Clinique counter: Barren wasteland or hidden gem?

For Kristy Snow, junior business marketing major, it’s a barren wasteland.

“I don’t even know anyone who uses Clinique,” Snow said. “Every time I go in there it’s like a ghost town.”

The Clinique counter is located inside the A.S. Bookstore. It’s the only makeup counter on campus. Some may ask themselves why it was the chosen brand to be the most accessible makeup counter to students? With prices ranging from $7-79, it may be out of reach for a typical college student’s budget.

However, this makeup brand is special for many reasons. The brand is primarily centered around skincare, offering a variety of soaps, creams and oils in addition to its makeup products. All products are allergy tested and 100 percent fragrance free, according to the labels. This makes them a lot gentler and more suitable for sensitive skin.

The line also includes a line of male products too, such as an assortment of cologne, soaps and shaving gel.

Although the prices may be a limiting factor for students, the counter is still widely used by the community. It is the only Clinique within a 100-mile radius.

“We do have a mixture of clientele coming in, a lot of staff and faculty shop here,” said Melissa Estrada, cosmetologist and Clinique staff member. “We even have people coming from Paradise that are regulars here.”

It’s a common misconception that Clinique is targeted toward older populations, but Estrada disagrees.

“I really feel like skin care should start at a younger age,” she said.

So with prices being a little high, what can a penny-pinching student to do at Clinique? The makeup counter provides facials by appointment and offers full makeovers with a $30 purchase while most other counters require spending up to $60.

There’s also a special promotion coming up on April 10 that offers a free makeup bag filled with a variety of samples when you spend $27. This deal happens every April and October to showcase the release of new spring and fall collections. The counter also carries products from other popular cosmetic lines, including Smashbox and e.l.f.

Although some of the items are pricey, there are some great finds at Clinique for the makeup-obsessed college student. If you love makeup, or even want to learn more about it, stop by and show the counter a little love — it’s lacking in it.

Cassandra Porter can be reached at [email protected] or @cassieporter_ on Twitter.