Modern Advances

Available at Clinique counters nationwide, $120 for 30mls and $168 for 50mls.

SPONSORED FEATURE The new Clinique Smart Serum is as cutting-edge as fashion’s latest looks

At New York Fashion Week this year, the front row was left amazed when one label saw models using their mobile phones to control their dresses, and turn the fabrics into brightly coloured lights with awe-inspiring colours and patterns.

It might be some way off before LED custom gowns become a fixture in mainstream fashion but forward-thinking and innovative design concepts are helping to change the very fabric of fashion. Quite literally. Now top designers can get their hands on advanced synthetic fabrics that, until recently, were considered second to natural fibres.

It's no different when it comes to skincare, as savvy consumers look to cutting-edge, wow-factor formulas. Leading the charge is Clinique Smart Custom-Repair Serum, a one-stop shop for women wanting to address all of their skincare requirements. Its patented technologies understand skin and deliver customized repair based on individual and specific needs.

Sun exposure, irritation, stress and pollution all cause damage to skin, and can result in lines or wrinkles, loss of elasticity, dark spots, uneven tone and dullness, and hyperpigmentation. Clinique Smart Custom-Repair Serum works by rushing molecules to affected areas. Known as Precision Repair Technology, the product activates specific enzymes that promote cellular repair, resulting in firmer, brighter, more even skin. Smart beauty indeed.

"Clinique Smart Custom-Repair Serum uses an advanced formulation technology to target the repair for your unique skin damage - whether it's damage you see or damage you don't," explains Dr Tom Mammone, Executive Director of Skin Physiology and Pharmacology, Estee Lauder Companies. "The specialized repair molecules only activate as a result of sensing the specific distress signal that they respond to. Until then, the technologies in Clinique Smart are always ready to adjust and respond to your skin's ever-changing needs."

Clinique Smart Serum, $120 for 30mls and $168 for 50mls.

Intelligent design is also changing the face of fashion. Designers are embracing new varieties of polyester, allowing them greater freedom in their designs. Where once the synthetic fabric had a reputation for being cheap and nasty, superior polyesters allow designers to embellish and create durable, structured shapes. Not only is polyester cheaper than natural fibres such as wool and silk, it's longer-lasting, easier to care for and crease-free, making it a great choice for business people and frequent travellers.

Smart fashion is also venturing into the green domain, with designers meeting demand for sustainable, ethically produced garments. Likewise, when it comes to smart skincare, preventative measures are key.

"Skin damage starts much earlier than most people think," says Dr Mammone. "The moment you get your first sunburn or tan, your skin damage has begun; however, it can take many more years for that invisible, underlying damage to appear on your skin. How damage develops is unique to each person. Some people will only get dark spots, discolouration and uneven skin tone. Some people may only get lines and wrinkles. And some people may get a combination of many different aging factors. Clinique Smart is created for that person that wants to repair multiple aging factors."

Clinique Smart Serum targets the damaged areas we can't see, quickly correcting both visible and invisible damage. Suitable for all ages and ethnicities, it visibly addresses skin's changing needs. But its true point of difference is its ability to custom-fit repair for your skin, evolving with you depending on your skin's needs. Therefore, your skin uses only what it needs. Its cocktail of soothing ingredients keeps irritation at bay so skin is receptive to the treatment ingredients.

After a 12-week study, results showed significant improvement in treating uneven skin tone, dark spots, dullness, lines and wrinkles, and firming. The formula harnesses the power of 37 patents and more than 20 decades of scientific research. Truly smart.

• Clinique Smart Serum is available at Clinique counters nationwide. $120 for 30ml and $168 for 50ml.