Clinique, it’s as easy as 1, 2, 3!

Who doesn’t love a good pamper session and makeover? Certainly not me, I’m obsessed! Long relaxing facials and shoulder massages, followed by a full face of makeup ready for a big night out, I love it. However, with work and busy summer weekends, there isn’t always the time for me to the lady of leisure I so desire to be.

The last few weeks have been so hectic, I’ve barely had time to stop and focus on my skin. Dark circles, oily t-zone and tired complexion, when I need a pamper the most, is cruelly the time I don’t have any. It’s a hard life I know.

So when Clinique contacted me asking if I wanted to come to their beauty room at the Liverpool One Debenhams store, I didn’t know what to do. Already expecting another full week at work followed by a trip down south on the Friday to see the family, I wasn’t sure I could fit it in. I couldn’t have been more wrong.

The beauty of Clinique’s beauty room, is that they offer time-strapped treatments that can fit into anyone’s schedule no matter how busy. A thirty minute facial followed by a mini-makeover, finished in under an hour, it’s a perfectly prompt pamper. Since it fits into a lunch break, I munched on my sandwich as I made my way into town before I headed off to the train station.

The Clinique Facial

First things first, makeup removal. Partner in crime to my ultimate favourite Take The Day Off Eye Makeup Remover, is the Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm. The balm to oil formula gently and effectively removes even the toughest of makeup. It’s as simple as applying a coin sized amount and using your fingertips to massage onto dry skin to dissolve makeup and dirt. Wash off with warm water and a muslin cloth and you’re left with super soft clean skin.

Step 1 – Cleanse

An initial cleanse is always necessary if you want your following skincare to effectively work its magic. The next few steps involve a few gems from the classic Clinique 3-step system. Having oily/combination skin, my second cleanse involved the Liquid facial Soap Oily Skin Formula. With aloe vera and menthol, this gel-like cleanser leaves my skin feeling exceptionally clean and fresh. I find it doesn’t dry my skin out at all and is very easy to apply and wash off. Used with Clinique’s dermatologist-developed Brush, my skin got the deep clean it so desperately needed.

Even though my skin is oily, it’s important to keep it hydrated. This is where the Moisture Surge Overnight Mask comes in. A thin layer for 15 minutes helps soothe my skin and give it a huge boost in hydration. A beautifully relaxing hand and arm massage while the mask moisturised away and I was in heaven.

Step 2 – Exfoliate

Step 2 in Clinique’s 3-Step Skin Care System is the Clarifying Lotion (number 3). This exfoliating lotion removes dead skin cells and sweeps away oil to reveal clearer skin. Gentle enough to use twice a day, the clarifying lotion really helps to smooth out the complexion and prep it for moisturiser. It can make your skin tingle, so more sensitive skins should make sure they get the most appropriate version. Number 3 also contains a fair amount of alcohol, giving it quite a distinctive scent but it really does work wonders.

Step 3 – Moisturise

Next was the unbelievably lightweight Dramatically Different Hydrating Jelly Anti-Pollution. This clear gel feels as light as water and sinks into the skin quickly for 24-hour hydration. The oil-free formula leaves no sticky residue just smooth skin. It contains the god of moisturising ingredients – hyaluronic acid, which acts as a moisture magnet to retain skin’s moisture levels.

Finished off with Clinique’s best selling Moisture Surge 72-Hour Auto-Replenishing Hydrator and my facial was complete. Another refreshing gel cream it claims to works for 72 whole hours!! By providing immediate and long-term hydration, this moisturiser really is a winner. I noticed straight away that my skin felt much more comfortable and it was so soft I couldn’t stop touching it. Again it sinks in quickly so you don’t have to waste your already precious time.

The Clinique Makeover

Since I was all set for my weekend away, I wanted to go quite simple with my makeup. Train journeys are never fun and a light, natural makeover seemed like the ideal look to stop me getting all hot and bothered.

I think I may have found my new favourite foundation in the form of the Even Better Glow. Never wanting my oily skin to look too shiny but always wanting that lovely dewy finish, this foundation is amazing. Not too liquid but still lightweight, it creates a gorgeous luminous lit from within glow. I find it provides the perfect amount of coverage, hiding any marks but still feels like my skin can breathe.

Beautiful browns and golds from the All About Shadow Quad in Morning Java gave me the perfect day-time smokey eye. A swirl of peach blush, a sculpt with bronzer and a shimmer of Chubby Stick Highlighter and my face looked radiant.

To make sure my skin continued to look its best, I’ve been trying out travel-friendly versions of the 3-step system. This couldn’t be more perfect for my busy schedule, travelling around the country I was able to keep on top of my skincare regime. After 10 days of use, morning and evening, I’ve noticed a huge difference. My blackheads look noticeably smaller and my whole complexion brighter. My t-zone gets far less oily by the end of the day and the number of blemishes reduced. For me, Clinique moisturisers really are winners. With my oily complexion I stay clear of thick, rich moisturiser but find lighter ones never quite do the job. The Dramatically Different Moisturising Gel, glides on and absorbs in seconds but feels moisturising all day.

I’d highly recommend trying out your 3-step skin system.

Go 1, 2, 3 with Clinique,