A full list of products and morning/evening routine can be found at this blog. Its a fairly uncomplicated routine of cleanser + toner + Vitamin C serum + cream (day/night).
What were my expectations:
- Lighten pigmentation
- Hydrate skin, so that it is visibly more supple
- Not damage my skin barrier – so no break outs or changing the combination status of my skin
- Also, lighten my skin as Vitamin C is a melanin inhibitor.
First impression (my skin a month ago)
I apologise in advance for my hideous photography.
Fine line below my eyes starting to develop and plenty of hyper-pigmentation to go around.
My skin today
I don’t want you to focus on my pores, but instead notice how the fine lines below my nose and close to my eye have lessened. In English, my skin is certainly more hydrated and supple.
My pigmentation has not lightened. But my skin is visibly “brighter” – not whiter – which is of course disappointing.
I have received some compliments but more tellingly, many Aunties have just stared at my face. You know what I mean. Instead of asking me what I do, its the stare.
Anything unusual about using Vitamin C?
A common complaint of using Vitamin C for the first time is that it stings and causes some individuals to break out. Generally the stinging can last a few days.
The good news is I did not break out. Phew. The not so good news is I did get really tiny blackheads – which is not a deal breaker. Secondly, the Vitamin C stinging lasted a full three weeks.
What worked?
- The Vitamin C powder cleanser works better at night. Surprisingly, it helps to follow the instructions. I get a better result when my face is wet and I bring the cleanser to a foam in the palm of my hands and then apply it to my face, leaving it on for a minute.
- I had a 20 minute facial a fortnight ago, which included a timed 2 minute glycolic peel. I don’t regularly exfoliate and I think this helped with the uptake of Vitamin C into my skin.
- It’s important to push the product into your face, especially the Vitamin C serum. I have been using 2-3 drops of Argan oil with the Vitamin C serum to do this.
- The amount of pressure is important. In this Emma Hardie video, notice how the lady is very firmly patting the product into the furrows and is applying considerable pressure. You want to do a similar thing with the Clinique Vitamin C serum.
What appears to be questionable?
It’s too early to say if the products did or did not work. But here are my initial impressions:
- I am not a fan of the toner. It contains so much alcohol that I can actually smell the denatured stuff in the palm’s of my hand. Plus it stings. Think your Dad’s Old Spice aftershave lotion when you were growing up…that level of pain without the pleasant smell.
- Both the day and night cream are OK. They haven’t caused me to breakout or are difficult to use.
- I am indifferent to the cleanser.
Closing remarks
A major risk factor whenever you complete switch your day and night routine is the products do not suit you at all and/or you damage your skin barrier…This has not happened with the Clinique products and this is a tick in a massive box for the brand.
Drop me a line if you have any comments at email@happyskindays.com
See also The importance of skin barriers, Should I use a topical Vitamin C serum?