Beauty Reporter.(cosmetics)

in the news

Formula Two

Formula Two Most women have fond memories of their first kiss -- we get wistful about our first moisturizer. We can still remember the thrill we got seeing the buttery yellow bottle of Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion on our medicine-cabinet shelf. Now, Clinique is introducing a companion to the 35-year-old lotion: Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel. The gel, specifically developed for normal to oily skin, "is lighter weight than the original. Prior to this, women with oilier skin could apply the lotion only where needed, but they can use this all over their face," says Susan Akkad, vice president of global treatment marketing. It just may be a classic in the making. Bottom Line: We want to remain loyal to the lotion, but the new gel made our combination skin smooth, with no greasiness.

ERIN QUINN

Free Stuff II

Sweet cheeks

In an effort to avoid makeup that looks like we're trying too hard, we often wind up with a pallid face that looks like we're not trying at all. Dipping a fingertip into Julie Hewett's new The Cheekies, two-in-one pots of cheek and lip color, yields a creamy, slightly shimmery pigment that's sheer enough to look natural -- but not too natural, if you know what we mean. The Cheekies are not available until September, but the first 1,000 Allure readers to sign up starting at noon EDT on August 2 will receive one in Peachie, a light apricot shade, free. Log on to allure.com for more details. --