My Hospital Beauty Essentials

I broke my ankle last Friday. I was visiting some friends in Pittsburgh, slipped on some ice and down I went. And I don't mean just any break. I broke the tibia and the fibula AND managed to fracture a whole bunch of other important stuff. I've been on bed rest in the hospital ever since, and let me tell you -- it changes things. I'm not someone who ever asks for help, and I don't require much care. I'm extremely independent. So having to rely on other people for everything definitely puts life in very different perspective. Luckily I have excellent care and I'm preparing for surgery #2 on Monday. In the meantime, I've culled my beauty essentials to an eye-popping six products! Check out what's getting me through the long days in the hospital.

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My Current Beauty Product Favorites

So I try a LOT of beauty products. And it's tough sometimes to stick to the same ones, even if I love them ... because there are just so many more where those came from! But every once in awhile, there's a product so good that I just can't help but go back to it again and again. Right now, these are the products I'm loving.

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Surge Protector: Clinique Moisture Surge Overnight Mask

Even though I know protecting my skin is important, there are just some days where I'm too lazy to even put on moisturizer. And yes, I know that's a problem. Well, last week my skin was heading into dangerously scary territory and starting to feel rougher than dragon hide. This was probably due to a few factors: spending 10 days in the Israeli desert, traveling for over 36 hours on multiple planes with recycled air, and (oops) not using enough moisturizer. Enter Clinique Moisture Surge Overnight Mask.

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Holiday Gift Guide: Clinique Complete Happiness Coffret

This is the time of year when "happy" edges into our wishes: Happy Holidays...Happy New Year. Wouldn't it be miraculous if we could make every day a happy one? Clinique set out to accomplish this feat in 1997 when the company bottled "Happy," which has become its best-selling fragrance.

I've never tried the Clinique perfumes, so I was eager to see what the buzz is all about. Now I know! The Clinique Complete Happiness Coffret spoils you with five scents, one for every work day!

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Feeling Chubby: Clinique Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm

A lip balm and lipgloss in one? Clinique sure has got this invention licked, thanks to the brand-new Clinique Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm.

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My Current Hero Skincare Products: Plus a Video!

At a facial this weekend, I was asked to provide detailed information about my entire skincare routine. I actually really had to think! Check out the products currently making appearances in my skincare lineup in the video below.



The products featured include:
Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel
Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief
Clinique All About Eyes

Make Someone Happy: Clinique Happy Hearts and Kisses Set

Whenever I travel, I seem to be lacking in actual travel-sized products ... not to mention I've been on the lookout for an adorable makeup bag for quite some time. Enter the Clinique Happy Hearts and Kisses Set. This three-piece collection contains perfectly sized bottles of Refreshing Body Wash, Body Cream and the original Happy Heart fragrance.

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My Love Affair with Rollerballs Continues: Clinique All About Eyes Serum De-Puffing Eye Massage

I’ll let you in on a little secret. If a product comes in rollerball form, I run toward it unabashedly. So when I discovered Clinique All About Eyes Serum De-Puffing Eye Massage, I jumped for absolute joy -- because it married my love of rollerballs with my obsessive compulsive collecting habit of eye products and serums.

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Make an Impact: Clinique High Impact Curling Mascara

It takes a lot to get me excited about a mascara. I've been blessed with fairly thick, long and curly lashes on my own, so for a mascara to really stand out it needs to dramatically change my appearance. We're talking lashes that curl up to my browbones and hit my glasses. Well, consider me impressed -- because Clinique High Impact Curling Mascara does just that.

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Holiday Gift Guide: Clinique High Shine To-Go

 
Throughout the month of December, The Beauty of Life will be featuring a Holiday Gift Guide. Each gift is one I'd like to give AND get this season.

I have a bit of a lipgloss problem. Well, maybe not so much of a problem as it is an addiction. You see, I feel I can never have too much gloss. The more gloss, the better, in fact! So Clinique's High Shine To-Go set of 12 miniature Long Last Glosswear SPF 15 glosses is right up my alley.

In this set, you'll find every shade you could possibly want. Observe:

Air Kiss (shimmery peachy pink)
Cabana Crush (glimmery coral)
Guava Gold (golden peach)
Brandy Twist (chocolate bronze)
Juicy Apple (bold candy apple red)
First Blush (glittery golden taupe)
Sunset (sparkly copper)
Mystic (silvery bluish purple)
Bamboo Pink (pale pink shot through with shimmer)
Fireberry (glimmery bluish red)
Clearly Pink (juicy hot pink)
Whisper (pale silvery pink)

Not to mention the gloss is, well, unbelievably glossy. It glides onto the lips in a quick, fluid, super-smooth movement and lasts for hours. And I totally love the SPF 15 factor, since I'm always looking for ways to up my sun protection!

While this gift set is no longer available, you can purchase all of the various Clinique High Shine Long Last Glosswear SPF 15 lipglosses for $16 each at sephora.com.

Creature Comfort: Clinique Deep Comfort Hand and Cuticle Cream

It's rare for me to find a moisturizer that doesn't make my hands feel slick and slippery. Too many of them claim to sink into the skin immediately but leave behind a greasy sheen -- not so great when I need to use my hands for typing all day! Not so with Clinique Deep Comfort Hand and Cuticle Cream.

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Best Summer Body Wash Series: Clinique Happy Heart Body Wash

The Best Summer Body Wash Series features the body washes and shower gels that will thrill and delight you all summer long.

Some products are just named so aptly, I want to shake the hand of the person who did it. Such is the case with Clinique Happy Heart Body Wash -- and the entire Clinique Happy Heart collection, come to think of it. Because every time I lather up with this aromatic fantasy of a body wash, a huge smile appears on my face and I just feel utterly blissful.

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Protect Your Lips with Clinique Sun SPF 45 Targeted Protection Stick

Lip balm? Love it. Sun protection? Love it. Clinique Sun Broad Spectrum SPF 45 Sunscreen Targeted Protection Stick? Love it.

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My Top 4 New Lipgloss Obsessions

I am a total lipgloss addict. I can't help it ... even when lipstick comes back as a trend full force, lipgloss still reigns supreme. And while I've got my tried and true favorites, I can always make room for a few more. Check out the four I'm totally enamored with as of late.

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The 9 Best Summer Bronzers

As temperatures heat up, thoughts turn to beach trips and sun-kissed skin. But if you're like this beauty chick, only a few minutes spent in the sun will turn you into a lobster! That's where these bronzers come in. I've rounded up the bronzers guaranteed to give you that gorgeous summer glow without any harmful UV rays. Discover my favorites after the jump.

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Clinique Rescue Balm with Aloe Really Saves the Day!

So you know how sometimes even though you apply sunscreen liberally to your entire body, you still manage to get sunburned? Such was the case on this beauty chick's recent vacation. Even though I used SPF 70, I was still sunburned pretty darn badly. And while I've got some products in my arsenal that usually do the trick, I knew this sunburn really needed some extra-special TLC. That's where Clinique Rescue Balm with Aloe came in.

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Lusts of the Week

Fellow beauty chicks, have I got a lot in store for you this week! This Lusts of the Week column is just off the chain, yo. (Okay, I'm referencing my favorite summertime show, So You Think You Can Dance, here.) In all seriousness, I've got some truly remarkable finds this week!

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Surge Forward: Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief

Thirsty. Dehydrated. Parched. Summer can totally wreak havoc on your skin with its moisture-sucking elements and horribly hot temperatures. And so far this season has been interesting, to say the least -- 95 and sunny one day! 50 and raining the next! -- with all the rapid climate changes, my skin seriously doesn't know which way is up. Luckily, Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief is here to save the day.

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Two-For Tuesdays: Clinique Perfectly Happy Duo

You know what makes this beauty chick perfectly happy? Spritzing on a bit of Clinique Happy and following that up by slicking on Clinique Full Potential Lips Plump and Shine lipgloss. But up until now, I had to resort to using two separate bottles or tubes to get the job done. Not so anymore, with the brand-new Clinique Perfectly Happy Duo.

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Happiness Is All Around: Clinique Happy Body Butter

The day I discovered Clinique Happy Body Butter was a happy day, indeed. It came right as the cold days of winter began to ravage my hands, leaving them chapped, red and raw. No lotions I tried seemed to do the trick -- each one I used made my skin greasy and never seemed to restore moisture. But then, wonder of wonders, I came across this miracle product ... and immediately I saw a difference!

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