Best Clinique Products (Based On Science, NOT Hype) In 2023

And the awards for “Best Clinique Products” goes to…

Oh my, was it hard to pick. Clinique is one of the few skincare brands I bother to check out at department stores. While everyone else (yes, La Mer, I’m looking at you) asks you for a kidney for a basic moisturising cream, Clinique fills its little tubes and bottles with plenty of antioxidants, acne fighters and all sorts of goodies to help you achieve clear and bright skin – you know, the reason why you’re buying skincare in the first place.

Heck, they even have a vitamin C serum that works. You know how rare that is?! Of course, that made the cut. You want to know what else is on the list? Let’s get on with it then. Here are the best Clinique products for your skin:

About The Brand: Clinique

Clinique was founded in 1968 by beauty editor Carol Phillips and New York dermatologist Dr. Norman Orentreich. Dr Orentreich had developed a 3-step skincare routine for each patients: cleanse, exfoliate, and moisturise. Today, this skincare routine seems very basic. At the time, it was groundbreaking and helped to put Clinique on the skincare map.

The brand is famous for creating dermatologist-tested products that give you results without irritating your skin. But, if you ask me, they’re starting to lose their ground-breaking status. With so many exciting advances in skincare, Clinique’s formulas are starting to seem outdated to skincare geeks. Let’s just say, it’s not one of the first skincare counters I visit when I need a new serum, but it’s still got a few gems that are worth investing in. Read on to find out what they are.

What Are The Best Clinique Products?

Best For Sun Protection: Clinique SPF 50 Mineral Sunscreen Fluid For Face($31.00)

Warning: if you don’t like silicones, this is NOT for you. Me, I don’t mind them. For starters, silicones don’t suffocate skin. That’s a common myth that needs to die. Plus, they make the texture easy to spread, fill in fine lines and wrinkles so they look smaller and make skin velvety soft. But the stars of the show are zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, two gentle UV filters that protect from the entire UV range without irritating skin. For a mineral sunscreen, it’s lightweight and fast-absorbing, but it does leave a white cast behind. I guess not everything is perfect.

Available at: Beauty Bay, Boots, Clinique, Selfridges

Related: Are Silicones Bad For Skin?

Confused what products and ingredients you can mix and match together safely? Download your FREE “How To Combine Actives Like A Pro” cheatsheet to find out:

Best Makeup Remover: Clinique Take The Day Off ($28.50)

I swear by Clinique Take The Day Off. It’s also the makeup remover I recommend most often to my clients, regardless of their skin type. Its mix of emollients and plant oils quickly removes all traces of dirt, excess oil, and waterproof makeup from skin without drying it out. The smooth texture glides smoothly on the skin, making the cleansing job a breeze. It’s gentle, effective, and fragrance-free. Literally anyone can use it.

Available at: Boots, Clinique, Look Fantastic, Sephora, and Ulta

Related: How To Choose The Best Cleanser For Your Skin Type

Best For Anti-Aging: Clinique Smart Night™ Clinical MD Multi-Dimensional Repair Treatment Retinol ($73.00)

A medium strength (0.3%) retinol treatment to fade away wrinkles, dark spots, and acne. Retinol, a form of Vitamin A, is the real deal that can make wrinkles smaller, not just look smaller to the naked eye. It works in three ways: it fights free radicals before they give you wrinkles, speeds up the skin’s natural exfoliating process for a smoother and brighter appearance, and boosts firm-boosting collagen. The catch? It’s irritating. Clinique has paired with niacinamide, another actives that tackles wrinkles, dark spots, and acne AND that also has soothing properties to minimise any risk of irritations. If you’re ready to upgrade your retinol game, but not for higher, 0.5% and higher %, this is a great formula to consider.

Available at: Boots, Clinique, Sephora, and Ulta

Best For Brightening: Clinique Fresh Pressed Daily Booster With Pure Vitamin C 10% ($85.00)

I know what you’re thinking: isn’t 10% Vitamin C too low? Not if you have sensitive skin. High concentrations of vitamin C can sting and irritate your skin, putting you off it. You don’t want that. Vitamin C is an antiaging superstar: it fights free radicals, boosts collagen and brightens the complexion. Even at 10%. The real con is that it has no ferulic acid or vitamin E, two antioxidants that can boost the effectiveness of vitamin C – you need to get them from somewhere else. Still, Clinique Fresh Pressed Daily Booster With Pure Vitamin C 10% has plenty other antioxidants (ironic, isn’t it?) so it’ll still do a lot to prevent the signs of aging. Bottom line: if you have sensitive skin, this is worth a try.

Available at: Clinique, Nordstrom, Sephora and Ulta

Related: 5 Antiaging Superstars You Should Add To Your Skincare Routine

Best For Acne: Clinique Acne Solutions™ Acne + Line Correcting Serum ($49.00)

To fight acne, you need salicylic acid. Clinique offers a few salicylic acid exfoliants, but they’re all loaded with alcohol and other drying ingredients. This one is the exception. It features 1% salicylic acid in a smooth silicone base to unclog pores from within and get rid of blackheads, whiteheads, and pimples. Oh, and with regular use, it keeps them from coming back too. Plus, it’s enriched with antioxidants to fight premature aging as well. FYI, there are plenty of 2% salicylic acid exfoliants out there that give you results faster. But if you have sensitive skin that can’t tolerate them, this is a great alternative for your skin type.

Available at: Boots, Clinique, and Ulta

Related: The Best Skincare Routine For Oily Skin

Best For Oily Skin: Clinique Acne Solutions™ Oil-Control Cleansing Mask ($28.00)

Excess oil is the cause of all skin woes for oily skin. It makes it look like a frying pan, melts away makeup, and causes blackheads, whiteheads, and pimples. This is where clay masks come in. Clays absorb excess oil, helping to keep your skin clear and matte. There’s also 1% salicylic acid here to unclog pores from within. Granted, salicylic acid works better in leave-on than rinse-off products, but it’ll still do something. Overall, a great treatment to prevent acne.

Available at: Boots, Clinique, and Sephora

Related: Are Foaming Cleansers Bad For Skin?

Best For Dry Skin: Clinique Moisture Surge™ Hydrating Supercharged Concentrate ($44.00)

Hydration is the foundation of healthy skin. The more moisture your skin has, the softer, plumper, and brighter it looks. Plus, moisture fills in fine lines and wrinkles, so they look smaller to the naked eye. This serum is packaged with hydrating ingredients, including urea and hyaluronic acid, that deliver a waterfall of moisture to your skin. If you’ve tried everything to heal dry skin or you just want to give your skin an extra hydration boost, give this a go.

Available at: Beauty Bay, Boots, Clinique, Sephora, and Ulta

What Are The Best Clinique Products For Wrinkles?

• Clinique Smart Night™ Clinical MD Multi-Dimensional Repair Treatment Retinol ($73.00): A medium-strength retinol serum that fights wrinkles, acne, and dark spots. It also has niacinamide to counteract the irritating potential of retinol and soothe skin. Available at Boots, Clinique, Sephora, and Ulta.
• Clinique Fresh Pressed Daily Booster With Pure Vitamin C 10% ($85.00): A Vitamin C that brightens skin, fades away dark spots, and prevents wrinkles – and is suitable even for sensitive skin. Available at Clinique, Nordstrom, Sephora and Ulta.

What Are The Best Clinique Products For Acne?

• Clinique Acne Solutions™ Acne + Line Correcting Serum ($49.00): A 1% salicylic acid exfoliant to unclog pores and treat blackheads, whiteheads, and pimples. It’s gentle enough even for sensitive skin. Available at Boots, Clinique, and Ulta.
• Clinique Acne Solutions™ Oil-Control Cleansing Mask ($28.00): This clay mask absorb excess oil to prevent breakouts, blackheads, and looking like a disco ball. Available at Boots, Clinique, and Sephora.

What Are The Best Clinique Products For Dark Spots?

• Clinique Fresh Pressed Daily Booster With Pure Vitamin C 10% ($85.00): Vitamin C isn’t just for wrinkle-prevention. It also brightens the complexion and fades away dark spots. At this concentration, it takes its time to work BUT it’s gentle enough for sensitive skin. Available at Clinique, Nordstrom, Sephora and Ulta.

What Are The Best Clinique Products For Sensitive Skin?

• Clinique SPF 50 Mineral Sunscreen Fluid For Face($31.00): A gentle mineral sunscreen that provides broad spectrum protection without irritating skin. Available at Beauty Bay, Boots, Clinique, Selfridges.
• Clinique Fresh Pressed Daily Booster With Pure Vitamin C 10% ($85.00): If you want to use a Vitamin C serum, but all the ones you’ve tried so far irritate your skin, give this one a go. It has a smaller concentration that prevents wrinkles and brightens skin and is better tolerated by sensitive skin. Available at Clinique, Nordstrom, Sephora and Ulta.

Is Clinique Cruelty-Free?

Owned by Estee Lauder, Clinique is NOT cruelty-free. While they don’t usually test on animals, they make an exception in countries where animal testing is required by law.

The Pros Of Clinique Skincare

Clinique is one of the few department store brands that pack their products with science-backed actives, like Vitamin C and retinol, that are really proven to fight wrinkles, dark spots, and acne. They give you smaller concentrations than their competitors because their thing is all about being sensitive skin-friendly. You get the actives that work, but not the irritation that comes when you use too much of them.

The Cons Of Clinique Skincare

Back when it first started, Clinique revolutionised the way we do skincare. But since then, they’ve been resting on their laurels. Most of their products are just overpriced moisturising lotions or drying anti-acne medications. Even when they give you actives that work, like retinol and Vitamin C, they do so in smaller concentrations than other brands. They’re not the most effective at treating premature aging or acne, BUT their smaller concentrations means their products are often suitable for sensitive skin.

The Verdict

In the past few decades, Clinique has been resting on its laurels. Not as revolutionary as it used to be when it first started out, the brand is a mixed bag. Next to overpriced moisturisers and drying anti-acne medication, you’ll find science-backed products that can tackle acne, wrinkles, and dark spots without irritating skin. In other words, do your research before going to the skincare counter, so you can invest in their gems and leave the duds on the shelves.

About Gio

Hi, I'm Gio. I'm a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is skin coach and writer on a mission to help you achieve your best skin day ever - every day. I bust skincare myths and debunk marketing jargon to help you figure out what's worth the splurge and what's best left on the shelf - using science, not hype. I also offer skincare consultations to help you create the best skincare routine for your unique needs.