Review: Clinique Clarifying Lotion # 3

Here's a review on Clinique Clarifying Lotion # 3

PRICE: P1,920.00

PLACE BOUGHT: Clinique, Rustan's Makati City

OTHER LOCATIONS: All Clinique counters in Rustan's malls

DESCRIPTION (Taken from clinique.com):

Helps clear away pollution, excess oil, dulling flakes for clear, glowing skin. Helps block a blemish. Purifies pores to look cleaner, smaller. Skin grows stronger, stays clearer, healthier. Dermatologist-reformulated to be comfortable, non-drying.

THE VERDICT:

I've been hearing a lot of good stuff about Clinique, but never got a chance to try their products until recently. I’ve been itching to try the brand, but I simply can’t change brands in a snap because my skin's responding very well to Kiehl's. So as a way of easing myself into the brand, I bought their toner. I've been reading a lot of good stuff about it, as it's tagged as a 'Working Toner' by most beauty bloggers. Well, I have eased myself too much because I bought the 400ml right away instead of the 200ml size. It was a blind buy and a risk for my skin. But I bravely went for it anyway because I trust that expensive products deliver almost always. Besides, it was a really good deal. It's like I got another 200ml bottle for only 700php+!

Most people take toners for granted. Well, I understand because not all toners deliver, let alone work in making your skin look and feel clean, at the very least. I've had my fair share of using affordable toners, and honestly, they're totally not worth my money. I swear by expensive toners, and this one is another great (and expensive) discovery of mine.

Clinique has built their business on skin care, that's why they're continually improving their products. Wanna know how serious Clinique is when it comes to skin matters? Here's a cool fact from Shen's Addiction: "Do you know that Clinique has an intensive research and testing protocol? That even if one person among 7200 subjects reacts with their product, they will reformulate?..." Even if Clinique costs a pretty penny, you're assured that you're only getting the best ingredients for your skin.

Bottle is made of frosted plastic. Feels and looks expensive, but I dare not drop this because the bottle doesn't look that sturdy to me.

The pink toner is meant for people with combination to oily skin. I've been using it for 2 months, and I've already seen great results. For one, it really cleans my skin without overdrying it in spite of its alcohol content. The product reeks of a strong alcohol smell, and others might think that it can make skin feel and look dry. Nope, not with this toner. It stings a bit at first, then the sensation goes away after a few seconds. After a few minutes, my face starts feeling tight, but not the irritating kind of tight. It's its way of shrinking pores and preventing excessive sebum production that contributes to acne.

FYI: Alcohol- free toners are just hydrating toners. They don't really draw out buried impurities from the skin, which is the main purpose of toners.

What I'm after is its blemish- blocking promise. And I'm happy to know that the promise is true! I've had it with toners that promise clean and blemish- free skin, and end up doing nothing. Thank goodness for this product. Now I know how toners are supposed to work. I rub a pad soaked with this toner on a fresh pimple and voila! The pimple is dry the next day. It really prevents about-to-form zits by shrinking it before it appears on the epidermal surface. On huge and juicy pimples, drying time takes 2-3 days, or depending on how my skin reacts on a particular day. I use it twice a day, especially now that I have to get rid of zits on my left cheek.

Overall, it's a great buy. No regrets. I'm on my 3rd month of usage, and I'm still nowhere near the middle part. If you have pimple- prone skin, or you simply want to reduce oil from the surface, grab this. Visit a Clinique counter so you'll know which Clinique line suits your skin best.