Hi everyone! Tropical weathers are tough to deal with. One day there’s a temperature of 37 degrees and moderate humidity, the next day you have a bout of showers that hardly lowers the temperature, but causes a surge in humidity levels. My skin freaks out in such conditions. 😐 It’s been long that I have been religiously following a Cleansing-Toning-Moisturizing routine,as that’s the best way to beat moody weather blues. 🙂 I started off with Neutrogena, and presently continuing with Clinique.
I have been extremely happy with the results from Neutrogena. Liquid Neutrogena, and its Oil Free Moisture for Combination Skin have been inseparable parts of my skincare regime. Two of its toners – Neutrogena Deep Clean Blackhead Eliminating Toner and Fine Fairness Toner gave me good enough results. However, the paraben content in Neutrgena products started to put me off lately. That’s when on my last visit to the Clinique counter, the SA there advised me the very convenient 3-Step Skincare System. 🙂
Clinique has this 3-step system for 4 skin types –
- Skin type 1 – Very Dry to Dry
- Skin type 2 – Dry Combination
- Skin type 3 – Combination Oily
- Skin type 4 – Oily
Get more information here.
My skin falls in category 3. But seeing my apprehension, the SA there suggested me to go ahead and try its 3-Step kit before switching on to full size products. It has been four months since. 🙂
The Clinique 3-Step kit comes for INR 2250. It is available on Nykaa and at Clinique outlets.
My Experience with Clinique 3-Step Skincare System for Skin type 3 :
The packaging overall and of individual products is smart and aesthetic. Three products in a box with separate compartments ensure an organized and travel-friendly bundle of skincare.
Step 1 – Liquid Facial Soap
Description :
Our guiding dermatologists believe in simple, effective cleansing: soap and water. Soft, non-drying lather cleans gently, rinses easily. In 3 skin-typed formulas.
Protects skin’s natural moisture balance so there’s no taut or dry feeling.
The Clinique Liquid Facial Soap is a transparent gel-like substance, with a runny consistency. It comes in a 50ml green, translucent tube with a flip-cap. The cleanser is gentle on the skin, lathers well and cleanses effectively. It has a mild fragrance that goes away when you wash it off. However, those with zero-tolerance to fragrances may find it bothersome. But I love the way it makes my skin squeaky clean after a long day outdoors. 🙂 Only downside? it contains SLS. 🙁 Not something I had expected.
Step 2 – Clarifying Lotion 3
Description :
Dermatologist-developed formula sweeps away dulling flakes and excess oil that can lead to breakouts. Preps skin to be more receptive to hydration.
Leaves skin looking cleaner, more refined.
Don’t get swayed by the fancy name, this is nothing but a toner. 😀 It is a pale pink liquid that comes in a 100ml sturdy, transparent bottle with a green screw cap. Now this thing smells highly of alcohol. It is pretty evident when you open the cap, or bring a cotton soaked in it closer to your face. If you are someone whose skin is irritable to alcohol, this product is not for you. 🙁 The Clarifying Lotion 3 also contains high amounts of alcohol (now you know where the fragrance comes from), and it features at the top of the ingredient list. Initially, the fragrance was a big put off to me and it somewhat irritated my eyes too, but now I have worked around a way and keep my eyes closed while using this toner.
But everything else apart, this is a magnificent clarifying product. 🙂 It removes all the excess oil and grease that a cleanser might have left behind. Thankfully it does not dehydrate my skin, which I was skeptical of due to the presence of alcohol in it. Rather it further cleanses and tones my skin, prepping it for some good moisture absorption. 🙂
Step 3 – Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel
Description :
Dermatologist-developed formula combines oil-free hydration with skin-strengthening ingredients.
Your daily moisturizer helps skin look younger, longer.
This comes in a 30ml translucent tube. The product itself is yellow in color, and has a thin, runny consistency. It spreads easily and evenly across the face, and I only need a teeny-weeny amount for the entire face. The fragrance is very mild, hardly noticeable at all. The texture of the Clinique “Dramatically Different” Moisturizing Gel indeed is quite different from what I have used before, and it is instantly absorbed in the skin. It is extremely lightweight, and does not weigh down my face with excess moisture. It hydrates well, does not clog pores, and actually feels quite comfortable on the skin. 🙂
I use it beneath my Neutrogena Sunblock, and before I put my makeup on. It has cucumber and barley extracts, known for soothing and hydrating the skin, also imparting elasticity. It also has sodium hyaluronate and caffeine, which help fight skin-ageing. I’m pretty happy with the Clinique Moisturizing Gel, and this feels so perfect in the humid months. 🙂
The compact size of all the products in the kit ensures I can carry them anywhere hassle-free. A kit lasts me around two months. Surprisingly, the product that gets over first is among the three the Clarifying Lotion! I can certainly find a difference in my skin now. But I try to include a serum too with my regular CTM routine, as well as include masks and exfoliators. So it might well be that the products in conjunction work together for a better skin texture. But definitely the 3-step played a major role! I won’t say that I don’t get pimples at all, but so much is dependent on our lifestyle and food intake as well. It is unfair to expect miraculous results from a skincare product when we aren’t just as careful in taking care of our health. 🙂
I also have not noticed any noticeable reduction in the size of my pores, but most certainly I have not experienced any ugly heads whatsoever ever since I started using the 3-Step kit from Clinique. The products undeniably work in keeping the skin clean I say. 🙂
The Final Verdict :
Overall I am quite happy with Clinique’s 3-Step Skincare System. I’m glad I found a match for my combination-oily skin type with Clinique, and that they have products that cater to my skin needs. Talking of the kit itself, it is a very convenient way to try out these products before you switch over to their full sizes. It is also quite useful to carry around in your travel bags, and the packaging is pretty good.
However, the presence of SLS in its Facial Soap and alcohol in the Clarifying Lotion is bit of a turn off. Nevertheless, this has been my CTM routine over the past few months, and I’m not intending to change it anytime soon, even though I’m on the lookout of an alcohol-free toner at the moment. My favorite of the three could have been its Clarifying Lotion given how amazingly it cleans my skin and pores, but the strong alcohol fragrance makes it a close second. The Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel is my favorite product in the kit with its lightweight texture and super hydrating properties. You see it takes time to switch over skincare products, it doesn’t come easy to me. 🙂
My Rating : 4/5
What’s your skincare regime in the summers? Do you follow a CTM routine?