There's a theory that you should save on cleanser and splurge on moisturiser, as the latter stays on your face while the former gets washed away. Even before I heard this idea, it was an approach I had instinctively adopted, and since I don't wear make up, moisturiser is by far the most expensive thing in my bathroom. Normally I stick to Total Effects, but I was given this as part of a Clinique gift set, so decided to give it a whirl.

Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturiser comes in an attractive, but rather unpractical bottle. It looks more like a perfume bottle than a moisturiser, and has, from my point of view, a number of design flaws. The first is that the opening is really wide meaning it's hard to control how much comes out. When it's full the moisturiser slides out too quickly, and when it's emptier it can be hard to get any out at all without doing that thing where you use the palm of your hand to create a vacuum. The open top also means it's easy for bacteria to get in and because the lid screws on, it gets covered in dried, crusty gunk rather easily which detracts from the image somewhat.

As for the contents, well this moisturiser surprised me because it's more of a liquid than a lotion, which can make it a bit gloopy to apply. It has a delicate scent, less clinical than some of the brand's products but equally not distinctively floral or citrusy.

Though yellow when it comes out of the bottle, the moisturiser rubs in clear and I worry slightly less about the odd visible blob than I do with some heavy white lotions. It is very easy to apply but I often feel like it lingers on my skin a little rather than sinking straight in.

This is the final part of the Clinique 3-step programme, and coming as it does after cleansing and toning, you would expect it to replace some of the moisture stripped away by the earlier steps. The official claims are that it:

* Helps replenish lost moisture
* Skin looks fresher and healthier
* Leaves no residue
* Safe to use around eye area
* Comforts and smoothes the skin.

I use a lot of soap here (shower gels are prohibitively expensive, soap is free is stolen from hotels) and really need to moisturise after washing my face. After applying this my skin feels less tight immediately, though it can also feel a little sticky to touch. I'm not sure what they mean by "fresher and healthier". This lotion certainly doesn't make my skin glow but it does seem to even out the tone a little. I always fancied a cream that made me look all dewy after applying it, and this doesn't do that, though it also doesn't make me look shiny even if it sometimes feels like it should from how it sits on the skin. With this in mind I would query the claim that it "leaves no residue". After some time it all sinks in, but that could be said of anything. For at least 10 minutes after applying I can still feel it on my face which counts as a residue to me.

The formula is allergy tested and fragrance free, which I think contribute to its suitability for use around eyes (though Clinique do also sell eye creams, so I think they mean it's ok if you get it round your eyes rather than it being designed for use in this area).

As for the final claim, I will concede that using this has left my skin soft, even after a day battling the sun, wind and rain, and even after a rough wash with soap, but this is more about how it feels than how it looks.

I suppose the reason I'm so on the fence about this is because of the name. I took it to mean that it would give me 'dramatically different' moisturised skin and I don't think it does. It's just a bit ordinary, and though it doesn't negatively affect my skin, I'm not convinced it helps it look better either. It feels nice and moisturised, but if you're after improved skin tone and that glossy, airbrushed finish, this will be a disappointment. I was also surprised that it is a bog standard formula with no benefits: an SPF is a valuable inclusion in a product, and many would also offer anti-aging claims (valid or otherwise). I tend to use this more at night or on very cloudy days as the rest of the time I do prefer an SPF for walking around this high-altitude city.

The Clinique website lists it as £15 for a 50ml bottle which is less than I thought it would be - I can pay almost that for my usual cream which isn't as posh as Clinique. At the same time, I'm not sure I can recommend it or say it's value for money. It's not an awful moisturiser, but quite frankly, from Clinique, I expected a little more.

http://www.clinique.co.uk/products/1574/3--step/S tep-3-Moisturize/index.tmpl