It's always great when the big players in the cosmetic industry decide it's time to share a little bit with their faithful fans. Plus, on a busy Thursday morning there's nothing better than spending just ten minutes of your precious time poring over some of this summer's makeup dos and don'ts - just to make yourself believe that there's only one day left (OK, almost two days but who's really counting) until you can enjoy a weekend shopping trip and stock up on your favorite goodies. The good people at Clinique are currently in a sharing mood and what are us girls to do than enjoy the tips and see how they blend into our own personal make-up regimen.

Rule number one: absolutely no dark shadows. This summer, we're allowed to wear radiant, vivid colors on our clothes, shoes and accessories and our eyes have to reflect the joyous energy of a vibrant summer's day. Clinique says "brighten the eye area with a well-blended touch of concealer" and we'd better pay attention - after all, who wants to look tired and sloppy when the weekend and some well earned R&R are just a heartbeat away?

Colored metallic eyeshadows and eyeliners (in nuances of gold, silver and violet) are all the rage this season. Use them, but make sure not to tug at your eyes as you put them on, to avoid getting an uneven line. Finally, don't forget it's healthy to replace your mascara every three months. It was about time you got a new shade anyway, so why not try Clinique's new High Impact Mascara, which they promise delivers lusher, plusher, bolder lashes.


Another basic rule this summer - don't be afraid to use blusher. Apply it onto the apples of your cheeks and well up into hairline for a glowing, natural-looking finish. Don't overdo it, though. Clinique experts say it's best to "tame" the blush after applying it with the use of a small amount of face powder (be it pressed or loose) applied via a special brush.


Finally, don't be afraid to color your lips and try on new colors, textures or shades that you wouldn't normally use. Go for the shades you know don't look good on you, but look for an added twist. A perfect example is Clinique's Color Surge Butter Shine Lipstick that blends the shine of a gloss with the natural comfort we usually associate with lipstick. Use a lip brush to apply it, but before that trace the contour of your lips with a special pencil. Another possibility suggested by Clinique is to wear a touch of gloss under the lipstick, in order to "take dense lip color from intense to subdued".