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Treatment
Reviews
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Clinique Acne
Solutions
Review
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Clinique is
another big brand in the cosmetics market that has decided
to jump into acne treatment. Their redundantly named "Acne
Solutions Clear Skin System Kit" appears at first glance to
be very similar to other 3-step systems, with a mid-to-high
price range depending on where you choose to buy.
Is it a good
value? Well, that's actually rather hard to tell, seeing as
how Clinique doesn't like to reveal their full list of
ingredients. From outside sources, the active ingredients
appear to be the usual: salicylic acid for the cleanser and
lotion (to promote exfoliation) and benzoyl peroxide for the
moisturizer (to kill bacteria - also a strange choice as BP
is anything but moisturizing). Unfortunately, the precise
concentrations of those chemicals is unknown, so as to
whether the Acne Solutions kit is gentle or harsh, the best
indicator is user reviews. |
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Clinique Acne
Solutions at a
glance
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Works fairly quickly, with some users
reporting results within the first week. |
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Oil free, non-allergenic and fragrance free. |
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May help even your skin tone. |
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Many users report overly dry skin (even the
moisturizer includes drying agents). |
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Since Clinique doesn't reveal their
ingredients, one can only guess about value
and strength. |
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3 steps multiple times per day can be a
hassle, and results are dependent upon
continual use. |
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Key
Ingredients
Cleansing
Foam:
Salicylic Acid
Lotion:
Salicylic Acid
Moisturizer:
Benzoyl
Peroxide
(percentages unknown because Clinique hides them)
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Who should try
Clinique Acne Solutions
From what is
known, there's not much that sets Clinique apart from
cheaper alternatives such as Clearasil Ultra, so part of
what determines whether you should try Clinique Acne
Solutions is whether or not you trust the brand name. If you
do, and you're not sensitive to SA or BP (or your skin
hasn't yet built up a resistance to those ingredients), then
there's no harm in giving this system a try. Like many
multi-step topical products, Clinique is going to work
better if your acne is on the mild side, with surface-level
blemishes that are mainly caused by clogged pores. Some
users also recommend applying certain steps, such as the
lotion or moisturizer, less often than the directions
indicate so as to avoid harsh reactions.
Who should
not
try Clinique Acne Solutions
The most common
complaint from user reviews is excessively dry skin, which
sometimes results in an initial breakout. If you know that
your skin is sensitive or simply don't want to risk your
acne getting worse for a time, then this may not be the
solution for you. The known ingredients are also fairly
common, so if you haven't seen results with other SA or
BP-based products, the Clinique Acne Solutions system is
unlikely to be your breakthrough treatment. If price is a
factor for you, you may want to first try one of the many
similar systems that sell for $10 less, or simply consider
buying one or two individual products from Clinique, rather
than going with the whole set (maybe try using the cleanser
with a gentler moisturizer, etc.).
Average Price
$35 to $50 at
most online retailers
Alternatives
Clearasil Ultra,
Proactiv, Obagi Clenziderm
Have you tried
Clinique Acne Solutions?
Submit a user review
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