This Works... In Transit Camera Close-Up

Now, I'm definitely not in a position to blow £30 on a moisturiser, or a primer, or a mask, or indeed, as this product is, a combination of the three. In fact, I was lucky enough to win this from a giveaway on Liana's Beauty Blog, which was a gorgeous (and much-needed) little pick-me-up.

This product is currently doing the rounds on beauty blogs just now, but as a girl not so used to premium products, I thought that my two-penneth might be appreciated for all you ladies in the same position!

This Works... In Transit Camera Close-Up is a 3-in-1 moisturiser, mask and primer, designed to reduce the amount of skincare you pack when travelling, and also as a quick fix to save time while on the move. It's supposed to create a smooth, hydrated, bright look to the skin, as well as restoring moisture, plumping the skin, evening skin-tone and providing a flawless base for makeup. So far, so impressive.

On receiving Camera Close-Up, I was immediately impressed by the sleek design and the packaging. I love the bright minimalism of the product, and I thought it really did live up to its price tag on appearances alone. I like the upside-down bottle, although I can see it being a little difficult to reach the product itself when it starts to run low. Otherwise, while the size is pretty small for daily use, it's perfect for its purpose (travelling), as at 40ml, it's definitely not going to cause problems at the airport.

Camera Close-Up has a very soft, subtle scent - This Works... products pride themselves on being synthetic-free, so the fragrance is due to the natural scent of damask rose and orange blossom oil. It's quite nice, and doesn't smell at all synthetic, I'm just not sure it's my kind of thing.

The texture of Camera Close-Up is a little strange - it feels light when pumped out on to the skin, but as you massage it in, it becomes quite thick and almost tacky. This Works... say on the box that skin should feel 'dewy', but tacky is the only way I can describe  it. Thankfully, this does dry to a soft matte finish, and you can definitely see the 'photo-perfect' finish that you're promised.  Despite this relatively odd feature, skin automatically feels softer, smoother and plumper, and you can definitely see a difference in brightness and evenness. Personally I prefer a wetter, more hydrating feel to my skincare, but the effect Camera Close-Up leaves can't be argued with!

As a mask, it definitely feels luxurious, but I've only used it once this way as I don't want to waste too much of the product, when it works nicely as a primer/moisturiser. I smoothed a fairly thick layer on my face and left it for about ten-fifteen minutes, during which time it had almost completely sunk into my skin, leaving hardly any product to wipe away.

I wore this all day to go to the shops, go to work and go out in the evening, and while there's no promise of long-lasting benefits of the product, I found that my makeup stayed put and sat smoothly throughout the day, and my skin still looked bright and fresh underneath.

Personally, while I do really like using this product, I really can't see myself repurchasing when it runs out. I was intrigued by the hype Camera Close-Up has received, and am very fortunate to be able to test it for free, but it hasn't become my daily staple like I hoped it might. While I do like the style of the product, and love the idea of a 3-in-1 combination, the texture and the smell aren't really to my taste. Besides all that, I couldn't fall in love with it even if I wanted to, as the price for such a small product (40ml) is just too steep for me; I can buy my favourite moisturiser, mask and primer for a combined total less than the £30 this costs. I'll enjoy using the rest of this, but for now, it hasn't turned my head to the world of luxury skincare, and for that I'm sure my bank balance is grateful!