If there is one thing that I am going to do, it is take care of my skin. I care a lot about the things I put on and in my body, and I definitely don’t play when it comes to skincare. Cleansing balms have oils that help break down and melt the makeup and SPF on your skin. I wanted something gentle and compact for the first step of my nighttime routine. This is where the Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm comes in. Next, I follow up with a foam cleanser to get rid of the sweat and dirt so that my pores are clean and clear. Here is my Clinique skincare review, I’ve been using the cleansing balm for eight months and the moisture surge (gifted) for two months now.
About Clinique Skincare: The Brand
Clinique was founded in 1967 through a collaboration with Evelyn Lauder, the daughter-in-law of Estée Lauder and a dermatologist, Dr. Norman Orentreich, after noticing a gap in the skincare market. There was nothing out there that catered to what the skin needed and thus, Clinique was born. It was one of the first brands that created products that were fragrance-free and allergy tested, thus setting the skincare standard for sensitive skin. By taking a scroll through their Instagram page, you can see that they target women from the teen years onwards. It’s a brand that is lively, joyful and vibrant. No matter what your skin goals are, you can achieve them with simple products.
Disclaimer: This post does include some affiliate links. If you click and purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products that I have personally vetted.
Clinique Skincare Review: Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm
What is it for?
Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm is a hydrating oil-based makeup remover that melts off your makeup, including waterproof makeup and lash glue. It’s great for those with dry skin, sensitive skin and those who wear makeup regularly.
What is in it?
Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm has a small list of nine ingredients that are a mixture of emollients, emulsifiers, antioxidants and solvents. The ingredients themselves were tackling my skincare concerns before I knew what was in them. This product includes:
- Safflower Seed Oil that keeps the skin hydrated and nourished with fatty acids to prevent dryness
- Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (Coconut oil & glycerin) which moisturises and replenishes the skin by acting as a diffuser.
- Tocopherol (Vitamin E) that evens the skin tone, improves hyperpigmentation and can defend the skin from environmental pollution.
How do you use it?
Take The Day Off should be used at the beginning of your evening skincare routine as the first cleanser before using your water-based cleanser. You need a small amount of the product to get it working. Take a quarter-size into your hands and massage it gently onto your face and neck. As you massage it, you are going to see the makeup melting. It’s very gentle to use on your eyes and lash line. My preferred method is to use a cotton bud for the stubborn pieces of lash glue. Lastly, you can use more product but I find that it gets really messy quickly.
The Results & My Experience
After using the Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm for many months now, my experience with it has not changed. My skin feels soft after I use it. It doesn’t feel oily, dry or squeaky clean like other oil-based cleansers that I’ve tried. As I have highly sensitive skin, I take a few precautions whenever I try out new products. Luckily, I don’t have many skin concerns except for the occasional breakouts and hyperpigmentation. This cleansing balm from Clinique is both odourless and has a soft texture. I haven’t experienced any breakouts using this product. In terms of hyperpigmentation, I don’t think that it can do much to tackle that because it has a low concentration of Vitamin E.
Clinique Skincare Review: Moisture Surge 100H
What is it for?
Moisture Surge 100H is a refreshing oil-free, gel-cream moisturiser that helps the skin to rehydrate itself through the day. It’s suitable for all skin types and provides a healthy-looking glow on the skin. The 100 H means that it will hydrate your skin for 100 hours. It doesn’t mean that you have to wait that long to reapply it your skin. Not all because you should be moisturising your skin every day. However, I do think by consistently using this product, it might strengthen your skin barrier over time.
What is in it?
- Aloe bio-ferment: hydrates the skin in two ways by attracting moisture and retaining moisture.
- Hyaluronic acid: replenishes and hydrates the skin giving it that dewy and healthy look.
- Activated aloe water helps the skin to absorb and retain moisture as well as reduce any blemishes.
How do use it?
Moisture Surge 100H can be used for either an AM or PM skincare routine and should be used towards the end of your routine. Due to its lightweight consistency, I would recommend using a quarter size for both your face and neck. As you massage it into your skin, you feel your skin absorbing it in. It takes less than a minute for the product to hydrate your face. Once you finish using the product, then you can apply your SPF if it is in the morning or a hydrating facial oil serum if it is in the evening.
The Results & My Experience
At first when I used this product, the thinness of the moisturiser was quite a shock! I was not expecting the consistency of the product to be light on my fingers, but it’s a bit thicker compared to the other moisturisers that I have tried out. However, I feel that the moisturiser being light did a service to the product and my experience with it. I really enjoyed using it as my skin soaked it up. It was very hydrating and there was no need to reapply it throughout the day. Another key point, I only tested the product during the day. Preferably, I like to have a thicker moisturiser for my evening routines.
Clinique Skincare Review: The Final Judgement
My final judgement? I think the Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm and the Moisture Surge 100H products will benefit:
- People with sensitive skin
- People with dehydrated, dry and oily skin
- Those who want simple and effective products to build a skincare routine
Lastly, I think it will benefit someone like me that wants a product that comes with an experience. These two Clinique products get a sensitive skin stamp of approval from me.
Would I buy these products? Yes I would.
It’s time for me to head to Sephora to get a tub of the Moisture Surge 100H and add it to my skincare rotation.
That’s it from me! A sensitive skin approved review on the Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm and the Moisture Surge 100H. If you are looking for hydrating products from the start of your skincare routine to the end, give these two products a try and see if it works for you.
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Until next time,
Folakemi
