From time to time we get vendors popping in to work to sell their bits and pieces. Recently we had a Clinique stand and they were offering staff 10% discount. Plus it was bonus time, so it was buy two products (one to be skincare) and get a freebie. To say I was sucked in would be an understatement. It was through this stand that I got my hands on my Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturising Gel (Oily / Oily Combination).

My moisturiser is in a frosted plastic tube and is a pale, Easter-yellow colour; it's emblazoned with the large silver C of Clinique and has a silver screw lid. The version I have is a 50ml tube, but it is also available as a 125ml bottle which includes a pump dispenser. The tube which I bought was £16.50 (less my 10% corporate discount) and the bottle is £29.00. I was drawn to the product as I have the most strange skin type ever. It's not combination - i.e. oily T Zone, dry patches elsewhere, it is actually pretty normal skin, but it is what I like to call 'imperfection prone' I don't get horrendous spots, they are more pimples, and usually, if I put moisturisers or cleansers on for 'normal' skin, then my spots flare up and I look oily. I also have a bit of redness across my cheeks. I tend to sway toward combination and oil free products and I was in need of a new moisturiser so I chose to take this one.

I washed my face and applied the moisturiser. I used quite a bit the first time maybe 2 x 5p piece sized blobs, because it didn't feel like it moisturised my skin very much - it's oil-free for people with Oily / Oily Combination skin, so of course it's not heavy - it's really light. I had been using a heavier crème moisturiser, so I put quite a bit on to begin with. It's like a semi-transparent runny gel consistency, pale yellow in colour and smells almost edible! I've since learned that using it morning and night 1 x 5p piece sized blob is sufficient. It soaks in to skin instantly, as though the skin is thirsty and drinking it all in. it leaves a really nice matte finish, meaning adding foundation or powder or just a touch of blusher over the top is very easy and doesn't leave shine or a greasy finish.

After using the moisturiser for 2 weeks the imperfections I'd seen on my face seemed to clear a little and I know this was partly down to the cleanser I was using too (not Clinique). But the moisturiser didn't make my skin break out which is unusual for me and it seemed to compliment the cleanser well. So much so that I am still using it 8 weeks later! I really rate it and I think that it's perfect for 'almost' normal skin - much better than the Clinique Dry / Very Dry range which I've found to be far too rich for my skin 'type'.

As well as being a great moisturiser for skin, I've also found it has protected my nose during a cold (normally go very red and sore) and moisturising my lips with it on a morning seems to have prevented them from chapping as much as they usually do in winter. The moisturiser also seems to prevent my lip colour feathering around my lips without having to add lip liner or a coating of powder. All in all, I am really impressed by the stuff and my skin looks absolutely great which makes the product value for money in my eyes, regardless of cost. That said, I've got a little over quarter of my tube left and I've had it for a little over 8 weeks. If it lasts me 11 weeks I will be really happy as I think this makes the price tag further justifiable; and I think that the larger bottle will most definitely be on my birthday wish list as it represents even better value for money!

When I use a beauty product I always gauge it's efficacy by the amount I talk about it to my friends, the amount of compliments I get from using it, and I always ask myself would I recommend it to my best friends. The answers are lots, lots, and YES definitely, she's already using it too. Based on that, I highly recommend this product to others too!

Available from Clinique online shop, stores, concessionary stands in large department stores and certain branches of Boots / Superdrug.

Thanks for reading! :o)

Oh and if you'd like to take a look at my full Clinque haul, I wrote a little post on my blog http://www.nanna-kate.blogspot.com/2011/12/cliniqu e-haul.html X