wearing Clinique Cheek Pop blush in Peach Pop
SUNDAY NIGHT, 6:06 P.M., MY LIVING room couch — I’m gobbling Peanut M&Ms by the handful and gulping Riesling. It’s all I can do to cope.

(If you joined me on Twitter last night, then you know why.)

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It’s nothing makeup-related, and certainly nothing related to blush. In fact, the couple layers of Clinique’s Cheek Pop blush in Ginger Pop ($21) I applied early in the day are helping to calm my rattled nerves. ten hours after applying, the satiny coral color is still going strong, sans streaks, and with only minimal fading.

Three of the four new Cheek Pop shades, clockwise from the pink pan at the bottom: Berry Pop, Ginger Pop and Peach Pop (not pictured: Plum Pop)
The problem: more zombies.

*** SPOILER ALERT (SORT OF) ***

Not even 10 minutes into The walking Dead season 4 finale, and I’m wondering if I have enough chocolate to make it through the hour. I contemplate sending El Hub out to get more.

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Γάτες & μακιγιάζ φούτερ;

$ 42

Ψώνισε τώρα

Beads of sweat glisten on my forehead. I unzip my Zella hoodie to amazing down but promptly zip it back up. I might need to use it as a security blanket.

A band of brutal marauders descend on Rick, Carl and Michonne, and the story takes a dark, dark turn…

Safe place, safe place…
I pop some more M&Ms and gulp the wine realizing that this can’t end well. I hug myself tightly and rock back and forth. “Ωχ όχι! Ωχ όχι! Ωχ όχι!”

The head marauder has Rick in a headlock while the others surround them. I think, I don’t know if I’ll be able to watch the show anymore if something (else) terrible happens.

OMG, DID THAT really just HAPPEN?!?

I’m screaming through a mouthful of half-chewed bits of M&Ms for what seems like an eternity, but is really just 10-15 seconds.

When the show cuts to commercial, I grab my asthma inhaler, just in case.

Think happy thoughts, I tell myself. Puppies. Kittens. Λουλούδια…

Λουλούδια! — like the ones on these pans of Clinique Cheek Pop Blushes.

I close my eyes and concentrate on the Cheek Pops, which look exactly like the daisies I’m growing on my deck. My pulse slows as I focus on the easy-to-apply creamy powders.

I feel…better, even as the show resumes after the commercial break. I’m glad that we live in a world free of zombies (for now), where we can contemplate things like blush on our couches, because I’m pretty sure I’d be picked off early in zombie-land. I think I’m too gentle for that world. too soft.

Then I think, hey, at least I’ll have a fabulous blush on my cheeks when it happens, and everything’s better when you’re wearing a terrific blush…

The Clinique Cheek Pop Blushes: 10,000-Foot View

What’s the marketing mumbo-jumbo?
Clinique claims that these silky powder blushes, which are part of a new line, look natural and virtually powder-less on cheeks. The four shades stay true on the skin, and should cover options for most every skin tone. While vibrant in their pans, they apply sheer, but can be built up in layers to reach your desired level of intensity.

And the final verdict?
You know the MAC In extra dimension Blushes that MAC, for some insane reason, only releases in limited edition collections? They’re MAC’s line of unfathomably smooth cream-powder-liquid hybrids that apply flawlessly and last a cray-cray long time (8-10 hours without having to touch up)?

Well, I’ve long wished that MAC would make them permanent, and in a way I guess my wish came true because now there’s something similar at Clinique!

We are talking about some seriously bomb-@ss blushes, yo.

Based on their similarities, I wouldn’t be surprised if Clinique and MAC shared secret formulas (they do have the same parent company, so who knows?).

Looking, feeling and behaving like clones, the Cheek Pops could easily pass for In extra dimension dupes, with the same satiny finish and silky, easy-to-blend formula — not to mention a pretty kick-@ss wear time (I get from 10-12 hours).

Fantastic for effortless, natural-looking cheeks — and they’re versatile, too. I can easily build them up in layers when I want to wear something intense and brighter.

Λοιπόν, τι νομίζεις?
I love ’em! συνιστάται.

Ginger Pop, a coral

Peach Pop, a peachy pink
Berry Pop, a pinkish berry

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Ο φιλικός φίλος σας ομορφιάς γειτονιάς,

Karen

ΥΣΤΕΡΟΓΡΑΦΟ. Yes…I do know that I sound a little crazy right now, haha!