THE CLAIMS: Is Clinique’s Smart Custom-Repair Serum the shiny future of skincare? Think of this “smart” solution as the beauty equivalent of the “wearable tech” fad in fashion: The serum apparently “communicates” with your skin on a cellular level, to correct your complexion on the go.
How? The science is just shy of sorcery, really: Clinique says that when applied, the Smart Custom-Repair Serum somehow “senses” the regions where your skin requires repair, and releases the relevant dose of restoratives for targeted treatment of say, fine lines in one area and dark spots in another.
I know, I know. Your brow must be as raised as mine in scepticism. Let an expert walk you through this brave new beauty world. Take it from Dr Tom Mammone, executive director of skin physiology and pharmacology, Estee Lauder Companies: “Think of each type of damage in the skin like a lock that requires the right specialised repair molecule, or key, for repair. The technologies in Clinique Smart respond to these signals like a key fitting into a lock.” Intuitive enough, yes?
Ingredients-wise, expect star turns by your usual league of skincare superheroes. There’s a heaping helpful of brightening vitamin C and complexion-firming caffeine, for starters; soothing red algae and acne-alleviating salicylic acid; as well as plumping peptides said to function like injectable fillers to hoist up saggy skin.
WHY I LOVE IT: Clinique has always flirted right at the edge of “cosmeceutical” territory, so this sciencey serum is a perfectly logical progression of the brand. But does it work?
Now, because the Smart Custom-Repair Serum’s very workability hinges upon its “customisable” conceit, what works for me may not well, work for you.
That said, if you’re part of the regular Clinique clique you should take to this new serum very nicely indeed: It’s fragrance-free, allergy-tested and explicitly marketed “for all ages, all ethnicities”. Translation: The Smart Custom-Repair Serum should not, in theory, break you out in spots and such.
For this road test, I gave the serum a good four weeks to work its magic on my mien, and I’m pleased as punch to report that it’s quite the life-saver. My cheeks are supple and springier than ever, and I feel like it tacks on the appearance of a good eight hours of sleep to nights when I’m hardly getting any.
Bonus points for tactile and aesthetic appeal: Love the posh silver presentation and hygienic pump dispenser, plus the serum proper is a real pleasure to apply. Silky and sebum-absorbing at the same time, the gel-like glide is so good you can consider skipping primer if you’re applying this under makeup.
In short, and on paper at least, the lab-coated folks squirrelled away in Clinique’s R&D quarters have conjured up a boundary-pusher that’s quite intriguing indeed.
So, to buy or not to buy? I’ve got a gut feeling this sort of “cell-communicating” smart skincare will blow up soon, so it’s your call if you want to be ahead of the curve!
GET IT AT: Clinique Smart Custom-Repair Serum, $106 for 30ml and $150 for 50ml, is available at all Clinique counters. For more information, visit www.clinique.com.sg and follow Clinique Singapore on Facebook.