Summer’s shiny lip glosses, sparkly bronzers and glittery eye shadows are getting to be as old as John McCain. Straight from the runways, matte makeup is the new direction going into fall. So ditch the glitz and trade up to the Clinique Fall 2008 Modern Matte Collection. The on-trend line comprises lippies, blush and eye shadow for a polished and oh-so-sophisticated look.

Our new go-to product is Colour Surge Eye Shadow Stay Matte in Denim ($14). Those clever folks at Clinique have put a whole new spin on the ever-popular Colour Surge Eye Shadow range by adding a soft, matte finish to nine covetable new colors. We’re not talking about the chalky, pasty-looking matte eye shadows of the 90’s, but rather rich, highly pigmented color that goes from soft to smoky in a single stroke. Its slippage is like butter, and its crease-proof formula stays color-true all day. With buildable coverage, it’s versatile enough to go from office-appropriate to a night on the town. And for those of us with upper-eye issues, it smoothes and softens lines and crepiness. What’s not to like?

If the thought of wearing blue eye shadow makes you queasy, not to worry. Blue (think navy) is the new neutral, and couldn’t we all use a break from black? Even better, navy flatters all ages and skin types. Use it as an eye liner and watch the whites of your eyes pop. Blend it into the crease and feather it up and out for glamorous definition. Brush it from lash line to brow for elegant intensity. Whichever way you go, you can’t go wrong.

Colour Surge Eye Shadow Stay Matte launches in August at Clinique counters and online at clinique.com.