Clinique Superdefense SPF 25 Age Defense Moisturizer - Dry Combination

Today's review is on the Clinque Superdefense SPF 25 Age Defense Moisturizer for Dry Combination skin types. It comes in a plastic tub as pictured and costs $42.50 for 1.7 oz.

Other than cleansing oil, sunscreen is a basic staple in my skincare routine. I am very paranoid about getting premature wrinkles...I definitely expect myself to be wrinkle free until at least the age of 35! That's a little over a decade away though...yikes! Gotta max out on my youth now...

Anyway, normally I wouldn't bother to review a sunscreen with SPF as low as this one unless it had some positive characteristic(s) that I would never have expected from a sunscreen. BUT, if you notice the labeling, Clinique doesn't call this product a sunscreen--it's a "moisturizer." Thus, this product probably shouldn't be used in place of your normal sunscreen, and I wouldn't consider it effective against UVA/UVB rays at all. However, if used in conjunction with your sunscreen, especially if you have dry to normal-dry skin, this product will help your skin fight pollution, toxins, and stress, since sunscreen normally doesn't have added skincare benefits in it.

My skin has been flakey and dry lately, so I have absolutely fallen in love with this moisturizer. I use it under my Clinique Derma White Super City Block SPF 40 ++ sunscreen, and over any serums I may apply that day. The Derma White Super City Block is matte, so it has a drying effect on my skin and any flakey patches are emphasized. The Superdefense Moisturizer helps to soothe and reduce that, without making my face oily or greasy. I don't like wearing too many layers of product on my face, especially during the day, so I don't know how foundation would stay on top of a Superdefense + Sunscreen combination--unless you have drier skin, you should probably stay away from that. The Superdefense moisturizer has a texture between a lotion and a light cream, and it goes on almost like a moisture-mousse onto the skin. It feels so cooling and refreshing, and if you wait a couple minutes, the sunscreen dries to a semi-matte finish, so your skin feels hydrated, but not like an oil slick. Though I'm going through a dry skin stage right now, I will continue to use this on my cheeks and eyes during the summer simply because it feels so nice and hydrating, yet light.

The only thing I dislike about this product is the smell. Clinique's products are all supposed to be unscented but this smells really funky. I don't quite know how to describe it...it doesn't smell like anything else I've ever encountered.

However, I would definitely give this product a shot if you have drier skin and need help looking for a day moisturizer that is hydrating, yet not oily or greasy. I would not recommend this product to those with oily skin. Also, one word of advice: never mix your sunscreens together. If you use this, always apply your regular sunscreen as a separate layer on top, when the Clinique Superdefense has dried, or you risk lowering the potency of your regular SPF.

So, overall: this product is for you if you have drier skin and desire to layer sunscreen. But I would not use this alone; the SPF protection doesn't seem sufficient.


Active Ingredients: octinoxate 7.40%, avobenzone 3.00%, oxybenzone 2.00%.

Ingredients: water (aqua purificata) purified, dimethicone, butylene, glycol, isononyl isononanoate, silica, glycerin, polyglyceryl-2 triisostearate, polysilicone-11, laminaria saccharina extract, triticum vulgare (wheat bran) extract, olea europaea (olive) fruit extract, rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) extract, sea whip extract, adenosine phosphate, trehalose, disodium nadh, creatine, sodium rna, caffeine, nordihydroguaiaretic acid, sodium dna, phytosphingosine, linoleic acid, cholesterol, ferulic acid, ascorbyl tocopheryl maleate, sodium hyaluronate, aminopropyl ascorbyl phosphate, tocopheryl acetate, sucrose,micrococcus lysate, astrocaryum murumuru butter, lauryldimonium hydroxypropyl hydrolyzed soy protein, lecithin, tridecyl trimellitate, hexylene glycol, ethylhexyl stearate, ethylhexyl pamitate, propylene glycol dicaprate, chamomilla recutita (matricaria), zerolite, maltodextrin, c1-8 alkyl tetrahydroxycyclohexanoate, caprylyl glycol, polyethylene, hydroxyethylcellulose, xanthan gum, sodium chloride, pvp, laureth-4, laureth-23, polysorbate 20, ammunium acryloyldimethyltaurate/vp copolymer, tromethamine, disodium edta, chlorphenesin, phenoxyethanol, methylparaben.

Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm

Today's review is on Clinique's Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm.

I don't go a single evening without using cleansing oil as part of my skincare routine. My pores tend to clog very easily, so if I don't get off all my sunscreen and makeup completely at the end of the day I will definitely suffer for it the next day. I purchased this because I needed a travel friendly cleansing oil at school. The DHC Deep Cleansing Oil, which I love, along with many other cleansing oils, come in pump bottles which tend to spill and get all over the place in your overnight bags or suitcases. So, I've been using this religiously since February every night. If I break out, I know that it's my hormones, and not my cleansing habits, causing the problem.

The clear plastic tub is decently sized and priced--it contains 3.8 oz of balm, and costs $27.00. I bought it around mid to late February, but I've already used over half of the tub, since I get a little too application-happy whenever it's time to wash my face, haha.

The balm is white, and pretty much looks like a tub of hair wax, without all the sticky goopiness. Doesn't have much of a scent. To apply, you slide your fingers across it until they pick up the desired amount of product, and then rub it into your uncleansed face. I like to dot my face with the balm before rubbing it in completely. As you rub in the cleansing balm, the heat and motion from your fingers turns it into an oil which is extremely easy to spread. This means it can also be somewhat unsanitary since you're dipping your fingers into it with every use, but if you wash your hands prior it should be fine. The opening of the tub is wide, so there's no problem getting to every single last bit as you run out.

After you've gently rubbed and massaged your entire face, you rinse off the balm/oil with warm water. It emulsifies and turns white before coming off your entire face. If you have dry skin, you can probably skip a second cleanser, but I always follow up with a generic drugstore cleanser to take off all the residue from the cleansing balm, so when I apply my moisturizer it will penetrate my skin more deeply.

This cleansing balm's ingredients consist of: ethylhexyl palmitate, carthamus tinctorius (safflower) seed oil, caprylic/capric triglyceride, sorbeth-30 tetraoleate, polyethylene, peg-5 glyceryl triisostearate, water, tocopherol, phenoxyethanol

Though this product works just great, I think it's only worth purchasing if you travel and require a convenient cleansing oil. However, if portability is not important, I'd say skip this product and opt for a cheaper Japanese drugstore version. I really want to try Kose Softymo Deep Cleansing Oil, which is recommended by other beauty bloggers. I've tried more expensive cleansing oils like DHC Deep Cleansing Oil before and I think the DHC cleansing oil has more beneficial skincare properties than this Clinique balm, since it left my skin feeling a lot smoother...but that may just be a consequence of the ingredients.

Clinique Turnaround Concentrate vs. Estee Lauder Idealist

This is a post I actually meant to write awhile ago, but never got to because I was busy, and then I was lazy, haha. After my great results with Estee Lauder's Idealist, I decided to try the comparable Clinique Turnaround Concentrate Visible Skin Renewer and find out which of the two was better. Both have received awards for their ability to "turn over" dead surface skin cells and reveal more luminous, radiant skin.

The price of Clinique's Turn Around is a tad cheaper than Estee Lauder's Idealist by almost ten bucks. Both come in one ounce pump bottles, but the Clinique is $37.50, and the Estee Lauder is $46.50. However, the Estee Lauder Idealist also comes in a 3.4 ounce version ($120.00), while Clinique only comes in the one ounce bottle.

Okay, now on to the product's purpose. Clinique says that their Turnaround Concentrate is a "high-performance cocktail of exfoliants" that generates a "multilevel, time-released renewal process." It is supposed to help your skin constantly renew itself, look "brighter, more radiant" and feel "velvety, perfected." As for usage, Turnaround Concentrate is supposed to be used twice daily, and is designed to be used in conjunction with Clinique's 3 step system. However, you can use this with any cleansing regimen, really.

After cleansing and toning, I applied the Turnaround Concentrate to my T-zone, and followed with a moisturizer. Unlike Idealist, the Turnaround Concentrate comes in a fluid formula, so it is much lighter and easier to blend. Like most Clinique products, there is no intentional perfume or scent, but it has this sterile, clinical smell. After the Concentrate goes over my skin, there is no shine or oiliness.

Now, onto the actual review...
Though there are tons of great reviews on this product on Sephora.com and Clinique.com, I did not find it helpful for my skin at all. First of all, unlike Estee Lauder's Idealist which is both an exfoliant and moisturizer, this product is only an exfoliant. Furthermore, it didn't even do a good job exfoliating. I still had enlarged and clogged pores, and it wasn't until I applied their Total Turnaround Visible Skin Renewer moisturizer on top of the Turnaround Concentrate did I get the exfoliated, mattified effect I was looking for--smaller pores, flattened comedones, less bumps, etc. By itself, the Turnaround Concentrate is quite useless, and it only works in conjunction if it is used with the other Turnaround products in Clinique's line. If you have combination skin, I suggest you skip this product altogether and just go straight for the Estee Lauder Idealist.

While I'm doing a comparison, I also want to update on my results with Idealist. Unfortunately, after using it on and off for 4-5 months, my skin has acclimated to it, and it no longer helps prevent my breakouts or reduce my comedone size. So, I am on the lookout for a new exfoliant serum that will not only keep my skin clear, but also keep it moisturized. Please let me know if you have any product recommendations!

Clinique Derma White

I've been using the Clinique Derma White Advanced Brightening Essence and the Derma White Moisture Milk since the end of January 2009, along with the Derma White Super City Block Oil-Free Daily Face Protector SPF 40++ since the end of December 2008. You can read my initial thoughts on the Super City Block here. In this post, I will review the essence and moisture milk, and also update you with my current thoughts on the sunscreen.

As I've stated before, the Clinique Derma White line is available exclusively in Asia, as it's especially formulated for Asian skin, but you will probably find online retailers who will ship to other parts of the globe. Currently, the only Derma White product carried in the US Clinique office is the Powder Makeup SPF 15++, which I have no desire to try, haha.

The website says that the purpose of their "lab-certified" line is to "undo the visible evidence of sun damage, dark patches, skin stresses, and age spots for brightness and clarity." Notice how I emphasized visible...meaning if your skin is damaged from tanning and such, any brightening or whitening products only serve to improve your skin's appearance, not actually heal or repair the damage. So it's extremely important to limit your exposure to the sun, because no whitening or brightening product is going to turn back the clock on the damage your skin has already suffered. It's like

The products contain ascorbyl glucoside to prevent and inhibit the production of melanin (or pigment) in the skin by physically blocking them from being released. In addition, the Black Out Yeast extract disperses whatever melanin is released from the skin, in order to lighten the dark spots. Glucosamine and salicylic acid exfoliate the surface of the skin to prevent dead cell buildup, and a special complex of Apigenin, White Birch, and Oili extract work to slow down the release of melanin to the skin's surface. (Glucosamine is also in Estee Lauder's Idealist, an effective exfoliant serum I use religiously.) In addition, there are many antioxidants in the products to help slow down free radical activity.

The Brightening Essence and Moisture Milk both come in extremely durable, nice packaged 30 ml (one ounce) bottles, but the Brightening Essence bottle is larger in size. I'm puzzled why two ounce products are different sizes, but I can only guess that the serum/essence is packaged in thicker plastic. Both of these bottles are extremely thick and somewhat heavy! While I like that sunlight won't seep through the bottles and whittle away the products' efficacy, and that the pumps are extremely easy to control (unlike some pumps that are hard to push and you end up getting more amount out of the bottle than you need), I'm annoyed that I can't see how much product is left. So I have no idea when I'll finish these bottles...I can't even tell if I'm halfway through because the bottles are so heavy.

I've been applying these once a day, in the morning, or sometimes after I shower since the end of January. I waited awhile before this review since Clinique says that the Derma White line takes 4-6 weeks for results to appear. I agree; I didn't really see results until the end of February. I think my skin probably got one shade lighter, but the difference is very subtle since I'm not that dark to begin with. What I think this helps with is preventing me from tanning, because I tan VERY easily and always consciously hold my purse next to my face for protection while running around in direct sunlight like a crazy person.

I think these products will only work well for those who have normal to combination oily/normal skin. If your skin is dry at all, you probably should stay away from whitening products. I haven't tried other whitening brands yet so I can't compare Clinique Derma White's strength, but I used the products only about 3 or 4 times and my skin did completely dry out at first and turn super flakey. Eventually, my skin got used to these, and stopped drying out. However, because I have skin that's EXTREMELY prone to clogged pores, whiteheads, and blackheads, it requires an insane amount of exfoliation...in the end, this line has actually benefitted my skin. If you read the ingredients (which I've listed at the end of this post and the previous one on the sunscreen), you'll see that this line uses really superior, quality ingredients...though the line may be expensive, I think it's worth it for the ingredients alone, since they are there to really improve the condition of your skin, instead of just "whitening" it.

Also, as for the Derma White Super City Block SPF 40 ++...if you read my initial review you know I started off not really liking this sunscreen because I thought it gave my face a weird matte shimmer that was unflattering. However, I've really changed my mind about it. I don't think this sunscreen is a substitute for tinted moisturizer or foundation by any means, but many times I find myself skipping base makeup because this sunscreen offsets the redness and blemishes on my skin with its matte effect. And you know me--anything that speeds the "getting ready" process and helps me reduce the amount of product on my face is a winner. Also, after over two months of using this sunscreen, it has not broken me out. Though I had initial reservations that the SPF value wasn't high enough and it didn't provide the maximum possible UVA protection, I put those worries to rest after realizing how many antioxidants and healing ingredients Clinique has put into the sunscreen--something I don't think you will find anywhere else, at least I haven't found it anywhere else yet. :-)
Cosmetic Garments is selling this sunscreen for $22.50 if you want to give it a try and aren't located in Asia.



Lastly, here are the ingredients right off the boxes:

Advanced Brightening Essence-
Water\Aqua\Eau, Isododecane, Cyclopentasil-oxane, Butylene glycol, Yeast extract\faex\extrait de levure, Dimethicone, Silica, Cetyl PEG\PPG-10\1 Dimethicone, Glycerin, Ascorbyl glucoside, Polysilicone-11, Glycine Soja (Soybean) seed extract, Curcuma longa (Turmeric) root extract, Gentiana Lutea (Gentian) root extract, Hydrolyzed rice bran extract, Chamomilla recutita (Matricaria) flower extract, Betula alba (Birch) bark extact, cucumis sativus (cucumber) fruit extract, Rosa roxburghi fruit extract, glycyrrhetinic acid, saccharomyces lysate extract, Angelica cutiloba (Japanese angelica) root extract, Zizyphus Jujuba fruit extract, citrus unshiu peel extract, poria cocos sclerotium extract, Gardenia florida extract, paeonia albiflora (peony) root extract, Hordeum vulgare (Barley) extract\extrait d'orge, Porphyra Yezoensis (algae) extract, Carthamus Tinctorus (safflower) flower extract, Helianthus annus (sunflower) seedcake, Bifida ferment lysate, sucrose, sodium RNA, caffeine, acetyl glucosamine, PEG-6, Salicylic acid, glucose, PPG-3 Myristyl ether, Phospholipids, Tromethamine, Propylene glycol dicaprate, sodium hyaluronate, arginine, tocopheryl acetate, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Laureth-12, Caprylyl Glycol, Disteardimonium hectorite, Hexylene glycol, Disodium EDTA, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, Titanium Dioxide (CI77891), Mica

Moisture Milk-
Water\Aqua\Eau, Dimethicone, Butylene glycol, Hydrogenated lecithin, paeonia suffruticosa (peony) root extract, carthamus tinctorius (safflower) flower extract, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, Peonia albifloria (peony) root extract, Angelica acutiloba (Japanese angelica) root extract, Gardenia florida extract, saccharomyces lysate extract, poria cocos sclerotium extract, Rosa roxburghii fruit extract, Zizyphus jujuba fruit extract, cucumis sativus (cucumber) fruit extract, betula alba (birch) bark extract, Glycyrhetinic acid, Laminaria saccharina extract, tocopheryl acetate, yeast extract\faex\extrait de levure, hordeum vulgare (barley) extract\extrait d\orge, chamomilla recutita (Matricaria), squalane, chamomilla recutita (Matricaria) extract, sodium RNA, helianthus annuus (sunflower) seedcake, propylene glycol dicaprate, polyethylene, acrylates/C10-30 alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Glycerin, Glucose, Diethylhexyl Succinate, HDI\Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymertromethamine, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Butyparaben, Isopropylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Mica, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891)

Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion

Just a very basic review today. I'm sure almost everyone has heard of or already tried the Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion, 4.2 oz before. This hefty 4.2 oz bottle comes with or without a pump. The pump-less version costs $22.50, and the with pump version costs $24.00

My mom used to use this lotion religiously in her thirties and early forties, and in my teens, I tried to use this too. Clinique claims this lotion provides a "world famous" moisture "drink" for your skin. However, I never liked it very much then. It made my skin feel shiny and oily, and it didn't seem to be making a positive difference.

However, that was also when I never got dry skin. Back then, I was much oilier and never prone to dry patches. Thus, if you have young or oily skin, you'll probably hate this product. Now that I'm older and have developed drier, combination skin, I have to say I really love this moisturizer. It has been my ultimate savior during these winter months, and the transition from fall to winter.

This lotion is actually pretty light, and the blendability is amazing. In my other moisturizer reviews, I usually mention whether the product remains moist long enough for me to spread it over the desired portion of my face before drying. This moisturizer is great in that respect. Also, a little goes a long way. I use a pea sized amount on each of my cheeks/eye areas, on my nose and around my mouth, and on my forehead. It instantly absorbs into my skin, and leaves a moist, smooth finish, and gives my skin an extra boost of moisture. In the fall, I was comfortable with using this as my main nighttime moisturizer. Now that the weather is much worse (ice and cold outside, drying heat from the radiator inside), I apply this lotion as a base before a thicker moisturizer, whether before bed, or before sunscreen (since my sunscreen can feel quite matte, almost drying). This allows my regular serums or emulsions to penetrate even deeper into my skin.

The ingredients for this product are pretty basic. Nothing fancy.

Water (Aqua Purificata) Purified, Mineral Oil (paraffinum liquidum), Sesame (Sesamum Indicum) Oil, Propylene Glycol, Tea Stearate, Gylceryl Stearate, Lanolin Alcohol, Petrolatum, Methylparaben, Propylparaben.

Yes, this moisturizer contains mineral oil and sesame oil. For some of you that may be a turn off, but this lotion has never broken me out...in fact, it's maybe even helped prevent my breakouts by providing an excellent barrier over my Estee Lauder Idealist. I've also read somewhere that the reason why people continue to purchase this lotion (though it's had the same formula since the 1960s) is because of the ingredients' proportions, which mimick and maintain your skin's optimal, natural moisture level.

In summary...if you try this product and notice it leaves behind a greasy, oily film on your skin, you're either applying too much or your skin isn't suited to this product. As someone who used to have oily skin, I've been lifted out of my skepticism about the product after bravely resampling it recently. Right now, Bloomingdale's Clinique is having a free gift with purchase, so it's the perfect time to get this product if you've never tried it.

Clinique Derma White Super City Block SPF 40++

I've been using this Clinique Super City Block SPF 40++ from their Derma White line for nearly a month now. This sunscreen is formulated especially for Asian skin, and is available exclusively in Asia. It comes in an ounce tube which retails for about 400 RMB, or roughly $40.00 USD. Unfortunately, I don't think you can purchase this from the Clinique website anymore in the states. I got it off their website over a year ago during one of their bonus times, and it was probably a clearance item since I only paid about $28.00. This product has been marked way up from that price at other online stores like Strawberry.net. CosmeticGarments.com was selling this for $22.50 around Christmas, but now the price has bounced back up, sadly. If price is a deterrent, you'll probably want to skip on this one. Personally, I am willing to spend a lot of money on skincare, especially sunscreen--as long as I find something that really works. And since I'm beginning to look into skin whitening products, this product seemed like a good place to start.

I'm terrified of tanning, so I've always been very vigilant about applying sunscreen, but until just last year I never ventured beyond using Oil of Olay All Day Moisture Lotion Complete SPF 15. I have always wanted a higher protection sunscreen in a similar formula and consistency...BUT, we all know that the higher the SPF is, the more greasy it becomes. So I was pleasantly surprised to find out this sunscreen is completely oil-free and greaseless. I could really tell that it was oil-free because though I had it in storage for several months, the product didn't separate (in some sunscreens, the cream settles and the oil floats to the top). When smoothing it onto the skin, it feels like any regular lotion. Though this sunscreen contains silicone (dimethicone), I can't feel it in the texture at all, unlike in my prior experience with MAC Prep + Prime SPF 50. It goes on very smoothly, yet still quickly dries to a matte finish. The finish allows this sunscreen to be easily worn under your makeup. It's actually formulated to also act as a makeup primer. I like that this sunscreen dries quickly, but I think it dries a little too quickly. I like my lotion and creams to remain moist so I can smooth it over as much of my face as possible before it dries, but because this sunscreen dries quickly, it doesn't spread very well, though this product is quite watery. I end up applying more product on my face than I would normally with other sunscreen. So though I have combination skin, I prefer a sunscreen that feels more moisturizing and less matte. I suppose in the summer I'll appreciate this product more, haha.

The Derma White Super City Block also looks like a tinted sunscreen, or a pale bb cream or tinted moisturizer. However, this sunscreen isn't meant to provide any coverage, so it shouldn't be a substitute for foundation. At the same time, this sunscreen contains silica, which seems to have been milled so that after applying the sunscreen onto your skin it reflects light. I actually don't particularly like this aspect of the sunscreen. Somehow my skin looks really artificial; though I can't see any discernable flecks of silica, I oddly look more tan, almost as if I'm already wearing a poor quality foundation. I cannot wear my normal Skinfood bb cream over this foundation, and I have to dust on Make Up For Ever HD Finishing Powder to offset this bizarre artificial effect. Fortunately, my skin only requires a tiny bit concealing here and there, so I'm able to pull off this sunscreen without looking funny. I can imagine gals with a lot of blemishes not liking this sunscreen very much. I've never experienced anything quite like this before...should I call it a "matte disco ball" effect? Maybe the lighting is the culprit...but I find myself missing the subtle glow of MAC's Prep + Prime SPF 50 over this one.

The following is a list of ingredients I've typed up off the side of the box.

Active Ingredients:
Zinc Oxide 8.8%, Octinoxate 7.5%, Titanium Dioxide 6.6%, Octisalate 2%
Ingredients:
Water/Aqua/Eautrioctyldodecyl Citrate, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate, Steareth-2, Silica, Aluminum Stearate, Angelica Acutiloba (Japanese Angelica) root extract, Porphyra Yezoensis (Algae) extract, Hordeum Vulgare (Barley) extract/Extrait d'orge, Zizyphus Jujuba fruit extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa (peony) root extract, cucumis Sativus (cucumber) fruit extract, Helianthus Annuus (sunflower) seedcake, Saccharomyces Lysate extract, Carthamus Tinctorius (safflower) flower extract, Rosa Roxburghii fruit extract, Paeonia Albiflora (peony) root extract, Gardenia Florida extract, lecithin, Poria Cocos Sclerotium extract, Propylene Glycol dicaprate, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria), yeast extract/faex/extrait de levure, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (licorice) root extract, citric acid, peg-100 stearate, Betula Alba (birch) bark extract, acetyl glucosamine, tocopheryl acetate, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) extract, caffeine, magnesium ascorbyl, phosphate, squalane, glycyrrhetinic acid, Gentiana Lutea (Gentian) root extract, Oryza Sativa (rice) bran extract, Ceteth-2, peg-40 stearate, sorbitan tristearate, magnesium aluminum silicate, polyglyceryl-6 polyricinoleate, tricaprylin, sucrose, stereath-20, sodium rna, sodium stearate, isopropyl titanium triisostearate, stearic acid, pantethine, Rosmarinus Officinalis (rosemary) leaf extract, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Glycine Soja (soybean) seed extract, glycerin, barium sulfate, glucose, caprylyl glycol, hexylene glycol, polyethylene, peg/ppg-18/18 dimethicone, Citrus Unshiu peel extract, xanthan gum, disodium edta, bht, chlorphenesin, phenoxyethanol, mica, iron oxides (Ci-77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), titanium dioxide (Ci 77891) [ILN29176]


Though I'm turned off by the silica, I was so impressed with how many fruit and plant extracts Clinique stuffed into this sunscreen. Also, notice how there are NO parabens. Amazing! All you natural gals will probably like this sunscreen, since it's very hard to find a quality, non-greasy, high SPF product. (But if any of you spy any other harmful preservatives in the ingredients, please let me know, and I will immediately retract my recommendation!)

Honestly, this review is probably still somewhat premature, since I started using this product way before any of the other Derma White products I've recently acquired. I tried the Moisture Milk and Brightening Essence for the first time a couple days ago, and was struck by the revelation that this sunscreen is probably one of those products that should only be used with other products from the same line : ). So, I will review the other 2 Derma White products shortly and then do a product update on the sunscreen. Let's see if Clinique Derma White's "whitening" properties really work!

You can check out the rest of the complete Derma White line here, but remember that it's not available in the US, so everything is in Chinese text.

Clinique Brush On Cream Liner

If you've been following my posts, I recently purchased the Clinique Brush On Cream Liner in true black during their October bonus time. The liner claims to be long wearing and water proof. I've been wanting a black cream liner for a very, very long time. I have very oily lids, so it's hard for me to find the right eyeliner. My eyemakeup will always smear under my eyes. I think my upper eyelids must overlap onto my face when I blink or something, since this is such a problem. This is why it's taken me so long to purchase a product that is probably very basic for all the rest of you out there.

I know there are a lot of other popular cream liners on the market. Make Up For Ever's Creamliner is $20 for 0.14 oz. MACs Fluidline is 0.1 oz and costs $15.00. The Clinique brush on cream liner is $14.50 for 0.17 oz. So, the Clinique jar has slightly more product than both of these products, and you get slightly more bang for your buck. It comes in a light, plastic jar, so you don't have to worry about dropping and breaking it. (I dislike Fluidline because the jar is so heavy!) It also comes with a cute tiny flat eye liner brush, but I haven't used it. The bristles are natural hair, which in my experience, doesn't work very well with gel or cream product. The brush will probably work on those of you with larger eye folds or creases; I have very small creases so I need a thin, stiffer brush for the job. I apply this with my super fine eyeliner brush from Coastal Scents. By the way, at $1.99, this brush is an absolute steal! I can never get the hang of liquid eyeliner, but this brush makes it easy for me.

I've been using this eyeliner pretty much every day along with my Urban Decay Primer Potion, and it's absolutely wonderful. I'm amazed with how smoothly it goes onto my eyelids--no tugging at all. And you can really ply the product onto the brush and not have to worry about it smearing coz you've caked too much on your skin. If you end up with a clump on your lid, it's easily smoothed over or blended with a q-tip or your brush. If I apply my eyeshadow primer to the back of my hand, then swipe this eyeliner on top, and then place my other hand or fingers on top, it stays completely in place! Not only is this eyeliner smudge resistant, but it's also extremely long lasting. I could wear it for 24 hour and it will still be in place. Overall, I'm very impressed and so glad I bought the product.

I did use this on my lower water line, and it lasted just fine. However, I wouldn't recommend it for the upper eyelid waterline...when I tried that it smeared under my eyes. Then again, as I've said, my eyes are strangely built so that may not happen to you. Make sure you test it.

As for removal, the eyeliner washes off pretty easily with liquid soap. However, if you have sensitive eyes, I'd recommend using makeup remover or cleansing oil first, and then washing your face.

Some people have even claimed to use this eyeliner as an eyeshadow base! I haven't tried that myself, but I might do that...I have a black eyeshadow with silver glitters in it, I wonder if it could hold the glitters in place? I've always been frustrated about the glitters not showing up!

I will be back next week with more updates...stay tuned.

Tubing Mascaras: Imju Fiberwig vs. Blinc Kiss Me, Clinique Lash Power, Estee Lauder Double Wear Zero Smudge Lengthening

Imju Fiberwig has replaced Blinc Kiss Me as the top selling mascara in Japan. It advertises "paint on false eyelashes" to tout its lengthening effect. Like the typical fiber based mascaras on the market (think Magic Lash--Pursebuzz does a great review), Imju Fiberwig also contains fibers that attach to your lashes with each stroke. As a result, Fiberwig is like a fiber based primer and mascara in one.
In addition, Fiberwig promises to be water-oil-sweat resistant, and thereby, smudge proof. It is easily removed with warm water (no soap necessary, like with Clinique Lash Power). Much like Blinc Kiss Me, the mascara wraps around your lash to form tubes, rather than merely depositing pigment like most mascaras.

I've been using this mascara for about a month now. As I pointed out in my Blinc Kiss Me mascara review, I have trouble finding mascara that doesn't smudge underneath my eyes. I hopped onto the fiber/tubing mascara band wagon with excitement. While Blinc definitely held up to its promise of not smudging, it wasn't perfect. The mascara clumped on my thin, sparse lashes, creating spikes. My lashes looked as they were stuck to each other in little sections. Thus, Blinc isn't dependable for perfectly separated, long lashes...it's a bit of a gamble every time use it, I reach for it hoping that it'll distribute evenly. Since the wand deposits too much product on my lashes, they also end up feeling hard and spiky. Not like this is a huge problem, since I don't go around touching my eyelashes, but this makes them actually harder to curl since they're weighed down with product (I have stick straight short lashes).

So, I was a bit skeptical trying the Imju Fiberwig. When I opened the tube, the first thing I noticed was how HUGE the brush was. It reminded me of Benefit's Badgal, which also has a huge, plump brush. The photo in the picture above doesn't really show you how dense the wand is. The wand itself looks denser because of all the fibers it picks up when you take it out of the tube. (I would take a photo, but my camera is broken...incase you're wondering why I haven't shown any pictures so far!)

Despite the big size of the brush, I was still able to get to the base of my eyelashes and brush the mascara very nicely from base to tip. I was pleasantly surprised to find that my lashes did not clump at all. If there was the slightest bit of excessive product, a couple more swipes of mascara and I was able to brush the clumps away. No matter how many coats of mascara I put on my lashes, this stuff NEVER got clumpy. I kept adding on many, many coats so the fibers would continue to lengthen my lashes. I didn't count, but I wouldn't be surprised if I applied about 2 0 coats. My lashes were always perfectly separated and defined. I also liked how they felt flexible to the touch, never brittle, after the mascara dried. My lashes are so straight that I have to curl them AFTER I apply mascara (I know this is a taboo, but my lashes do not curl otherwise). The Fiberwig held the curl, while Blinc did not.
Also, speaking of drying, this mascara dries very quickly...and I mean, like in 7 seconds. This is probably because it's more liquidy than Blinc, which is somewhat thicker. So, I apply this mascara to my lashes in sections, working on the inner corner and middle section until I ge t my desired length and thickness, and then the outer corner. You have to reapply the coats when the mascara is wet, just like with Blinc, or the mascara will not go on smoothly. The difference with Blinc is that Blinc takes a lot longer to dry. This was a source of frustration for me because I would blink when my Blinc wasn't dry yet, and have to wet a cotton swab to get the mascara off my under eyes. With Fiberwig, that doesn't happen, thankfully.

Like all the tubing mascaras, Imju Fiberwig came off with warm water and my r egular cleanser. I didn't have to rub my eyes with makeup remover. Also, the fibers in mascara didn't get in my eyes, nor did the mascara sting my eyes, so Fiberwig should be perfectly safe for contacts wearers. I've heard that Magic Lash can get messy with all the fibers, so definitely look to this mascara as an alternative. The fibers never flaked off or smudged onto my face either, so Fiberwig definitely has equally amazing staying power as Blinc.

OK, so you're thinking, there has to be something bad about it. Yes, my only complaint is that Fiberwig does not get your eyelashes anywhere near "false eyelash long." Maybe there's a trick to applying the mascara that I haven't discovered yet? I've resorted to rotating the mascara wand as I stroke it from base to tip--my own manual Spin Lash, haha--but the results are yet to be seen! Though I'm not terribly bothered by this since I never expected my lashes to magically morph into false lash length in the first place....but I'll keep trying and let you guys know later if I was successful.

Now, this mascara worked for me, but it might not work for you. My lashes are short, sparse, and stick straight. I have no idea how well this mascara would work on people who have full, lush lashes already. This mascara costs $22 at Sephora (the only place you can buy it in the US, perhaps Little Tokyo or K-town might carry them though? I've never looked there) and only comes in black. Definitely try Blinc and Fiberwig both at the store before you purchase if you can't decide. If anyone is interested, I could organize a Fiberwig haul from Asia at a lower cost and have it shipped to you. If I get enough emails or comments I'll look into it.

Now, there are two other alternatives that I know of, if you've tried both Blinc and Fiberwig. Clinique Lash Power Mascara uses similar tubing technology and vows to stay put for 24 hours without flaking, smearing, smudging, and removes with warm water. What attracted me to trying this mascara was the tiny little brush, which reminded me of Maybelline's Lash Discovery. I think Lash Discovery is discontinued now except in the waterproof version...which is unfortunate.

You can't really tell how tiny the brush is in the picture, but trust me, it's tiny!



Pursebuzz has a great video reviewing Clinique Lash Power Mascara, in which she shows you the comparison with Lash Discovery in the beginning. Though she highly recommends the product, I do not recommend it.
I tried this product twice--once at Nordstrom's, the second time at Macy's. The first time was around August 2008, the product worked great on me--no flaking, smudging, my lashes were defined and separated perfectly. I thought I was going to replace Blinc with the Clinique. The second time was around a month and a half ago, and this time, the mascara flaked all over my undereyes! There might have been a little smearing going on. I notice the reviews for this mascara are quite mixed, so again, try the mascara before you buy it. At $14.00 a pop, it is cheaper than all the other tubing mascaras, but don't make your decision based on price alone. Since I have oilier lids than most people, I can definitely attest to how effective a mascara's staying power is..and Lash Power just doesn't cut it.

Estee Lauder's Double Wear Zero-Smudge Lengthening Mascara comes in second place for cheapest tubing/polymer mascara, at $19.50. In contrast to Clinique's Lash Power which claims 24 hour staying power, Zero Smudge claims it stays put for 15 hours. However, it also is only removable with warm water, so you do NOT remove it with eye makeup remover.

Like Clinique Lash Power, I only tried this mascara twice. It came in one of those free gifts with purchase--concealer on one end, and mascara on the other. The double ended feature compelled me to immediately stash it in my makeup bag--who doesn't love convenience? The first time I tried the mascara, I was wary because the wand was definitely bigger than Lash Power's, so I thought it might clump. However, it also didn't clump my lashes at all--it defined them perfectly and stayed on all day! The second time I used this mascara was when I stayed overnight at a friend's and was putting on my makeup the next morning. Later that day, when I looked in the mirror, I saw that the mascara had smeared underneath my eyes. I was extremely disappointed. So in terms of effectiveness and price, this mascara is the worst out of the three. Whereas the Clinique mascara merely FLAKED, this one actually SMEARED, which shows that something is amiss in its polymer formula. I do NOT recommend Estee Lauder's Double Wear Zero-Smudge mascara.

So ultimately, the only mascara that gets my complete stamp of approval is Imju Fiberwig Mascara. Blinc Kiss Me Mascara I also like, but not love. Fiberwig has made it into my list of holy grail makeup items and I will definitely repurchase it when I run out.

What did everyone get?

Ahh, I am so broke!!!!! After reading so many rave reviews, I caved and bought the Clarisonic Skincare brush. Not sure if it works, but there's a 30 day money back guarantee, which I will definitely take advantage of. I was watching Becca's youtube videos (there are 4 of them), as well as Pursebuzz's review, which explained that the Clarisonic increases the efficacy of moisturizers and serums because it cleanses your skin much more thoroughly for better absorption. I'm excited, hope I get it soon!

Recent hauls:

Sephora (thank you Friends & Family discount!):
Clarisonic Skincare Brush
Clarisonic Normal Brush refill
Sephora complexion extractor with lance
Sephora double ended blemish extractor

Clinique (woo hoo free gift with purchase!):
Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel
Cream Gel Liner in Black
All About Eyes


I'm scratching my head trying to figure out if there's anything else from Clinique I might want...since I want to grab Nordstrom's free gift. I'm thinking the Moisture Sheer Tint with SPF 15 in Fair...now that my skin is improving I can use less mineral makeup/bb cream!

No worries, I will review everything in due time...give me a couple weeks to a month to give you a honest, thorough review!

Clinique Gifts with Purchase

Hey all,
Just wanted to drop a quick note that Clinique.com is also having a cute free gift with purchase of $21.50 and up right now. Choose one bag from three different options to fit your style or needs!

Visit this link:
http://www.clinique.com/landing/fall08bonus.tmpl?ngextredir=1&cm_mmc=email-_-October-_-10-26-2008_Online_GWP_nonbuyers-_-bonusimg#

In addition, Macy's Clinique is still having a free gift with purchase if you visit the store. I noticed the promotion has already ended on their website, but it's still ongoing if you head to your local counter.

Happy shopping! Be back soon with another review!

Clinique Liquid Facial Soap - Mild

I never really understood why anyone would ever purchase expensive facial cleansers...or why choosing "the right" cleanser mattered. I mean, why buy the department store brand when the drugstore brand both get the job done? Now, after using the Clinique Liquid Facial Soap in Mild, I cannot stress how misinformed I was!

The cleanser is the most basic step in taking care of your skin. First, a cleanser needs to remove all the dirt, grime, makeup, and oil from your face at the end of the day. Most cleansers should do this. (Emphasis on should, because only in a perfect world would all cleansers have the same cleansing power.) Second, the same cleanser needs to maintain its clarifying strength without stripping the skin of moisture. Everyone's skin type is different; some of us are oilier than others, others are dry. Obviously, this component is essential for drier skins. However, oily skin needs to maintain a moisture balance as well--a cleanser that cleanses too harshly will trigger even more oil and sebum production.

Thus, it is so hard to find a cleanser that removes everything without stripping the skin. But Clinique's Liquid Facial Soap absolutely fits the job.

The Liquid Soap comes in 3 different versions: Oily, Mild, and Very Mild. I have combination skin that tends to get flakey and congested, so I decided to try the Mild formula, which is especially formulated for dry combination skin.

The cleanser, true to its name, has a liquid soap consistency--in my fingers, it feels like dish washing liquid soap. However, there is no fragrance; if anything, it smells a little sterile or medicinal, like the rest of the Clinique products. I wet my face with warm water first, pumped the soap once onto my fingertips (this is plenty for your face!), rubbed my fingertips together briefly for a little bit of lather, and then massaged the soap all over my face--concentrating on the t-zone. I did this for about 60 seconds, then rinsed the cleanser all off. My skin felt refreshed and clean, but not tight or dry after use.

One thing I liked about this cleanser was that it seemed to be a "no tears" formula. While I was cleansing, I kept my eyes open, and though I massaged the product over my eyelids and lashes, my eyes did not sting or burn at all. Of course, I would not recommend you do this, especially if your eyes are sensitive, but I find it interesting that Clinique cleanser doesn't irritate my eyes, yet Johnson's No Tears baby wash does.

To test how effective the Clinique Liquid Facial Soap was at removing makeup, I toned my skin to see what would be leftover on the cotton pad. I wanted to compare the Clinique to my normal drugstore cleansers (L'Oreal Pure Zone Pore Unclogging Scrub Cleanser, Neutrogena Pink Grapefruit Oil Free Acne Wash) on separate days, when I had worn a decent amount of makeup for roughly the same amount of time. After washing with Clinique, the cotton toning pad was still white, so there wasn't any leftover dirt or oil after cleansing. However, after cleansing with L'Oreal and Neutrogena, there was a bit of peach/brown color on the cotton, so the cleanser hadn't completely removed all the dirt and makeup. I wonder how many times I might have developed acne because I skipped toning after washing with these cleansers? A frightening prospect! So, I gather that with the Clinique soap, you could probably skip toning altogether, as long as you make sure you rinse the cleanser off completely (it does take a couple more splashes than with other brands).

The Clinique Liquid Facial Soap is actually part of the Clinique 3-step skincare system. They also tout their Clarifying Lotion (in 4 different formulas for 4 skin types), and their Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion/Gel as part of a complete skincare regimen. Since this review is only on the liquid facial soap, I won't discuss the others unless you have any specific questions, for which you may leave comments. A great way to try all 3 is through purchasing their 3-step sets, which come in smaller sizes. Currently, you can purchase a set for $15.00, which is a great deal. If you think about it, you probably spend $15.00 at the drugstore already on a cleanser, toner, and moisturizer.

Normally, the 6.7 fl oz version of the liquid soap retails for $14.50. This will last you a long time. Also, Macy's Clinique is having a Bonus Time right now (I'm such a whore for gifts with purchase!) if you purchase $21.50 or above. Check it out!!