Hello all!
Back at it, and pretty soon after a recent post, I must say. Michelle, becoming more consistent?? Surely not!
Today I will be showing you my Clinique haul and telling you about the products!
Full disclosure I did NOT buy these products! I do not have that much money. I chose them and they were sent to me. I am not rich? Clinique is pretty pricey, and though I do spend a pretty penny on skin care, I’m much more choosey about it than buying 550 dollars worth from just one brand.

Here is the box in all it’s glory (and great packaging, it’s a miracle nothing broke).
I’ll go roughly by type and give a quick review of all the products. There are still a FEW that I haven’t tried yet, but I’ll tell you which those are and hopefully post some sort of review on them later. I received this box about three weeks ago.

Clarifying Lotion 2 for Combination Dry Skin
I use this product twice a day as a toner and liquid exfoliator, and I have used it for about five months now. I’ve talked about it in depth before, so if you are wondering, there is a whole post called “Clinique’s Clarifying Lotion”. IT is a liquid exfoliator because it uses sodium bicarbonate along with menthol and denatured alcohol to clean out the pores both by wiping away the dead skin cells and dissolving them. It is extremely refreshing (thanks to the menthol) and I’ve seen my skin clear up since using it. It makes the face feel very clean.
Cleansing Milk
This is from the Take the Day Off line from Clinique that includes the cleansing milk, cleansing oil, cleansing balm, makeup removing stick, makeup removing wipes, and makeup remover. This is a product I use at counter every single day to remove makeup. I use it on every client and I use it on my own hand about 2 million times a day after swatching products for customers to see. I leave this product in my makeup room because used with a cotton ball or a Q-tip it is more useful as an eraser rather than an actual makeup remover for all over the face. It doesn’t foam or anything, its almost just like a lotion.
Sparkle Skin Body Exfoliator
This product doesn’t really leave the skin sparkly, and it’s honestly just as good or mediocre an exfoliator as all other exfoliators. It’s too harsh for the face but I use it on my legs in the shower.
Liquid Facial Soap in Extra Mild
I was honestly a little disappointed by this product. The formula is too similar to the cleansing milk for me. It doesn’t lather at all, it doesn’t feel like it cleanses at all, though it does KIND OF remove makeup. I thought it would just be a really gentle cleanser, but it doesn’t do anything, it’s not a useful product. I can’t imagine myself finishing this product since it doesn’t cleanse the face, so I’m not sure what to do with it.

Two more products from the Take the Day Off line,
Take the Day Off Makeup Remover for Lids, Lashes, and Lips
This is a product that some might better recognize if it were packaged as a Neutrogena product. Neutrogena is known for copying many of Clinique’s ideas and marketing them at a much lower price. It’s a good idea, except that Clinique is formulated for sensitive skin, as it is allergy tested, Neutrogena is NOT. This product is good, and I do find that it breaks down waterproof mascara and hard-to-remove products like that better than the Neutrogena alternative. I used to use strictly the Neutrogena alternative to remove my makeup, now I use more balms.
Take the Day Off Micellar Cleansing Towelettes
These have also been copied most closely by Neutrogena. Concerning cleansing wipes, I’ve said it once, I’ll say it again, I hate them. I just… hate them. They somehow always leave my face feeling still dirty, with not all my makeup removed, and they always irritate my skin. The texture of the fabric itches and burns my skin regardless of brand, and I don’t think that they do their job, especially for the price. These, however, are the first wipes I was not disappointed by. I have tried a multitude of drug store brands, and this was the first one that hasn’t bothered my skin. They are 14$ for 50 towelettes, which is such a good price for high end skin care. They are soft in texture and they remove makeup well. I would repurchase these since makeup removing wipes are SO convenient. I use them most often when travelling, when taking off foundation that didn’t work when I’ve already done my eye makeup, and when I am just SO dead tired, or sick, or have a migraine, I will swipe this all over, then go in with my micellar water, then my clarifying lotion, then my moisturizers. I rarely skip cleansing for this, I have done it maybe twice, but it’s nice to have the option sometimes.
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Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+
I have heard a lot of things about this moisturizer in my time at Clinique, but here’s the major break down of everything about it, good and bad: It is the original formula since 1968 when it came out except when they added the “+” which signifies the addition of hyaluronic acid, it’s second ingredient is mineral oil, it does feel somewhat greasy, and there are two forms of it, this one, for more dry skin, and the gel, for more oily skin. Both have mineral oil.
The main complaint is the greasiness, if I do hear a complaint, but this product has truly stood the test of time. I don’t have anything negative to say about this product except that I used it for about a month and I noticed small bumps, areas of congestion, and blotchiness more often during that time. I have since stopped using it. I don’t think it’s a bad product, but I didn’t see good results when I was using it, it might work for some other people, I will probably end up giving it away.
Fresh Pressed Renewing Powder Cleanser with Vitamin C
Honest truth be told, I never sold this product in my 6 months with Clinique. Not once. Vitamin C is too strong a product to suggest to just anyone. It causes redness, dryness, and irritation on SO many people, even people who don’t think of themselves as having sensitive skin. I have not used this product on my face, but I’ve tested it on my hand. It’s an exfoliator, so I think it’s too strong to use every day. It’s recommended to use just in the morning. I will give it a try as soon as I can and let you know!
Moisture Surge Overnight Mask
I was excited to try this mask since sleeping packs are not common in the US, I thought this might be similar to that. What I’m always looking for is a really thick night moisturizer that will hydrate me all the way until the morning. This is somewhat like that, not TOO thick, but pretty good at hydrating throughout the night.

Take the Day Off Eye Makeup Remover Stick
I love this! I don’t use it for eye makeup, that kind of seems difficult. BUT! It works great on lips! It’s tiny so I can carry it around in my purse on days when I’m wearing matte liquid lipsticks or stains that are hard to remove. All I need is this stick and a little tissue or toilet paper. I just put it on like I would a balm, and it completely breaks down my lipstick, then I simply wipe it off without disrupting my face makeup! I absolutely love it.
Moisture Surge Intense Skin Fortifying Hydrator
This is from the popular moisture surge line, just like the overnight mask before. It’s a thick gel for very dry skin. I got the intense because my skin is on the dry side and because the regular moisture surge is just a gel. This also works wonders on cuticles and thin, broken fingernails. I would just use this as a day moisturizer since its still just a thick gel.

Next to makeup!
Just Browsing Brush-On Styling Mousse
This is similar to the Gimme Brow from Benefit. It comes in four colors. It’s like a small spoolie brush like in a mascara and the mousse in it is similar to mascara. It helps to make brows look more full, realistic, and dark. Sometimes using just a pencil can be 2D, this helps the hairs to stick out and stand out against the color of the pencil. I always use a little darker mousse than pencil.
Bottom Lash Mascara
The little silver tube is the famous bottom lash mascara! Exact same component as the previous product, but this is actually mascara, and it isn’t waterproof exactly, but it doesn’t smudge, doesn’t transfer, and goes onto the tiny bottom lashes really well. I like this product a lot, but I don’t find it necessary.
Pretty Easy Liquid Eyeliner Pen
This is a great product! It’s $21 and it doesn’t budge all day but is still easy to take it off. It’s like a tattoo, and the tip is a very small brush, not a felt tip, so you have high control and can make an extremely fine point. Very good if you are into winged eyeliner, which I am.
Pore Refining Solutions Instant Perfector
This product is essentially a pore filling primer. There are all sorts of primers like this from almost every brand. The smoother from Estee Lauder, the porefessional from Benefit, the Pore Filler from NYX, la base pro from Lancome, the list goes on and on. This is around $21-$24 and it’s a good one. I prefer it to the porefessional but I think it’s equal to the pore filler. So, if you’re looking for a good product for your nose, cheeks, and chin, this is a good one! I would first suggest the pore filler though, because that one is about a third of the price.
Intense Lip Liners
These are three colors of the lip liners. I bought these because I like the colors, it’s rare to see that brown color in a lip liner, and the prices are fairly reasonable for Clinique. These are a newer formula than their original lip liners, so they have a better color payoff but I think at the cost of their creaminess. They are not as moisturizing as I would like. I still use them since I like the colors.
Lash Building Primer
This primer is great! I use the Lancome Cils Booster or this one, and I like both of them. Using a lash primer has really changed my mascara game. I never wear falsies and I used to honestly forget to put mascara on some days because it was so unimportant to me. But since I started wearing primer, my lashes stay up longer, look longer, maybe have become longer? and separate more easily. I also feel like getting the mascara off at the end of the day is easier if I go in with the lash primer first. All around a great product. If you are unsure about paying the $19 or so dollars, try a cheaper one first and see if its the type of product you’d like to add to your routine. Also, whenever Lancome has gifts (every six months, different at each department store), and in each of their gifts they give out a sample size of the cils booster, if you want to try it out.

Even Better Glow Light Reflecting Foundation Broad Spectrum 15
This is Clinique’s newest foundation line, my color is Breeze (the second or third lightest of 30 colors, I believe). It has SPF 15 and has a dewy finish. It’s moderate coverage and a pretty watery texture. I do like this foundation but my face is a little oily to keep it on in the T-zone, so I have to set it with a lot of powder. The color match is really good for me though. These retail for $28.
Buff Foundation Brush
Clinique has two foundation brushes, the flat foundation brush and then this, the stippling type of brush. I really don’t like using brushes on foundation, but at counter we can’t use sponges so I’m trying to practice with brushes more often. It’s just harder for it to not look streaky and separated.
All About Shadow Single in Chocolate Covered Cherry
This is a matte shadow that is a deep brown with maroon undertones. I love this color for a brown smokey eye in the crease. I don’t like Clinique’s All About Shadow shadows, they are powdery and blend out to nothing, and aren’t true to their colors. I only use three. They are At Dusk, Nude Rose, and Chocolate Covered Cherry. I have many colors similar to At Dusk and Nude Rose, but Chocolate Covered Cherry is a more unusual color, so I snagged it for myself.
Lid Pop in Aqua Pop, Petal Pop, and Cream Pop
The lid pop line that come in the small rounds with the daisy design pressed on the surface have a newer formula. They are almost all duo-chrome with really strong colors and nice shimmers. Aqua pop is a green blue duo-chrome that does NOT have any shimmer in it, but shifts color based on lighting, so it does give the illusion of shimmer. Petal Pop is a light pink with cream reflects. I use this as a highlight sometimes! Then Cream Pop is a little shimmery cream color that’s good for inner corner highlight on the eye.
Cheek Pop in Peach Pop
absolutely love this blush color, and it works great as an eyeshadow too. Finding blush colors can be so hard, and this one looked bright in the pan but on my cheeks it’s really natural and doesn’t stand out too much. I really like it and use it every day now.
That’s all for my ridiculously long post and big haul, but I hope you enjoyed and maybe learned something or got some ideas of products you would like to try! I really enjoyed writing this and hoped it helped some people! (I know I’ll be going back to look at this down the road to remember what I thought of some of these products)
Until next time!

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