REVIEW: Clinique Smart Custom-Repair Eye Treatment

SAMPLE

Hey everyone!

Aging is unarguably one of women’s greatest fears. As the age of thirty draws near, I can literally feel my face becoming droopy and less resilient at the jowls. However, my main concern have always been my eyes because the delicate skin around them makes the area terribly prone to fine lines and wrinkles. Just so you know, the eyelids are one the few body parts which will reveal one’s age first. Therefore, some precautions have to be taken to prevent premature sagging around the eyes, especially since I work with eye makeup on a regular basis. And removal of eye makeup is notorious for causing premature wrinkling.

But much as I try to avoid doing things that would potentially cause the skin to stretch over time during makeup application, sometimes it’s just inevitable that the lids are tugged with say, drier eye pencils, or even from frequent eyeliner use. Thus, apart from having products dedicated to skin care, I think it is also essential to have some specially for the eyes as well to sort of reverse the damage you have done to the sensitive skin around them. And that’s where I feel Clinique’s latest eye treatment cream comes into play!

Clinique Smart Custom-Repair Eye Treatment (S$79)

Clinique Smart Custom-Repair Eye Treatment (S$79)

If a woman can do at least four things at once, her skin care should too. NEW Clinique Smart Custom-Repair Eye Treatment does exactly that for women. An advanced eye treatment that visibly brightens, lifts, smoothes crepiness, and diminishes fine lines to crow’s feet. Plus, a boost of hydration that helps repair dehydrated skin, which is susceptible to cellular damage. Utilizing “smart” technology, NEW Clinique Smart Custom-Repair Eye Treatment is fortified with a cocktail of potent ingredients that help to keep skin calm, comfortable, and receptive to ingredient benefits.

Clinique Smart Custom-Repair Eye Treatment

Clinique Smart Custom-Repair Eye Treatment

Clinique Smart Custom-Repair Eye Treatment

Clinique Smart Custom-Repair Eye Treatment

I am usually a lot more cautious and selective when shopping for facial products due to my mildly sensitive skin which would occasionally break out in a rash (although it’s a lot better now). But with Clinique, I am confident that I won’t suffer from adverse reactions to their products because they are all allergy tested and 100% fragrance-free (and also the world’s first to do so). That means every product (formulated without known allergens) is tested – 12 times on 600 people – and if even one of those 7200 applicants incites an allergic reaction, the laboratory  starts all over.

Clinique Smart Custom-Repair Eye Treatment - 15ml

Clinique Smart Custom-Repair Eye Treatment – 15ml

The eye treatment is packed with numerous beneficial ingredients to help rejuvenate your eyes. Some of the ingredients are as follows:

Cladosiphon Okamuranus Extract – soothes the skin

Algae Extract – helps keep skin soothed and calm and make it more receptive to repair

Hydrolyzed Rice Protein and Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Extract – support skin’s natural repair process

Sodium RNA – helps eradicate the appearance of damage caused by stress, UV and other harmful assaults

Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 and Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12 – helps to diminish lines and wrinkles by plumping the skin

Whey Protein – helps minimize the appearance of lines and wrinkles while helping skin to look and feel firmer and more resilient

Plum Extract – brightens full and fatigued-looking skin

Morus Nigra Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract and Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Fruit Extract – help restore radiance and luminosity for a more even-toned appearance

Ascorbyl Glucoside – helps counter dullness in the under-eye area

Glucosamine Ferment – helps promote cell renewal at the uppermost layers of the skin to gently diminish the appearance of surface dullness

Hyaluronic Acid – attracts and binds moisture to thirsty skin

Cucumber Extract, Sunflower Extract and Barley Extract – help keep skin perfectly hydrated

Clinique Smart Custom-Repair Eye Treatment

Clinique Smart Custom-Repair Eye Treatment

I don’t have a huge issue with wrinkles (so no comments on that aspect) but I did notice my eye bags getting worse progressively (though very gradually and not considered serious yet – phew – I thank my lucky stars) due to late nights (can’t help it because I’m busy all the damn time) so this launch was pretty timely. I put it to the test to see if it helps combat my problem and it has been close to 2 weeks since I started using the product.

Now, I don’t have any pictorial evidence to show because the change is honestly not very visible so it couldn’t be captured on camera. But I did indeed feel a slight improvement to the appearance of my eye bags. They seem less puffy and my eyes generally feel more awake now (making my eyes appear bigger than before HAHA!)

Clinique Smart Custom-Repair Eye Treatment

Clinique Smart Custom-Repair Eye Treatment

Clinique Smart Custom-Repair Eye Treatment

Clinique Smart Custom-Repair Eye Treatment

A teeny weeny bit pumped out for each eye will do (also because it’s quite expensive, so use sparingly and make it last). As it has a thinner consistency, I usually apply it before my face cream so that it can penetrate the skin better. I apply it day and night around the eye area, including the lids. In the day, I would let it settle fully for at least 10 minutes (it definitely takes a shorter time than that. I just like to be extra cautious) before I proceed with my makeup routine.

As it is lightweight and oil-free, it doesn’t leave a greasy and sticky residue after application. In fact it has such great absorption properties that it doesn’t feel like it’s there anymore after a few seconds! It is colourless too once you spread it out. Therefore it’s suitable for all skin types and ethnicities.

However, you’d feel a very slight tingling sensation with every application. It’s absolutely bearable, though (not because I have high pain threshold. It really is!), and it dissipates before you even know it.

Application

Application

Tadah, gone!

Tadah, gone!

Sure, there doesn’t seem to be a need for me to use this product but, as the saying goes, prevention is better than cure. I believe that the skin will prevail against aging if we take care of it early in life 🙂

So what are your thoughts on this new product? Do share with me in the comments below!

Thanks for reading!

The Clinique Smart Custom-Repair Eye Treatment (S$79) is now available at Clinique island-wide.

REVIEW: Clinique Pretty Easy Liquid Eyelining Pen in Black & Chubby Lash Fattening Mascara in Jumbo Jet

SAMPLE

Hey everyone!

Despite being one of the oldest and most trusted brands within the cosmetic industry, Clinique has never rested on their laurels. They just keep getting better and better with new products regularly being developed to cater to the needs of every individual (including men), as well as to address specific aspects of skin care. Therefore, after launching a range of improved face, cheek and lip products that were such a hit with the market, it doesn’t take a genius to figure out what is next on their docket. Yup, that’s right! Clinique has recently brought forth a series of eye products consisting of a mascara, eyeliner and an eye serum (which will be covered in the next post).

Clinique Pretty Easy Liquid Eyelining Pen

Clinique Pretty Easy Liquid Eyelining Pen (S$34)

Clinique Chubby Lash Fattening Mascara

Clinique Chubby Lash Fattening Mascara (S$30)

I’m really excited about this new lineup! Eye makeup is something that resonates with me for it was what evolved me into a more confident person. Growing up, I was always dissatisfied with my small, uneven Asian eyes and I hated how they would narrow into a slit whenever I smile. Likewise, my self-esteem was further battered by the taunts from my peers (although I knew they were just joshing around) because of my appearance. Therefore when I discovered the wonders of makeup in my late teens, I invested quite a lot in eye makeup products to enhance the shape of my eyes and I guess that’s what got me started on them!

Pretty Easy Liquid Eyelining Pen

Get the drama of liquid eyeliner without the drama of putting it on. Introducing NEW Clinique Pretty Easy Liquid Eyelining Pen, an error-proof pen that creates a clean line in one steady and simple sweep. This liquid liner is a tapered, precision brush that easily paints on pure, deep colour in a continuous, even and defined line. Use the tip to create an ultra-thin line or hold the brush flat for a bolder thicker line. NEW Clinique Pretty Easy Liquid Eyelining Pen promises 12-hour smudge-resistant and transfer proof wear that can be used effortlessly in three different ways to create a bold and dramatic look.

Pretty Easy Liquid Eyelining Pen (S$34)

Pretty Easy Liquid Eyelining Pen (S$34)

Pretty Easy Liquid Eyelining Pen

Pretty Easy Liquid Eyelining Pen

Pretty Easy Liquid Eyelining Pen

Pretty Easy Liquid Eyelining Pen

Pretty Easy Liquid Eyelining Pen

Pretty Easy Liquid Eyelining Pen

Pretty Easy Liquid Eyelining Pen

Pretty Easy Liquid Eyelining Pen

The pen glided on very smoothly on my tiny lids and was very comfortable to apply. With the very consistent and pigmented output, achieving the perfect cat eye is easier than you can imagine. The colour dispensed is matte and opaque and the tip is supple and soft, making it pretty easy to create a precised lining along my waterline. It didn’t poke nor tug my lids and I didn’t have to press it down too much to get the product out. It dried almost instantly after application (give it 8-10 seconds), perfect for days when I’m in a hurry.

Considering the warm and humid weather in Singapore (plus my tears of joy in between from laughing too hard while watching some comedy clips), I was astonished that it never smudged one bit even after 12 hours of wear. Therefore, do expect some difficulty in removal.

Chubby Lash Fattening Mascara

Lusciously plumped, full-bodied and thick lashes are just a wink away. Introducing NEW Clinique’s Chubby Lash Fattening Mascara that creates bold, volumized and luscious lashes with just a few strokes of an over-sized brushed. To create fine and faint lashes into bodacious and bold lashes, our volumizing brush fattens up lashes without weighing them down.

The Chubby Stick family just got bigger with the newest addition of NEW Clinique’s Chubby Lash Fattening Mascara. Add a hint of colour to maximize your sultry lash look with NEW Clinique Chubby Lash Fattening Mascara in Jumbo Jet (Black). These sexy and fun blackened pop colours create the perfectly styled lashes to complete your look in a buildable formula.

Clinique Chubby Lash Fattening Mascara (S$30)

Clinique Chubby Lash Fattening Mascara (S$30)

Clinique Chubby Lash Fattening Mascara

Clinique Chubby Lash Fattening Mascara

Clinique Chubby Lash Fattening Mascara

Clinique Chubby Lash Fattening Mascara

Clinique Chubby Lash Fattening Mascara - no falsies!

Clinique Chubby Lash Fattening Mascara – no falsies!

I don’t have the habit of putting on false eyelashes at all so when it comes to purchasing mascaras, the essential qualities I usually look out for are lash-lengthening and volumising. Not surprisingly, this mascara fulfilled all my requirements because my lashes really looked longer, more intense and visible. The product applied evenly on my lashes and had even attempted to separate them without leaving any clumps. The formula is amazing – it doesn’t overload upon application and it also allowed a buildable volume from the root of the lashes after each stroke. It took me just 4 full strokes to achieve my look. On top of that, the brush of the mascara managed to catch all the lashes from the inner to the outer corners of the eyes, giving my lashes the extra lift to stay in position.

Having said that, I’m not really fond of the oversized wand (ironically, the unique selling point of this mascara) because I find it a little too big for my short and sparse eyelashes. It was a challenge for me to manoeuvre the wand without inadvertently hitting my lids (which happened way too many times). I guess if you have a wider pair of eyes, the size of the wand shouldn’t pose a problem for you.

But ultimately, I have to say that the pros definitely outweigh the cons for this. It doesn’t leave any (zero, I swear!) small grains under my eyes after application! Okay scratch that. Not a single speck of fall out at all even after 12 hours! I was absolutely impressed by this because fibre fallout is a very common problem I encounter with mascaras in general. It is also not waterproof hence removal was a breeze as well.

So should you get it? Hell yes!

Comparison with other mascaras I have

Comparison with other mascaras I have, applied in left-right motion

Check out the intensity and the smooth appearance of the Clinique mascara! The wand that has a cluster of fine bristles that grip on to each lash, giving you a beautiful fringe of well-defined lashes. It also didn’t feel as sticky and heavy as my Urban Decay mascara (which could be due to it being waterproof).

Pretty Easy Liquid Eyelining Pen and Chubby Lash Fattening Mascara

Pretty Easy Liquid Eyelining Pen and Chubby Lash Fattening Mascara

Finished look

Finished look

Both products are ophthalmologist tested and safe for sensitive eyes and contact wearers. They are absolutely, 100% fragrance-free.

What do you think? Would you consider buying any of these products? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below! 🙂

Thanks for reading and do check back for another Clinique review 🙂

tHE clinique Pretty Easy Liquid Eyelining Pen (S$34) and Chubby Lash Fattening Mascara (S$30) are now available at Clinique island-wide.

REVIEW: MAC Veluxe À Trois Lipsticks – Royally Riotous, Heaux & Quelle Surprise

Hey everyone!

Much as I would call myself a lipstick junkie, my obsession with lipsticks – or MAC ones, for the matter of fact – only started less than 3 years ago. As a result, I missed out on a lot of limited-edition shades launched donkey’s years back which are no longer available in the market (or even if they are, prices would be marked up way too high). But fortunately for people like myself who are late to the party, the human eye is restricted to the visible spectrum of colours. Hence, with only a limited range of colours to work with, cosmetics companies are bound to have repeated shades for their lipsticks and this is especially so for MAC which launches new products very frequently.

So quite inevitably, a new collection by MAC would often include lipstick shades which are either a repromote of previously released ones or similar.

MAC Veluxe à Trois

MAC Veluxe à Trois

Just like in the case of the recent Veluxe à Trois collection, 2 out of 6 of the lipstick shades are actually repromotes (though granted, it’s more of an eye shadow collection with a corresponding lipstick lineup) and the rest are probably something you’ve seen before.

But you know what? I ain’t complaining because I can finally lay my hands on Heaux – a shade which I’ve been searching high and low for since missing out on RiRi Hearts MAC in 2013. *throws confetti*

Veluxe à Trois lipsticks and a free sample

Veluxe à Trois lipsticks and a free sample

3 out of the 6 Veluxe à Trois lipsticks - (from left) Heaux, Royally Riotous and Quelle Surprise

3 out of the 6 Veluxe à Trois lipsticks – (from left) Heaux, Royally Riotous and Quelle Surprise

Veluxe à Trois lipstick swatches

Veluxe à Trois lipstick swatches (layered 2-3 times)

Veluxe à Trois is a collection of 6 eye shadow trio (Gingerluxe (online exclusive), Fabulous Three, Collective Chic, Claretluxe, Lapisluxe & Cool Companions), 6 lipsticks (Pillow Talk, How Tropical, Flowerscope, Heaux (online exclusive), Royally Riotous (online-exclusive) & Quelle Surprise), 6 cremesheen glass (You’ve Got It, Softly Lit, Loud & Lovely, Richly Revered & Dark Outsider), 2 two-in-one mascaras (Haute & Naughty Too Black Lash & Haute & Naughty Waterproof Lash) and a 247 Flat Shader Brush.

As always, I wasn’t interested in anything but the lipsticks 😉

#1 Royally Riotous

Royally Riotous is a malty warm brown with Amplified Creme finish (US$17)

Royally Riotous is a malty warm brown with Amplified Creme finish (US$17)

Royally Riotous

Royally Riotous

Royally Riotous

Royally Riotous

Royally Riotous

Royally Riotous

Royally Riotous

Royally Riotous

Royally Riotous

Royally Riotous

A lovely nude that blends very nicely with my natural lip colour, Royally Riotous is a shade to die for that glides effortlessly on the lips! It’s semi-opaque with a slight sheen and it’s also very flattering because it does not emphasise the flaws of your lips. Moreover, it feels lightweight and comfortable, leaving the lips looking smooth and hydrated which reminds me why Amplified Creme has always been one of my favourite finishes. Although this shade is not available in stores at the moment (because it’s online exclusive), I’m sure this would make a comeback alongside future releases. Mark my words!

Royally Riotous swatch comparison

Royally Riotous swatch comparison

#2 Heaux

Heaux is a berry with Amplified Creme finish (US$17)

Heaux is a berry with Amplified Creme finish (US$17)

Heaux

Heaux

Heaux

Heaux

Heaux

Heaux

Heaux

Heaux

Heaux

Heaux

Got Heaux from the RiRi Hearts MAC collection already? Lucky you!

Formerly a bold and velvety Retro Matte, it is now a creamy and a more luxurious finish with an emollient texture while still maintaining the rich and striking berry colour. Although I’m elated about the revival of Heaux (pronounced as “hoo” by the way), I can’t help but feel dismayed by the change of finish for this latest version because it now looks comparable to the lustrous berry shades I already have. I guess the adjustment was made in response to public complaints about the Retro Matte finish being too flat and extremely drying, causing it to tug too much on the lips. Still, I’d very much prefer it to be in Retro Matte finish because that’s what I feel made Heaux stand out.

Ahhh… trades with RiRi Heaux, anybody? Haha!

Heaux swatch comparison

Heaux swatch comparison

I take comfort in knowing that I don’t have an exact replica of Heaux (or maybe I do, just that I couldn’t find it among the sea of lipsticks in my stash at that point in time).

And in case you spotted the discrepancy between the stated finish and what is printed on the sticker at the bottom of the both lipsticks (e.g. Amplified Finish v.s. Amplified), it’s due to a printing error which, from what I understand, would only affect the first batch of lipsticks.

#3 Quelle Surprise

Quelle Surprise is a deep purple berry with a Cremesheen finish (US$17)

Quelle Surprise is a deep purple berry with a Cremesheen finish (US$17)

Quelle Surprise

Quelle Surprise

Quelle Surprise

Quelle Surprise

Quelle Surprise

Quelle Surprise

Quelle Surprise

Quelle Surprise

Quelle Surprise

Quelle Surprise

The consistency of this shade caught me by surprise (no pun intended). It applied smoothly and evenly (I must have confused it with Lustres! Argh, sickening Lustres) and it highlights the lips with its sheer and glossy texture. Even though it is not very pigmented in one single swipe (as expected of Cremesheen finish), the colour is pretty much buildable with relatively good staying power (that is, if you don’t eat or drink anything). I honestly didn’t think that I would like it as I do now so yeah, what a surprise, indeed!

Quelle Surprise swatch comparison

Quelle Surprise (single swipe) swatch comparison

If you haven’t realised, the price of each lipstick has gone up to US$17 from US$16. Oh dear, the price seems to be creeping up gently. At this rate, MAC is not going to be pocket-friendly anymore! Hopefully the price isn’t going to be permanent for non-collaborative lipsticks 😦 *fingers crossed*

What do you think of this collection? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

Thanks for reading and stay tuned for more beauty updates! 🙂

Veluxe à Trois is now available on MACCOSMETICS.COM and in NGEE ANN CITY MAC OUTLET.