Lucky Hollywood celebrities. They get first dibs on all the good stuff. This month, that includes Cynthia Erivo, who turned up to the Oscars with a glowy plus-one pressed close to her (and we don’t mean Ariana Grande). The Wicked star was, in fact, holding space on her face for a pre-launch bottle of Moisture Surge Active Glow, a new Clinique super-serum that boasts a 100% hit rate for instant radiance.
The new skincare product has now landed here in the UK, and having seen it on Cynthia’s camera-ready complexion, I couldn’t wait to pull back the curtain and try it for myself.
The serum is ideal for impatient types, since it boasts an immediate hit of glow (every single trial tester confirmed it delivered just that) and then keeps that ball rolling. The formula combines hyaluronic acid (for skin smoothing moisture) with brightening vitamin C and lactic acid to exfoliate away dead cells.
The idea is that lactic acid acts like a bouncer unhooking the red rope for an A-lister and their entourage. In skincare terms, that means both vitamin C and hyaluronic acid are ushered through, getting optimised VIP access for rapid radiance-boosting results.
It’s quite a potent formula, so you’re advised to start off with a sparing amount, morning and night, on clean skin. It’s important to use one of the best facial SPFs and limit sun exposure while you’re using this, because removing that dulling surface layer will expose those delicate, baby cells below, and you want to treat them with care.
However, you should be using daily, year-round sunscreen anyway, whether you’re on a resurfacing regime or not, so this is just a good way to reinforce good skincare habits ahead of summer.
Clinique Moisture Surge Active Glow Serum: GH verdict
So far, I only have good things to report. I’ve only been testing the serum for a few days, but already my skin feels softer and smoother, and my makeup glides on. There’s been no sensitivity to report (and my skin can be niggly), and it pairs perfectly with the rest of my skincare routine, without pilling.
And yes, I could see an uplift in radiance from the first application. Not sure anyone else would notice, but it made me feel good, anyway.
On the downside, it’s quite expensive at £44, although the multitasking, quick-acting element does help to justify that. It’s also very much focused on radiance rather than, say wrinkles, so if I was to torture the Wicked analogies a little bit further, I’d note that it’s not something for defying gravity. (If that’s your bag, consider Clinique’s Smart Clinical Repair Lifting Face + Neck Cream, which aced the GHI’s recent tests to find the UK’s best neck cream.)
However, if you’re in the market for a spring skin refresh, I can see this being a Popular choice…
