Cliniuqe Bonus Time: February 2015 Review

When I posted about my makeup and skincare routine in December, I mentioned that as my dermatologist recommended, my makeup bag was a mix of Clinique and Neutrogena products.  That being said, I was so excited for Clinique Bonus Time.  I headed to Belk, picked up a bottle of my favorite Even Better SPF 15 liquid foundation, and opted for the soft pinks instead of the bold lavenders in the bonus bag.  Here's what I thought!

Take The Day Off Makeup Remover For Lids, Lashes & Lips: I usually don't use makeup remover, choosing instead to just wash and exfoliate my face, but I just had to try it.  While it did an excellent job of removing my makeup, it has an oily texture to it and didn't leave my skin feeling fresh or clean, but rinsing with cool water afterwords helped a lot.

Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion +: This was probably my favorite thing out of the whole bag, probably because I've been using it since the fall.  I got it at my local Clinique counter when I went to get my shade re-matched after summer and have loved it ever since.  My skin gets very dry very easily, especially during the winter, so a good moisturizing lotion has always been a must for me.  It dries very easily and is the perfect step after washing but before primer.

Moisture Surge Intense Skin Fortifying Hydrator: Again, a miracle worker for dry skin.  It's an oil-free cream gel that's great before bed after a shower.  However, I would recommend the lotion if you're going to do foundation and powder just because it's lighter.  Either way, the hydrator is great.

Clinique Color Compact: This compact comes with two shadows to wear alone or layered and one blush.  Because I got the pink palette, I received the 14 Strawberry Fudge eye shadow duo and the 04 Pink Blush.  The shadows are both great independently (I haven't combined them yet but have tried the brown one in my usual nude eye routine) and the blush is the perfect accent of a soft, pink glow.

Different Lipstick: I love this lipstick because of it's smooth, comfortable feel and its color.  It's not too bold but is perfectly glossy.  It's a little outside of my usual palette choice, but it's perfectly appropriate for both day to day wear and formal occasions.

Lash Doubling Mascara: I would say that aside from basic cleanser and moisturizer, mascara is my number one, go-to beauty product.  Even if I skip the foundation or lip color, I'll always use mascara.  It opens up my naturally tiny eyes and just makes me look more awake.  I especially like this one because not only does it focus on length, but it also emphasizes volume.  The brush is long and wide, but not too thick as to cause clumps.  This is definitely one of my new favorites.

Overall, I was very satisfied with this bag.  I think it offered the perfect range of products and was very happy with my choice of the soft pinks palette.  As far as adding anything permanently into my routine, I'm definitely going to continue using the moisturizing lotion and just may switch from my usual Neutrogena mascara to the Lash Doubling Mascara offered in this bonus bag.

Did any of y'all take advantage of Clinique Bonus time?  What did you think?  If not, what skincare and cosmetic brand do you use and how do you think it compares?  Let me know!