Sometimes a day can make all the difference. It doesn’t have to be one of the life-changing experiences, or a big loss. Sometimes just a few hours are all it needs.
I for one can be absolutely fine in the mornings, all happy and calm, but a crying mess in the evening. No special reason, of course.
Mr. Loca calls it exhausting and wearing, I call it emotionally flexible and versatile. But I digress.
I admit, it took me more than a few hours to change my mind towards Cliniques Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel. In fact, it took me more than eight months to go from rejection to rejoicing. The reason? The weather. It is always the weather.
When I bought it, it was winter in Germany, and my skin was dehydrated. So with a few hours to kill between connecting flights on our way to Australia, I rummaged through Duty Free and decided to treat myself to a moisturizer. After arriving in the Australian summer, I used and loathed it. It just was too much, and I was very disappointed.
So I stuffed it in my suitcase and didn’t touch it until December 2013. Winter again, my skin craving moisture, and the bottle basically threw itself at me when I opened my bathroom cabinet (that happens quite frequently, I cram way too much in there…). I was hesitant first, but short on budget, so I gave it another go. And this time I enjoyed it.
What Clinique claims:
A lightweight, oil-free moisturizing lotion, developed by dermatologists. Step 3 in your 3-step skincare routine. Suitable for oily and partly oily skin. Moisturizes, keeps skin smooth and soft.
Facts:
You can get either a 125 ml pump bottle (47 € here) or a 50 ml tube (25 € here). As always, the bigger the amount you buy, the better the value for money.
The 125 ml was more than enough to get me through the winter months. As you can see, there is still some left, but with the gel being purchased in 2012 (!) I will not attempt to use it up.
Once applied, the gel feels lightweight, cooling and without a noticeable scent. It sinks in very quickly and leaves the skin soft without tackiness.
Favorable ingredients:
- Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract: Antioxydant
- Glycerin: Moisturizing
- Laminaria Saccharina Extract: Oil controlling, balancing
- Saccharomyces Lysate Extract: Antioxidant
- Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract: Cooling, moisturizing
- Barley Extract: Antioxidant
- Sunflower Seedcake: Rich in Vitamin E and linoleic acid, anti-inflammatory
- Caffeine: Tightening
- Sodium Hyaluronate: Moisturizing
- Chamomille Recutita: Antibacterial, soothing
Unfavorable Ingredients:
- Silicones: up second on the list…
- Isododecane: Mineral Oil
- PEGs
- Preservatives like Phenoxyethanol
- Coloring
Does it live up to its claims?
Yes, I guess.
The claims aren’t exaggerated. It is lightweight, it is oil-free and the skin feels smooth and soft. And it contains moisturizing ingredients.
Will I rebuy?
No.
I really don’t like the ingredient list. Even though there are many nice things in there, long before they appear there are mineral oil and silicones, both things I would tolerate somewhere down the list, but not among the top three ingredients (the third being water).
Who do I recommend it to?
If you want a cooling, lightweight texture, give it a go.
If you only need a tiny hint of moisture and oiliness and breakouts are your main concern, you could try it. Even though I´d recommend skipping the moisturizer in general and opting for a suitable oil in this case, but this is personal preference.
But overall I don’t think it is worth the money.
Have you tried the Clinique 3-step skincare system before?
And do your preferences sometimes change by the minute?
If you want to read more about skincare, please check out the „Skincare Reviews“ category in the side bar.
This post may contain affiliate links. All opinions are honest and my own.