One of the best! (Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturising Lotion)

Member Name: ice_pink

Product:	Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturising Lotion
Date:	24/09/08 (193 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Suits all skin types, hypoallergenic, fragrance free, great base for makeup

Disadvantages: No SPF, expensive

Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturising Lotion

My skin goes through phases of being dry, oily and combination, and can also be quite sensitive, particularly with cheaper products (which is very unfortunate for me!). I have tried a massive selection of different moisturisers, but this one from Clinique is definitely one of my favourites. I've always said that hair and make-up are the two things you should invest wisely in, and it doesn't matter if you splurge a little bit as it is worth it - these are the things that you (and the rest of the world!) see day-in, day-out. It's not as if you're buying a skirt from Topshop that you're only going to wear once before chucking it to the back of your wardrobe - this is for keeps! So, that's how I justify my spending anyway!


What is it?

Clinique are a leading skincare and cosmetics retailer who only sell fragrance-free hypoallergenic products, which means their products are great for people who have sensitive skin. Clinique have a 3 step skin care programme, which consists of cleanse, tone and moisturise. This moisturiser is the third step in the programme, which you can purchase either on its own or as a part of the set. If you go to the Clinique counter in one of the department stores they will always give you a free trial (if they have any!) of three mini tubes, one of each of the stages, for you to go away and try at home, which is perfect to get an idea of how good the products are before you invest!

The 3 step programme is advertised "3 steps. 3 minutes. Twice a day" by Clinique. The first step is cleanse, and can be done with their facial soap in either a bar or liquid form - I've always gone for the liquid. This product is great for gently but effectively removing make-up, I even use it to remove my eye make up and have never had my eyes irritated by in at all. Exfoliating with the clarifying lotion is the second step. Exfoliation is something I believe strongly in, and I make sure I do it daily to remove dirt and unclog pores - I never miss a day! The final step brings you to the product being reviewed, and is designed to hydrate skin providing an idea base for make-up.


The types

You can purchase this moisturising lotion in three different forms. All of them contain the same product, so it just comes down to what container you are after. You can choose between a pump-action jar, a jar without the pump, or a tube. I always find that tubes are better as when you start to run out of the product it is hard to get the last little bits out of jars, and I like to get my moneys worth!

The moisturiser is custom fit allowing it to suit a variety of skin types, from very dry to combination to very oily skin. This is great as it allows you to find something that fits your skin perfectly.


The price and stockists

You can purchase Clinique products online from www.clinique.co.uk. Clinique products are also stocked in major department stores such as House of Fraser and Debenhams, as well as in Boots. I always shop around before purchasing products to see which offers are on where, and make sure I get the best deal. For example, Boots often offer extra advantage card points on two or more purchases from the range, sometimes with free gifts as well. Clinique currently have a couple of offers on with free samples with every purchase, so make sure you shop around to get the absolute best deal before you buy!

This moisturising lotion will set you back £27 for 125ml in a pump-action jar, £26 without the pump. For 50ml of the product in either a jar or tube, expect to pay £15. Even though I purchase this product quite a lot, I can never bring myself to pay £27 all in one go and therefore always go for the 50ml version, which means I am losing out on money really in the long run but it doesn't feel like I am at the time - silly I know!


The verdict

Clinique do a great range of products and I really trust that their entire range will not badly affect my skin. This moisturiser is no different, and always leaves my skin feeling smooth, soft and hydrated. It provides an excellent base for make-up, and doesn't leave my skin feeling oily. One down side to the moisturiser is that it does not contain any sun protection, which is quite unusual for a moisturiser these days. For this reason I tend to stick to this product only during the winter, when my skin tends to be drier anyway and in need of more intensive skin care!

Another downside to the product is the price. Although I think this is one of the best moisturisers on the market, there are some much cheaper alternatives that at least almost as good - Neutrogena do a great range of moisturisers which are also hypoallergenic and fragrance free, and their range also includes a good selection with SPF up to factor 30! For this reason I tend to use Neutrogena as my usual moisturiser, and Clinique more for when my skin feels like its in need of a treat, or is getting particularly dry or oily.

I would recommend this product to anyone having problems finding a moisturiser to suit their skin. It's definitely worth visiting a Clinique counter for a make-up fitting, to find out which products suit you. If you are worried about spending so much all in one go this is a great way to try out the products and take home some little free samples so you can go away and decide at home. I would also recommend you try Neutrogena's ranges which are (almost!) as good, and at less than half the price - so it might be worth trying these out as well before you invest too much money! Overall though, definitely worth checking out this product now - go for it!

Summary: A great premium brand moisturiser that does what it says on the box!