Christina Applegate looked stunning on the red carpet at the 2009 Emmy Awards in Los Angeles tonight. Her makeup look was created by Joanna Schlip for Clarins and I got the scoop on how she made it happen!

Joanna was inspired by Christina’s dramatic, sweeping gown when creating her makeup look. The vintage glamour of the navy Basil Soda gown called for simple makeup that still made a statement. With her hair pulled back in a chic chignon, Joanna was able to play up Christina’s eyes with a sexy retro smolder, while keeping her skin fresh and lips softly pink.

Skincare: To create a radiant glow, Joanna prepped Christina’s skin with three steps: First she cleansed with Clarins Water Comfort One Step Cleanser. She then applied Clarins Multi-Active Day moisturizer, followed with Clarins Beauty Flash Balm for smooth, hydrated, radiant skin.

Face: Since Christina has naturally beautiful skin, Joanna kept her face mostly bare with a light wash of Clarins True Radiance Foundation. She fished with a dusting of Clarins Loose Powder in Translucent.

Cheeks: For a natural but luminous flush, Joanna applied Clarins Instant Sun Light Shimmer Palette on the apples of her cheeks, sweeping up to the hairline. The shimmering highlighter reflected the California sunlight on the red carpet, giving a healthy, peachy-pink glow.

Eyes: Joanna reflected the drama of Christina’s dress with a smoldering eye. Using the dark gray shade from Clarins Colour Quartet for Eyes in So Chic, Joanna gave a smokey depth to Christina’s green eyes. To add definition and drama, she applied Clarins Eye Pencil in Black around the upper and lower lash line and inside the wet line, then finished with three coats of Clarins Wonder Perfect Mascara in Black.

Lips: For a soft, modern pink mouth, Joanna applied Clarins Lip Definer in Bay Rose, and then added a hint of gloss with Clarins Colour Quench Lip Balm in Rose Pink.

For product details and more information visit Clarins.com.

photo: wire image

Last month while in Paris I had the most amazing experience at the Clarins Spa in Neuilly, a suburb of Paris, with my beauty blogging friends.

Left to right: Nadine, Tammy, Cailin and Julia

Clarins was founded in 1954 by ex-medical student Jacques Courtin and quickly became renowned worldwide for its plant-based range of skincare products, cosmetics, and salon treatments.

When we arrived at the spa, the first half of our group was whisked away into treatment rooms while Tammy and I sipped coffee with Cassandra and Rose-Marie from the Clarins PR team. (Oh, I also painted my nails with the Prune Noir tester.)

(See how I expertly cropped out our two camera-shy beauty bloggers? Also, please note how all of our faces are glowing from our facials. Left to right: Tammy, Cassandra from Clarins, Erika, Julia, Nadine, Rose-Marie from Clarins and Cailin.)

Listening to Rose-Marie talk about how she met Jacques Courtin as an 18-yr-old girl, eventually becoming a corporate trainer and spokesperson for the brand, was so inspiring. This woman knows the Clarins brand like the back of her hand and boy is she entertaining! I had the best time just listening to her talk about her adventures across the globe as a Clarins representative.

Once I got settled into a treatment room with my esthetician Julie, I fell under the spell of her master hands. In addition to the amazing products the spa offers, the Clarins estheticians focus on exclusive massage techniques that promote relaxation and well-being.

Julie found my skin to be dehydrated and suggested the following regimen to give my thirsty skin the moisture it needs:

• Clarins Gentle Foaming Cleanser
• Clarins Toning Lotion for normal to dry skin
• Intensive Serum Bi-Phase Dehydrated Skin (both AM and PM)
• Multi-active Day Cream
• Multi-active Night Cream
• Beauty Flash Balm (as a treatment mask)

We found a Clarins Line Prevention Starter Collection Kit ($65 Value) at Sephora with almost all of these products (just the toner is missing, but instead includes makeup remover) for just $37.

If you’re a thirty-something gal that wants to combat the first signs of aging, you should definitely give this starter kit a whirl. Your thirsty skin will thank you.

To find a Clarins Spa near you, or to peruse their line of botanical products, visit Clarins.com.

Special thanks to Cassandra and Rose-Marie for hosting us in Paris and to Tanya and Erin for making it happen!

Had we known it would be so difficult to find this shade of purple-black nail polish that we painted on ourself while waiting for our friends at the Claris Spa in Paris, we would have bought four bottles.

We’re hoping this shade is available here in the US, because if it is not, we might have ourself a good cry.

It’s hard to see in this photo, but this creme color is really the deepest, darkest shade of purple and it’s SOO gorgeous.

If you’ve seen this shade in the US please let us know!

This limited-edition Clarins Single Eye Colour in Sunny Yellow is making us very happy today.

In addition to Sunny Yellow, the Clarins Spring 2008 Colour Fizz collection also features Sweet Melon, Gold Leaf and Sweet Lilac.

With snow on the ground and temperatures hovering at freezing, these bright spring colors are giving us a little taste of the season to come. See the entire Clarins Spring 2008 collection online at clarins.com.