Clinique Smart Custom - Repair Serum: A review

Normally I'm a little bit slack with my skincare products. But I had been thinking about buying a serum for a while, my skin gets quite blotchy and red and dry in patches and I thought a serum could help. Then I saw that Clinique had launched a brand new product they were hailing as their best serum yet - The Clinique Smart Custom Serum. It was created after 5 years of research with patented technology and apparently can solve ALL of your skincare issues in one go.

I picked up a sample sachet in store in the summer and thought I'd try it out. Of course the sample only had enough product for 2 or 3 uses, which is no way to properly test out skincare. However, it felt quite rich and moisturising and a little went a long way. A few weeks later I decided to buy my mum a bottle for her birthday present and accidentally ended up with some for myself too (oops).

The packaging is really sleek - a tall silver pump action bottle, a departure from Clinique's usual green bottles. The pump dispenses the right amount of serum so that you don't waste any - which given the price of this stuff, is very important! I think what appealed to me was the claim that the serum is for all ages and all ethnicities. The sales assistant explained it by saying that the serum can sense the individual needs of your skin and is activated to repair and improve it. Now I can't vouch for the science on that but I was swayed. Being a serum-novice I liked the idea that this one would solve all of my issues and I wouldn't have spent my money only tackling wrinkles OR pores OR skin tone.

Holiday essentials: Nivea In-Shower Body Moisturiser

If you are going on holiday this summer then you must try this!

Nivea first released their In-Shower Body Moisturiser in the UK last year. I picked it up as I read about it on British Beauty Blogger and I wanted to give it a try. I ending up liking it so much that I hailed it the best after sun I have ever used!

The basic premise is that you shower as normal and then at the end you wash yourself with the In-Shower Moisturiser and rinse it off... I know - I was sceptical too at first. But it works!

I was surprised that my skin really did feel moisturised afterwards, even though I had washed the product off. It looks like a creamy shower gel and has a really nice fresh fragrance. When you use it in the shower you need to stand out of the water flow for a few seconds whilst you apply it, so it has contact with your skin. But I didn't need to hang around waiting for it to soak in - I just washed it straight off and was good to go!

If you are anything like me on holiday then you will be very familiar with the post pool or beach shower, followed by the endless application of thick greasy aftersun. Then follows 30 minutes or so of 'soaking in' time whilst you lie around in a damp towel, before you can get yourself ready for the evening out. But you feel greasy and shiny all evening and any silky clothes just stick to you...

MAC Monday: Prep + Prime Skin

I have been experimenting with primers recently (did you see my half and half face experiment HERE?) so it seemed only fitting to dedicate this week's MAC Monday to my MAC Prep + Prime Skin.

MAC Prep + Prime Skin was the first primer that I bought. MAC describe it as an ultra-fluid lotion with special-effect silicones. They say it calms and soothes skin, tones down redness, blots excess oil and creates a good base for your foundation. I would describe the texture as like a whipped mousse. It applies really well, very much like a moisturiser does. When I first swatched it on my hand it had a real shimmer to it, but this doesn't translate onto your face. It feels light on the skin and is not sticky.

MAC Prep + Prime Skin swatch

I love the packaging! The black plastic cylinder has a slight shimmer to it if you catch it in the light. It has a pump action and generally 1-2 pumps is sufficient for your face. The downside of this though is that I have no idea how much product is left inside. One day I will go to pump it and it will be gone - so infuriating.

I don't tend to buy MAC skin care, foundation or concealer products. They have mixed reviews and I usually stick to their eye shadows and lipsticks which I feel are what they do best! But I like this primer, it feels nice on the skin and I use it when I want a lighter feeling primer than my favourite Smashbox Primers.

I wanted to choose MAC Prep + Prime Skin for my MAC Monday post as it is a departure from all of the other MAC products I own. That said, whilst I do like it - when its all gone I don't know if I will repurchase it. Primers are useful but I'm not fanatical about them and frankly I haven't found a better primer than my Smashbox Colour Corrector Primer. After all, how many do you need? I can't say I have the same control around the MAC eyeshadow and lipstick counters though.... (I need them all!!).

MAC Prep + Prime Skin is £20.50 for 30ml HERE.

How do you think MAC Prep + Prime Skin compares with other primers? Would you recommend any MAC skincare products?

Fancy having a little nosey through my other #MACMonday posts?

MAC Fanfare Lipstick HERE

MAC Huggable Lipcolour in Out For Passion HERE
MAC Soft Brown Eyeshadow HERE
MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot in Let's Skate HERE
MAC Cranberry Eyeshadow HERE
MAC Huggable Lip Colours in Fresh and Frisky HERE
MAC Brick-O-La Lipstick HERE
MAC Divine Night Fluidline in Deliciously Rich HERE

Fancy joining in #MAC Monday? Then send or tweet me your MAC links (#MACMonday) and I will link to them here!