I’d happily try any new makeup that comes my way. Mascara, blush, lipstick, you name it and I’ll give it a go. When it comes to skincare though, I’m much more hesitant. I used to have pretty bad skin as a teen – acne, bacne, you name it I had it, but I hadn’t had to worry about it much since , so I had always stuck to the same routine. That was until this year. As I’ve gotten older I notice my skin is much more sensitive than it used to be and I can’t just slap on any old product and see great results. This winter has been especially rough on my skin too – from randomly appearing dry patches to the continuous breakouts which left me pretty gutted, to say the least. After trying so many different combinations of products I had lying around to no avail, I was at a complete loss as to what to do. So when the lovely Sam from Blushing Beauty Lounge offered to gift me some iS Clinical, it was a no-brainer.

iS Clinical had been a skincare brand on my radar ever since Rosie Huntington-Whiteley shared her routine on her youtube channel last year. Founded by biochemists Bryan Johns and Alec Call in 2002, their products are made from pure, pharmaceutical-grade ingredients that have been known to yield amazing results and quickly became a cult favourite. Hollywood famous aesthetician Shani Darden swears by them and that was all the confirmation I needed to throw out my current routine and start fresh with all iS Clinical products to see if I could fix the disaster that was brewing on my face.

The first step was to get the right products for my skin type. Sam from Blushing Beauty Lounge offers online consults to make sure you get the best products suited for your skin type which is important for a medical range like iS Clinical. I especially loved this step since A. I have no idea what I’m doing and B. I was progressively making my skin worse every time I tried something new without much thought. Sometimes you have to ditch Google and leave it to the professionals, and with 16 years experience, Sam knows what she’s talking about. The whole process was painless, just a quick chat over Instagram  my iS Clinical package was on its way.

To preface this review, I tend to have normal to dry skin and it’s (unfortunately now, ugh) slightly sensitive and acne-prone. I wanted to focus on products that were moisturising since I’d much rather overdo that than the alternative during winter. I should also mention that I’ve been using these products as 90% of my routine since July to make sure I could give you guys a fair review, so with that said, let’s get into it. 

Is iS Clinical Worth The Hype?

ECLIPSE SPF 50+

I’ll start first with the ECLIPSE SPF 50+ since it’s fresh in my mind. I’m a huge advocate for wearing sunscreen every day. It’s something my Mum has drilled into me from my teens and looking at her skin now, I know it’s worth my time. I have been religiously using the To Save Face by Mecca Cosmetica before this which you’ll know if you’ve been here for a while, but I swapped it out for the ECLIPSE SPF 50+ and I honestly don’t think I’ll go back. This sunscreen is so sheer for an SPF 50+, but also moisturising AND makes a great base for makeup because it’s almost slightly tacky. I haven’t had any problems with this sliding around on my face during the day which I have found to been a problem with my To Save Face in the past, so it’s a 100% yes from me.

Hydra-Cool Serum & Pro-Heal Serum Advance+

I’ll start first with the Pro-Heal Serum because I (remembered to) use it the most. I’m a big fan of anything that includes Vitamin-C and to make this serum even better, it also includes the retinol Vitamin-A along with other key ingredients. I apply this every morning before my sunscreen. When I use this I feel like my skin looks plumper, generally healthier and clears my skin up much faster when I break out. It’s also gentle enough to not flare up my dry skin patches (I had to completely cut out my other retinol products for this reason). The fact that it tackles a lot of my skin issues in one product means that I can get through my routine much quicker, and for a lazy girl like me that’s a huge plus.

The Hydra-Cool Serum is my second favourite but has been a saviour during these winter months. I think of this as my soothing tool when I’ve reacted to something because it’s cooling effect feels so nice when everything feels like a little too much. I’ve been layering this with my moisturiser at night and I find in the morning my skin feels extra hydrated which is a huge feat. since I don’t often notice serums “actually working”. Its lightweight formula means it’s not heavy on your skin if you’re a moisturiser fanatic like me and I’ll continue to use this in summer. As a random sidenote: I read that you can use this to help soothe sunburn too.

Cleansing Complex

This was the iS Clinical product I’d heard most about from celebrities and in my research beforehand, but I told Sam going into this that I am married to my face wash. “I don’t need another one” was my first words to her I’m pretty sure. Well, I was wrong. This face wash is packed full of amazing ingredients such as Vitamin C, Vitamin A and Salicylic Acid (bye-bye acne) so of course, I had to give it a good go just in case. A little goes a long way with this which makes it great value for money. What I love about this is that it cleans your skin properly without over-drying – the main reason why I never change up my cleanser. I do admit I have continued to use my Clean It Zero to remove the initial makeup it can’t (namely, stubborn mascara) but it’s a great second face wash to give you that extra clean feeling. Plus, double cleansing is in – didn’t you know?

Tri-Active Exfoliating Masque

If there’s a product I love more than moisturiser it’s exfoliators, but damn it’s hard to find a good one. iS Clinical has nailed it with this one though. It feels like a thick honey consistency packed full of eco-friendly microbeads but you can really feel this working as you use it. I strictly use this once a week as part of my “it’s Sunday, treat yourself” regime, when my skins looking dull. Once you apply it, you leave it for 5 to allow enzymes to function, wash it off and BAM, super smooth skin. This can be on the drier side of skincare as it’s quite intense so if your skin is struggling I’d say to use it less. Can’t fault this product though – this will be one I will continue to repurchase so long as my face has skin.

Reparative Moisture Emulsion

Last but certainly not least is the Reparative Moisture Emulsion. This moisturiser was the first product from the range that I wholeheartedly could say I fell for. It feels very boujee on the skin – kind of like a thick serum consistency so it makes a great primer for makeup. While it feels relatively lightweight, and you don’t need much to cover your whole face, it packs a massive punch. This is big coming from the girl that is used to buying the thickest (old lady) moisturiser in attempt to relieve my dry skin. My face feels like it’s had a huge drink of water every time I apply this and I can’t get enough. I love this, what more can I say.

The Verdict?

I feel like every time I write these reviews I love the products, but this line puts all others to shame. The formulation of each has been crafted so well that it does just what it came here to do and nothing else (like breaking me out into a scaly, teenage-acne face). In the past I’ve been a little slutty with my skincare choices – I’ll try a brand here, another there, in the hopes that they all work together. That’s me no more. These have been produced to work one after the other in art like unison that throughout my experience I can’t tell which product is making all the difference. But it has in a huge way, and I’m actually sad I don’t have before photos to show you through my journey. Maybe I’ll come back and add some one day, but just know that right now my skin is FINALLY starting to get back to what it was in the healthiest, glowest way possible.

100% Yes!

This is my skin, unedited after using these products for the past month.

If you’re in New Zealand and would like to give iS Clinical a try, please get in touch with Sam at Blushington Beauty Lounge. You can book a one on one virtual session where, as I mentioned before, she will talk you through the right products for your skin type and honestly, takes all the brain work out of getting healthy, clear skin. I’m so thankful for this experience and have happily been 100% converted to be a “one skincare brand” kind of girl.