Clinique’s 3-Step Skincare Systems was introduced more than 20 years ago, but exfoliation has always been an important part of their total skincare process (actually, exfoliation is an important part of any skincare routine).
Starting now (the end of December), Clinique will be unveiling a new set of products that provide effective, easy, quick exfoliation featuring three new formulations. The results are supposed to be similar to actual dermatological formulations such as glycolic peels and microdermabrasion, but these are for “at home” use. There are three new products: Turnaround Once a Week Radiance Peel; Turnaround Instant Facial 2.5 oz.; and Turnaround Body Lotion 5 fl. oz.
I got a chance to try all three products prior to launch, and I’m very excited about them!
I started with the Body Cream $28.50, with 11 unique, major ingredients to aid moisturization and retention of moisture. The light cream offers a nice, gentle, but very effective moisturization even on dry, itchy skin. And, there’s gentle exfoliation activity as well, to slough off dead, dry skin cells even when you forget to exfoliate as you might normally do. This is not an exciting product– it doesn’t smell like the tropics, or a flower garden. What it does have that I love is the ability to tame even the roughest dry skin. I have been slathering it with abandon on my body, especially my ankles and feet that seem to be the driest this time of year. The cream fixes the dullness and dryness in seconds!
I also liked the Turnaround Instant Facial $36.50 because it is a five-minute treatment that is easy to use and feels fairly gentle. The rich cream has a slightly gritty feel and provides both physical and chemical exfoliation that you control with how much time you keep it on (I did it less than 5 minutes because I have super-sensitive skin) and how vigorously you massage off the cream with water after the treatment. My skin was glowing and soft, but not irritated. Key ingredients in this product includes an advanced mixture of gentle efoliating and moisturizing ingredients including chestnut extract, salicylic acid, acetyl glucosamine, salvia sclarea extract, adenosine phosphate an creatine and exfoliating beads of lauryl methacryalate, diatomaceous earth, and glycol dimethacrylate crosspolymer and caffeine to calm and soothe skin and help avoid irritation.
I was less enthusiastic to try the Once a Week Radiance Peel $55.00 with a two-step process, but I’m glad I did. Empty one of 8 vials of liquid (one for each of 8 consecutive weeks of treatment onto a cotton pad or bowl and apply it to your face. (if you feel some stinging it is part of the exfoliation process) and then rub the “post-treatment” calming cream over that to stop the stinging and to moisturize. I was worried about using this, but I worried needlessly. Clinique’s products are famous for being kind to skin, and I honestly didn’t feel a lot of stinging or irritation or even redness from this product, which surprised me. My skin didn’t look like I’d had a professional microdermabrasion treatment but my skin looked brighter and felt discern-ably softer. I’m willing to go out on a limb and say that after 8 weeks, my skin would definitely be seriously improved. When you consider that you get 8 weeks of treatment for the price, it’s a good value, too.
When you’re purchasing something like this to put on your skin it helps to know what’s in it. The first step (vial of liquid) has salicylic acid, acetyl glucosamine, lactobionic acid, rice brand extract, chestnut extract, and salvia sclarea extract — all of which are known to help gently exfoliate the skin. The second step (Turnaround calming cream) has sodium hyaluronate and shea butter–both super-hydrators, plus sea whip extract (to comabt redness and irritation), linoleic acid, cholesterol and hydergenated lecithin to help keep moisture in your skin, and the powerful antioxidant properties of green tea.