As You Like It...with Clinique

Last week I spent the afternoon in Glasgow’s Fraser’s store at the Clinique counter. Myself and other beauty journalists were invited to experience a full one-to-one consultation, and to find out more about the new Service As You Like It concept.

Basically, it’s a service the brand have introduced to help you get what you want out of your shopping at the beauty counter experience. I don’t know about you, but even as a beauty journalist of more than a decade, I can still feel intimidated and at times pressurised by the beauty hall. Clinique have just made it that bit easier, with their wristband service.

You choose from three bands – pink, white or green, and pop one on when you reach the counter. The bands means this:

Green – I have time. Let’s talk

White – Time is of the essence

Pink – Browsing and happy

So, if you pop on a green band, you are indicating that you want a Clinique consultant to give you the full one-on-one consultation. If your band is white, a consultant will show you the skin diagnostic tool on counter where you can do your own consultation. If your band is pink, well, they’ll leave you alone!

I was effectively wearing a green band, and had a full skin consultation and my foundation matched. I have to say, as enjoyable and informative as this service is, I was a little bit upset with my consultant’s choice of foundation for me.

I reckon at 40, with few lines and wrinkles, no blemish issues to speak of, dry patches from time to time, and a slight reddening of my cheeks with a glass of wine, that my skin troubles are few and far between! I am lucky. I have good skin.People tell me this all the time.

I usually opt for a dewy foundation look, with Clinique’s Moisture Surge Tinted Moisturizer (£21) or their Supermoisture Makeup (£21.50) as foundations I would choose. The former gives sheer coverage with a natural finish, the latter sheer to moderate coverage, with a luminous and dewy finish.

My skin type came out as a 2 – dry combination with some tightness, and I indicated to my consultant that I occasionally got a hormonal blemish once a month, and I had dry patches, and the red cheeks sometimes with a glass of wine.I also discussed pigmentation that comes out in the sun – and only in the sun.

I was a little surprised when she recommended the Even Better Makeup (£22) which ‘visibly brightens, evens skin tone, hides discolouration and protects‘. I understand it can help prevent future hyper-pigmentation, and that it  has benefits for all skin types, but it’s a moderate to full coverage makeup, which I never wear!

I told her I wanted to go for Supermoisture, but I agreed to Even Better after some discussion, and it was applied. To me, it looked heavy, it felt heavy, and although after a few glasses of champagne and wine at dinner later, the redness in my cheeks didn’t show, I felt uncomfortable in this level of coverage. I was also recommended the Superbalanced Makeup (£21.50) which falls into the ‘Pores/Oil Control’ category, and although, as the name suggests it works well for combination skin, my skin is predominantly dry.

I think Clinique’s new system is a brilliant idea, and all I can say it check it out for yourself, pop on a green band, and see what you think!

The Clinique ‘Service As You Like It’ concept is available at a few stores just now, the only one in Scotland is House of Fraser, Glasgow.