Clinique Vitamin C Antioxidant Lip Smoothie Lip Colour

RRP: £13.50
# of shades available: 10

--What does the promo say?--
"We’ve squeezed in the best ingredients, like Vitamin C, and powered-up antioxidants so lips look feel their healthy best. Brushes on luscious colour, shine and moisture."

--Packaging--
Clinque continues to cash in on the fashionable click-pen, as they did with their concealer. This uses a silvery colour scheme, distinguishing between shades with a coloured band at the click wheel end. Looks modern and sophisticated overall.

--Application--
In theory this should be easy: twist the click wheel until the product appears at the pen end and paint onto lips.
However, it's a bit more complicated than that as it appears very difficult to get the right amount of product into the brush, leading to wastage. Literally as soon as you see *any* trace of the product in the bristles, stop twisting: it WILL be enough, even if it doesn't look like it will be.

--Scent--
None; the good news is that this means no slightly-dubious Playdoh smell. The bad news is that this doesn't actually remind you of a fruit smoothie.

--Appearance--
The colour I was sent (Berry Boost) seemed a bit too bright or strong on the lips for me, but I'd be more likely to put that down to my hair colour and skin tone, and a therefore unfortunate choice of shade, than to any inherent fault in the product. The shininess was certainly impressive, however, and when applied very sparingly, the colour does too.

--Texture/consistency--
A little bit sticky, I found to my regret.

--Longevity--
Average.

--Value for money--
The lack of control in the click wheel and the stickiness of the product lead me to feel that this product is perhaps a little expensive (especially considering that you only get 1.5ml for your money). If these things were improved, and if Clinique also played more on the smoothie theme in the scent, the product would be greatly ameliorated overall. It being as it is, however, for now I'd advise (for the same money, or thereabouts) going for lip glosses by Estée Lauder or Too Faced.