Show some skin

I can't tell you how grateful I am to Clinique. Without wanting to sound like an advertisement, I swear that the skincare products really improved my skin. Previously, I used to just splash water & use some Ginvera or Biore facial wash. That was it. No wonder my face looked like this.

Just look at the zits on my forehead. There's one huge one hidden on the right side of the nose.

My face is definitely far from perfect but there is marked improvement and it's all thanks to Clinique. I must say that it is true, that the basic steps in skincare - cleansing, toning & moisturising, keep one's skin in the pink.

Being the Clinique fan I am, I use the Clinique 3-Step Skin care system. At the moment, I am using the cake of soap for cleansing, which is a little drying but the skin feels squeaky clean after use. Just recently, Clinique launched the liquid version of that cleansing bar. I have yet to try it but it sure looks & sounds good. Step 2, which is the toner or known as the Clarifying Lotion, can be rather strong, especially for those with sensitive skin. Good news is that they have it in varying strengths, if I may so explain it this way. Those whose skins are sensitive may opt for Number 1. Otherwise Number 2 should be all right.


The Clarifying Lotion strips away any remaining dirt that is not removed by the cleansing bar/soap. The first time I used it, I felt a little sting (which is why I say it's a little strong) but boy, when I saw what I saw on the cotton pad, the sting didn't seem that bad afterall. Perhaps I didn't use the cleanser bit properly because I don't get traces of gunk on the cotton pad these days. This Clarifying Lotion dries up/evaporates very quickly on the skin & it prepares the face for Step 3: Moisturising.

I used to think that moisturising would make the face more oily but well, well, with age (sigh!), the skin tends to be drier. The first time I discovered the wonder of Clinique's Dramatically Different Moisturising Lotion ('DDM') was when I was in Leeds. It really saved my skin from the cold, dry air in England. No wonder it's known as the skin's favourite drink! Now that I live in sunny & humid Singapore, I use the gel-based version of the moisturiser, the Dramatically Different Moisturising Gel ('DDG'). Compared to the DDM, the DDG is water-based & less rich in texture. Great light-weight stuff for the skin.

The only things that I don't observe faithfully on a regular basis are using an exfoliating scrub & mask. Otherwise, I have these products sitting in the cupboard waiting to be used whenever I remember or feel like it. Nonetheless, I'm quite happy that the 3-Step thing done on a daily basis is doing its job & it's not something I will stop doing.

P/S: I'm not receiving any commission or free products for writing this.