Clinique Skin Care Review

Intro
After beginning to use Clinique makeup earlier this year, I knew something was still missing. The makeup was great, and I loved my new look, but my present skin care system was very deficient. Not surprisingly, it seems as I get older I continue to seek better skin care. I went from barely taking care of my skin at all to using Mary Kay. While the Mary Kay was much better than using nothing, I started to feel like I needed more, and since I was enjoying the Clinique makeup so much, I decided I'd give their skin care a go.

Clinique Counter
I went to an entirely different store in a different mall than the one where I had been getting my makeup, for no other reason other than it was closer. Before I had been in Macy's, and this time in Von Maur. There were at least four Clinique workers milling about. I mentioned that I needed more foundation and touchbase for my eyes, and said I was also interested in trying the skin care line. They moved me on to a woman named Maureen who doesn't work at that store regularly, but I was told they have visiting experts that go around store to store, and her expertise was the skin care line. Lucky me to be there that day!

The Hand Test
Maureen sat me down in a chair and showed me the line on my hand, as I had a full face of Clinique makeup already on. I barely leave my house without it. When I take my kids to school in the morning, I refuse to get out of the car and wear my sunglasses, even in the rain if I can get away with it. Maureen asked me a few questions first, such as my natural hair color (I only have highlights, I swear, but those grays are fast approaching!), and any problematic areas, like where I'm oily and dry, and fine lines (again, fast approaching!)

A piece of Scotch tape was then applied to the back of my hand, and Maureen explained everyone has this; it's not just me. She peeled off the tape and you could see lots of dead skin. Yuck! Who wants that on their hands, let alone their face! Although, I realize that's part of the sell. She then showed me a mild soap that washed my hand, then their second stop, which is an exfoliator to get rid of that dead skin. Yes, please! The next step was a moisturizer that went on nicely, and she showed me how when she applied that to my other hand that hadn't 'been washed and exfoliated, it foamed up as it was reacting to the dead skin. She also threw in a deeper exfoliator and an eye cream that will not just hide those fine lines but work to repair them. Again, yes, please!

The Use
I used the steps as prescribed, and I have to admit my skin has never felt this good. And anyone 40 or older can tell you if your skin is feeling really good, it's something to smile about (not too much to get more lines, though). And once I wash my face with the soap, and do the exfoliation, I can see still more makeup coming off on the cotton, so I know I wasn't properly cleansing my face before. My makeup seems to go on much more smoothly now as well, and it doesn't seem to be sinking in to my face.

The Products
Liquid Facial Soap Mild, Clarifying Lotion, Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion, Turnaround Concentrate, and Repairwear Intensive Eye Cream

Conclusion
I have a sinus and allergy problem right now that makes me feel like my head weights 40 pounds, so obviously I didn't mind sitting in a chair while someone rubs skin creams and lotions into my hand. I bought all five products she showed me, and while it sounds like a a hefty price, as with that and my foundation and touchbase, the total was $177, it really isn't that much when you break it down. And the first two steps of the skin care are in huge economy bottles that look like they'll last me until my face is just too far gone for me to try and help it anymore. My overall thought is this, who really knows or can prove that any of this stuff is helpful for our skin. But ... it was explained to me in a way that made sense, and it makes me feel better about myself, and with my skin feeling better as well, in the end, I guess that's all that matters.