IT is always a joyous day when a new Clinique product finds its way into my possession.

My best friend Julie and I have sworn by Clinique ever since we first started experimenting with pink lip gloss and black eyeliner (it was the 80s, after all) and we have remained fans ever since.

The company has just launched a new Pep-Start range, comprising a host of little multi-tasker products with the appealing slogan ‘Prep, pep and out the door’. This is my kind of beauty routine – short and sweet, a recognition that most of us don’t have time to spend hours carefully exfoliating, toning, moisturising and more before flying out to drop the kids off/catch the train/get to work/do the shopping….

The range includes an eye cream and an exfoliating cleanser, but this week I have been trying out the Pep-Start HydroBlur Moisturizer and the Quick Cleansing Swipes.

Packaged up in a pretty little bright-blue tub – all of the Pep-Start products are cheerfully colourful in citrus and neon shades – this features Clinique’s new ‘Hydroblur’ technology, which aims to smooth out imperfections, control oils and prep skin for make-up.

It is very light and smooth, with hardly any aroma, and it goes on like a dream. I wore it under foundation, although you can wear it on its own, and it did work as a great primer as well as leaving my skin feeling soft.

The Pep-Start Quick Cleansing Swipes (bright pink with nifty click seal opening – like a posh version of baby wipes) were a revelation. I’m more of a ‘splash-my-face-with-water-and-hope-for-the-best’ kind of gal when it comes to preparing for and cleaning off make-up, but these were refreshing and left my face feeling much more awake.  Crucially, they didn’t dry out my skin either, although the smell is a little medicinal.

All in all, as speedy beauty routines go, Clinique’s Pep-Start is a winner.

Clinique Pep-Start Hydroblur Moisturizer, £24.50 Five stars

Clinique Pep-Start Quick Cleansing Swipes, £14 Four stars

More information at http://www.clinique.co.uk/clinique-pep-start