About two months ago I was in need of new make-up. I had previously been using MAC but I was starting to see a difference in my skin and the way that MAC laid on my face. However, this was not a good difference. At all. So I decided that I wanted to leave MAC and look for something new. After shopping around a bit, I decided to give Clinique a try.

It was kind of a spur of the moment thing when I decided to go and get my new make-up. Shopping for make-up is important and it takes time. I don’t know why I thought I would be able to find new make-up in such a small amount of time. I feel that if I had a bit more time when I decided to go shopping that the end result might have been different and that I would’ve ended up with something else other than Clinique.

I first stopped at Sephora. I wanted to look at Tarte or even Nars. I’ve heard a lot of good things about these foundations which is why I had intentions of looking at them. However, Sephora was a TOTAL mess. I couldn’t put up with it. All of their testers were everywhere and the shelves were practically empty. I was seriously so disappointed. I don’t like a mess when I’m shopping, I hate having to dig through things or having to wait for an associate to get me a product. So I left.

I then headed over to Macy’s where I was left disappointed again. The MAC counter was packed as usual and made the rest of the make-up counters look like a ghost town. I looked at Lancôme & Estēe Lauder but there were no associates to be found so I left. For a second I was almost tempted to go back to the MAC counter just because I knew I could get service over there. However, I didn’t want to give up on my search and that’s when I headed over to the Clinique counter.

At the Clinique counter I was greeted by a very nice girl that was ready to help me. I told her that I had currently been using MAC but it’s really harming my skin so I wanted to see about switching to another brand. She asked me what I liked about MAC and I told her that I didn’t really want to lose the great coverage that MAC gives you.

Right away she introduced me to Clinique’s Beyond Perfecting Foundation which also works as a concealer. Sounded good to me so I decided to give it a try. She color matched me perfectly and then put on the foundation. I ended up liking the way it looked. It gave me the coverage I wanted but it didn’t feel too heavy. She then showed me the matching powder which I also liked as well. In the past I used to use Clinique’s 3-Step Skin Care and I was happy with it. So based off that and the demo that the associate showed me, I decided to buy the foundation and powder. It was a very good price, around $50 for both and I even got a sample of the skin primer.

I’ve been using Clinique’s Beyond Perfecting Foundation and powder now for a while and I must admit that I am not as happy with it as I was when I first bought it. 

Cons: I lost coverage. That’s pretty much the only con though to be honest. When you first apply the make-up it’s great. There’s a nice flawless finish to it and it doesn’t feel overwhelming on your skin. However, hours go by and you lose that flawless finish. It’s pretty much like you never even took the time to put on make-up that morning. It’s supposedly a 12 hr coverage but I beg to differ. I’m sure if I kept reapplying powder throughout the day it would look a lot better but I’m just not that type of girl. I don’t want to have to keep reapplying make-up all day.

Pros: There’s a difference in my skin. Now my skin looks a lot more clear. I’ve noticed the bumps and blackheads diminish. Also the color matching here was a lot easier and a lot more on point than MAC’s. I feel that the make-up looks a lot more natural and blends a lot better. It has manage to last me a really long time as well.

Clinique’s Beyond Perfecting Foundation is good but it’s not the best. I got what I wanted out of it but I didn’t at the same time.  However I do understand that there’s going to be an opportunity cost with whatever make-up I end up getting. I think I’m going to switch back to a heavier foundation but invest in better skin care products.

I would recommend this foundation to a teenager who is just starting to wear make up. It’s natural looking, not heavy, and it helps keep the skin in good shape which is ideal for someone who is just starting to wear foundation. This foundation would also be good for really casual, laid-back days or days that you’re trying to give your skin a break. Perhaps even wear it to places that you don’t want to have a lot of make-up on, like the gym or even the beach. I definitely do not recommend this make-up if you’re going out or if it’s going to be a long day. I especially do not recommend it for photos.

If you want to give Clinique’s Beyond Perfecting Foundation a try, I do recommend buying Clinique’s primer or Clinique’s moisturizer. The primer and moisturizer are both great products. They’ll also help you get the most out of your Beyond Perfecting Foundation and they also help the foundation last a little longer in my opinion.

I hoped this helped! Let me know if you have any questions or suggestions in the comments section below.

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