The fact that I write a beauty blog is a pretty obvious tip-off that I love all things skincare and makeup. However, what some of you don’t know is that there is one brand in particular to who I owe my love affair with all things face and skin. Clinique first came into my radar in the same way I imagine it came into yours – as a teen looking to control the sudden breakouts that come with teen girl hormones. Dragged to the Clinique counter at my local Myer by my mum, I was given their famous three-step program to try and clear my skin. In 2009, my editor at Flourish magazine, Jane, suggested I enter this new competition they’d launched the previous year to find Clinique It Girls throughout Australia to review their products for their online site. I entered, I won, and my love of makeup was cemented.
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Through the ten full months I was a Clinique It Girl, I learnt more about skincare and had more opportunity to enter the makeup world using my It Girl status as a launching pad than I ever would have had without it. It’s the reason you’re reading this blog today, as my writing as a Clinique It Girl inspired me to start my own blog the following year. And it’s the reason I work in PR with a goal to do beauty PR full-time. Never have I had a brand loyalty as strong as the one I have for Clinique, and it’s because their products really work, no bullshit.
Today, I interviewed 2012 Clinique It Girl, Rebecca Caldwell from WA to see what she thinks about the experience she’s currently wrapped up in.
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Bec Caldwell, 31, SEO and Internet Marketer, Amateur Actress and Presenter
What made you decide to enter the Clinique IT Girl competition? In Sept 2011, I entered and won a competition for the Perth Fashion Festival called ‘Everybody Counts’ – a fashion show and photo shoot designed to show off real bodies in fashion. I’d thought I was too old for these things, and I entered It Girls thinking the same thing, but I guess the people liked what I had to say!
You’re 6 months in – what’s been the best thing so far? Well, other than trialling awesome make-up and skincare, I’ve been able to practice and hone my presenting skills – I trained as a presenter long ago but haven’t had the chance to work in broadcasting. I’m loving that!
Why do you love Clinique’s philosophy so much – what resonates with you? I love that Clinique doesn’t make outlandish claims about it’s products. There is so much out there promising the world, it’s so refreshing that a brand with such a long history can just get to the point; the product is the star, not an airbrushed model.
What beauty product can you not live without? Skin wise, I’d say sunscreen for obvious reasons. Makeup, definitely blusher – it makes you look awake and vital even with nothing else on your face.
Describe your day-to-day makeup style? Pretty clean – I use Clinique’s new Moisture Surge tinted moisturiser, mascara and a beige or pink lipstick. I work in an office so I keep it pretty simple.
How would you dramatise your day-to-day look for a hot date? Add in some dramatic eyeliner and comb my hair differently. I always feel like I’m ‘going out’ if my hair is different to the way it was during the day.
What about if you were just heading to dinner with the girls? Not much different to my day time look, possibly a bold lipstick. I’ve been wearing the new Runway Coral like crazy!
Are you more focussed on skin care or makeup? Skin care for sure – despite everything, you can’t cover up bad skin with makeup so I concentrate on making sure that makeup is just there as an enhancement.
What do you love the most about Perth beauty? Girls really make an effort here and dress up for almost any reason. Just walking down the street is like watching a fashion show.
How would your friends describe you? Probably as a bit of a self professed ‘know it all’ – I’m always handing out my opinion about everything!
Do you think more women apply their makeup and look good for themselves or for their partners? I hope it’s for themselves – I don’t think partners really notice makeup anyway! I know I apply makeup more carefully when I want to feel more confident.
Why is it important for you to feel beautiful? You smile more when you feel beautiful, and I think that others respond better to positive looking people rather than ones that look stressed out or angry. Decide to feel beautiful!
What are you hoping to achieve as a Clinique IT Girl this year? I’m just glad to be giving girls out there a non-professional’s view on products that they might be hesitant to try in real life. I recommend things to my friends all the time so this is a huge extension of that.
Have you had to review a product during the year that you would never have dreamt of testing? If so, what was it and how did it go? As someone with oily skin, I never would have chosen to use a ‘moisture surge’ product, however your skin changes when you travel, so it became my best friend!
Classic or dramatic beauty – which would you choose? Do you think they need to be mutually exclusive? I couldn’t pick! Classic beauty is what I would want people to think is the natural me! Dramatic for when I feel like experimenting.
What recent runway trend from the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week last month would you most like to try? Not very practical for every day, but I loved the super extreme eyebrows at Maticevski, I’m obsessed with eyebrows.
Desert island product? Sunscreen and tweezers!
Life motto? Never order just a salad in a restaurant.
Final say? When faced with two choices, pick the one that’s different to usual!
[...] met Perth’s own 2012 Clinique It Girl, Rebecca, so now it’s time to meet one from the east coast of Australia, where Coveted Canvas is now [...]