coral.  So let's get on with it then!

Deep Colors

L to R: Very Currant- Clinique, Shade 01- Kate Moss for Rimmel, #12 Forbidden Burgundy- YSL, Roundest Raspberry- Clinique, Hot Lava- Estee Lauder, After Party- Clinique, Mightiest Maraschino- Clinique, #11 Rose Culte- YSL

Light Colors

L to R: Cherry On Top- Maybelline Color Whisper, Silvery Moon- Clinique, Corail In Love- Lancome, Snob- MAC, Runway Coral- Clinique, #13 Peach Passion- YSL, Urban Ballet- Lancome

When I think of lipstick in the winter I think deep reds, burgundys, violets but I love switching it up with a coral or pink every now and then just so I don't get stuck in a rut.  Winter is hard enough as it is. 

Any lipstick favorites of yours???  Please share!!! 

xoxo

V

Top 10 Favorite Clinique Products

So as you know.....I work for Clinique....and I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT.  I mean....working for the #1 brand in the world is pretty easy to love.  There are so many reasons why I love Clinique.  First and foremost being that their skin care is the BEST skin care around.  There is nothing better outside of a dermatologist office for the skin.  Not only is their skin care the best but everything they make is....the best.  I decided to share with you my Top 10 all time favorite products from Clinique.  Just to serve as a little guide for some things that I feel are must-haves.
*Bonus points to the person who finds the misplaced Doctor Who reference in this post....

1. Clarifying Lotion "The Difference Maker"

I've mentioned Clarifying Lotion before and how much I love it.  We call it the difference maker and it really is.  It's custom fit, twice a day exfoliation that ANYONE and EVERYONE should use.  It fits perfectly into every skin care routine and makes your skin softer, clearer, more radiant.  Can't live without!

2. Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector

If you are concerned with dark spots, acne scarring, or even just an overall uneven skin tone...this is the product for you.  I have noticed such a difference in my skin since I started using this.  It's evened out my skin tone so much.  This is a product I immediately have to replace when I run out.

3. Even Better Eyes

I love this eye cream.  It's super lightweight which I love.  It also reflects light which gives a brightening effect to the under-eye area.  I'm super picky about my eye creams so trust me when I say this is the best one I've ever used.

4. Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm

 I talked about this in one of my videos but it's my all time favorite make up remover.  It starts out as a balm that melts into this oil that removes all your face and eye makeup.  It leaves your skin feeling so nice and soft.

5. CC Cream

Clinique was the first to offer a CC Cream and might I say....they did it the best.  I am in love with CC cream.  Normally I'm a very moderate-full coverage foundation gal.  With this CC cream...even though it's a sheer coverage, it color corrects the skin tone so well you don't need a full coverage.  I love how lightweight it feels and....bonus!  SPF 30!  Brilliant.

6. Moisture Surge

 Such a nice moisturizer....especially if your skin is like mine and is combo/oily but still needs a healthy dose of hydration.  My skin gets dehydrated very easily (probably because I live in this dry wasteland) but I can't add too much oil to my skin otherwise I'll break out.  Well.....Allons-y!  This stuff works wonders!  It seriously feels like a delicious, velvety, drink for the skin.

7. All About Eyes Serum

This is a rollerball serum that you can pair with any eye cream you use.  It helps de-puff the eye area and feels like a nice cool massage under your eyes.  *Bonus tip! Pop this baby into the refrigerator and then use....ohhhhh my.  Delightfully refreshing.

8. Acne Solutions Spot Healing Gel

 Or...."the miracle worker" as I like to call it.  Have a little spot pop up?  Don't worry...just dab a little spot healing gel on it and literally overnight it's half the size.  Can't live without this for when a little spot likes to try and surprise me.

9. Take The Day Off Make Up Remover

 I usually use my balm to take my eye make up off (because I'm lazy) however when the occasion strikes I do use this make up remover for my eyes (especially if my liquid liner decides to have a complete mind of its own...which is 98% of the time).  It's the best make up remover for eyes I've ever used.  I've used ones that were literally twice as much money but because they add so much fragrance to them....they started irritating my eyes.  This one never does.  Love it!

10. Acne Solutions Cleansing Foam

I don't break out so often anymore (thanks to my 3 step skin care) however during that special and beautiful time each month when all the hormones in my body are screaming at each other like cast members of the Real Housewives, I will break out a little bit.  I just add this into my skin care routine and seriously.....guys.....I can't stress enough how well this works or how nice it is.  It's a foam and just makes your skin feel so clean!  PLUS it works!!!  Love.

Bonus product

If you use make up brushes....stop what you're doing....head to your local Clinique counter, and buy this make up brush cleanser.  It works so well!  I'll use it to spot clean my brushes or mix it with some warm water to give them a deep clean.  Again....fragrance free so your brushes are so clean, don't smell like flowers or anything weird, and don't leave your brushes with any sort of weird residue.  

So there you have it.  My Top 10, can't live without, Clinique products!  If you have any other questions on any other Clinique products....let me know!  I'd love to answer them!

And if you use any of these....let me know!  We can squeal over how awesome they are together!

xoxo

V

Weekend Collage Returns!

weekend collage by vanessanelson featuring a high heels stilettos

Hey it's been awhile since I've done this!  Are you excited???  Yeah I know.

THINGS I'M CURRENTLY OBSESSED WITH:

Military Tab shirt from ASOS: OMG LOVE LOVE LOVE

Dark nail polish like "Chimney Sweep" by Butter London

Boot shoes = the best

MAC lipstick in Rebel 

Benefit "Watts Up" highlighter....seriously the best highlighter I've ever used.

Beyonce.  I mean....she's everything.  I love EVERY song on the album but I would have to say the ones I listen to most are: "Pretty Hurts" "XO" "Flawless" and "Partition" .....if you don't own this record already....what is wrong with you??? Listen to it and let's cry about how perfect it is together.

I'm also thinking about doing a blog post on the Golden Globes...they were amazing.  While you wait for that you can check out my previous posts on award shows {HERE} You can go back and see all the times I referred to Jennifer Lawrence as "obscure girl" or "I don't know your name" *face palm*

How was your weekend?  I'd love to hear some happy weekend stories.  Share them below! 

xoxo

V

Happy Day 2013

At Clinique Friday December 13th was National Happy Day.  A day we celebrate our fragrance "Happy" and celebrate all things that make us....you guessed it....happy.  It was so much fun.  I feel truly blessed to work with some amazing women.  They are smart, strong, funny, talented, kind, gracious, compassionate, and I have so much fun when I'm with them.  Most of us have worked together at that counter for the last 1 1/2 years.  We have all had some very hard struggles in our personal lives during that time but no matter what we've always been a great source of support and strength for each other.  I couldn't have made it through some days without them.  Ok ok....enough sappy stuff.  Our celebration of Happy included music, dancing, laughter, and......orange eyelashes.  Yes.  They happened.

our "Happy" wall....people wrote down what made them happy! :)

my answer was very thoughtful 

                                                       

yep.

Absolutely love these women

What makes YOU happy???