You’ll remember back at the end of June that I posted a post about an amazing little deal that Clinique ran where you got to pick five deluxe sized samples with any order. I was finishing up some items and it’s only been over the past month or so I’ve had chance to start putting them to the test. There’s some hits and some misses within my choices and I thought rather than individually review them I’d do a little roundup of the five skincare items I’ve been trying out.
Clinique Pep Start HydroBlur Moisturiser
I’ve played with this at a counter before and had the Clinique counter have been manned I would have been really tempted to purchase a pot. This is one of those gel cream type moisturisers which I tend to love for my oily skin, sadly whilst I love how this feels on the skin, I don’t actually love it as a moisturiser, I don’t find it adds anything back to the skin at all.
What I do love it for is no makeup days though – or days where I don’t feel like wearing foundation. This is almost like a silicone type primer which smooths over the skin and makes everything look matte and hides pores well. I have tried it as a primer as it was so similar to other primers I’ve tried and loved and whilst I found it helped makeup look good, it didn’t help it last longer, and didn’t gel well with other primers. I like this, but for a specific kind of situation, and especially going into winter I’ll be wearing foundation more, not less – I would however consider getting a pot going into spring and summer next year.
Clinique Pep Start HydroRush Moisturiser
This is quite a nice day moisturiser for me, Initially this applies very opaque and white, almost like a suncream and looks as if it’s not going sink in, but a couple of heavy handed rubs on the cheeks gets rid of the whiteness. It’s not heavy, and was a good one whilst we had a mini heatwave over the bank holiday, but it’s not going to be one that’s really moisturising going into winter. Very light, good for oily skin – but probably not one that’s going to suit those with dry skin who need something significantly more heavy duty with a heavier injection of moisturiser. This does have SPF 20 in it too, so is a great choice for pre makeup to save yourself an extra step.
Clinique Pep Start Eye Cream
I can be pretty lazy when it comes to eye creams and I know it’s something coming into my late twenties (sob), I need to stop being lazy about if I still want to look radiant and youthful going into my thirties and I was hoping that this would be one that made me want to use it. Sadly, it did not – it’s a very thin almost suncream-esque texture, which doesn’t feel that nourishing – it’s a small sample and I seem to be whizzing through it, which is good as it will hopefully kickstart me using eye cream again, but out of all the products I’d chosen this one is pretty forgettable.
Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm
This is a classing from Clinique and a product that many love, I’ve tried many a cleansing balm sample over the years, whilst I’ve never purchased one, as I’ve never liked any that I’ve tried. This is one I’d consider getting though, I can understand the hype about this. It melts of makeup very quickly and easily and feels very nourishing on the skin. I like this most after long days, or when I’m wearing a lot of makeup as it makes my skin feel really clean. This melts down beautifully with just the heat of the skin which even as a very cold skinned person is impressive, I also really enjoy using this with my Magnitone Barefaced Cleansing Brush.
Clinique Smart Serum
This is one product from Clinique which I’ve had before, and I actually really love this product. It’s a gel cream serum that feels lovely on the skin and sinks into the skin fast – leaving the surface of the skin feeling softer and smoother almost immediately. I love this for nighttime in particular and notice a real difference in my skin the next morning after using this. Clinique peg this as a smart custom serum which helps correct the skins past as well as helping it’s future – or we’ll just say that it works out what your skin needs, that’s quite a bold claim and I’ve not used it long enough to speak for that, but I find it helps massively with smoothing the texture of my skin and it’s something that I thoroughly enjoy using. I’ve contemplated buying this after previous samples in the past and whilst I love it I think for the price tag I would run through it incredibly quickly, with a 30ml bottle being £50 – I could see the twice daily instructions on this only lasting me around 2 months.
Five New Clinique Skincare Items – Product Textures on the Skin
Top to Bottom: Pep Start Eye Cream, Clinique Smart Serum, Pep Start HydroRush, Pep Start HydroBlur, Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm.
It’s a mixed bag from my first real try of Clinique, I’d definitely consider repurchasing the balm again (but do have a mini mountain of cleansers to get through before I consider buying any more. The Hydrablur is a nice to have, but I’m not sure if I could spend the chunk of money it would need for no makeup days which happen quite infrequently, if you don’t wear foundation but want a moisturiser that will make your skin look nice then this is worth trying.
It’s definitely intrigued me to try more, Clinque is a brand I always overlook, partially down from being a bit uninspired from the packaging to try things out, partially unfamiliarity and this has definitely helped convince me it’s a brand I need to look at a bit more often.
Let me know any Clinique Faves in the comments!
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They reeled me in with the cleansing balm sample too, I just picked up a full size. I like the glide of it and the lack of any added fragrance. Great review ☺
Really like how you include the texture photo!! I’m definitely a texture girl 😘 Xx
Texture can make or break a product for me! Same with food – texture is more important than taste for me!
For sure!! 100% for me!
Defiantly food! Not everyone gets that either?? Like cottage cheese….. ***shudders violently! xx
Man that stuff is gross!
Thank you!!! And with pineapple… Those kinda people need a good long hard look at themselves in the mirror hajaha!! Xxx
It’s a violation on pineapple xx
Whats your stance on it re: pizza???? Bare in mind this could make or break us hahahahahaha xxxx
Haha. I’m the kind of person who if I make a pizza will add a whole tin of pineapple. A pizza is not worth having without pineapple. (Hoping this is the right answer) ❤️
Saw your insta story and wet myself!!! How do I respond to them? Have not wrapped my head around to that at all!! Im a snapper!
Im not a fan to be honest…. Don’t kill me… But fruit.. on pizza… i think thats cheating hahaha xxx
I’ve been using the Clinique Superdefense Moisturiser for years now as my day moisturiser. It’s quite light and works well for my combo skin xx
I just love the packaging of those bright moisturisers, they look so fun! I like their liquid face soap. It is quite gentle, I actually have a review of it in my drafts. Need to post that, but overall I haven’t tried much from the brand although they are spoken very highly of. Great post, definitely want to take a closer look at their skincare xxx
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I’ve been a bit wary about trying the Pep-Start line as I don’t think they’re suited for my skin type.
The Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm is one of my HG cleansing balms! It’s super handy for travel too – no leaks!
One of my tried and true Clinique favourites is their classic yellow moisturizer – Dramatically Different Moisturizer – it’s nothing fancy but it gets the job done. I especially like it under makeup.
I feel like I’m edging out of it’s target market. I think it might be designed for youth given the packaging and it all seems to be pretty light.
That stuff does nothing for me, I’ve tried samples of it several times over the years and it doesn’t make me feel moisturised at all!
This is your first real try at Clinique?!?! Sorry, I’m so stoked and shocked at the same time because I’m such a Clinique snob. 😱😂
The cleansing balm has become my all-time favourite. I think I will always go back to it – I’ve just finished a pot actually.
I would definitely recommend their Dramatically Different moisturiser. They have two versions for either drier or oilier skin types. (I’m combo/oily but I’ve tried both and love both versions.) A newer favourite would also be their Moisture Surge moisturiser which I particularly loved in the summer. 🙂
I must admit though – I’m not really sold on their Pep-Start range and also had a less-than-thrilling experience with their Pep-start cleanser which I received as a sample.
I’m just so uninspired by CLinique’s packaging, when I look at stuff I just feel meh!
i’ve had the dramatically different (regular) in the past and found it did nothing for me, I don’t know if I could bring myself to try the oily one as I disliked it so much! I have tried the moisture surge one recently (although just in a sachet!) and liked it, but I don’t know if I liked it enough to buy!
Ahh that’s just about the one product from Pep-Start I haven’t tried! I’ll stay clear then!
The cleansing balm is really nice! I just wish I could get into using it in tub form – pumps are just so easy and tidy.
Clinique’s skincare is very hit/miss for me. I do really like their Turnaround Moisturizer, though!
agreed and when it gets all under your nails too, gross!
also not heard of turn around, I’m going to look that one up!
Love everything from Clinique!
While I don’t own much from Clinique since its a brand that’s never really stood out to me, I do love the hydro blur moisturizer! I use it in the morning as more of a primer than I do moisturizer and then I pat the smashbox primer over the area’s that need the most help. I love it before makeup but I agree as a moisturizer it just doesn’t hydrate how I need it too. It doesn’t even compare to my HG Belif Aqua Bomb.
I think it makes the skin look gorgeous! Exactly the same though as a hydrator, nothing!!
The Take The Day Off Balm is my absolute favourite! It makes removing my makeup so easy.
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Ooo can’t wait to try them! 💋
Have fun!