Clinique

Clinique is one of the world's leading brands of prestige skin care, makeup and fragrance products. It was launched by Estée Lauder Inc. in 1968 as the first dermatologist-guided, allergy-tested, and fragrance-free cosmetic brand. Clinique was at that time different from most cosmetic companies in that its goal was to meet individual skin care needs by categorizing skin types. Its lower prices can be thought of Estée Lauder's budget line when compared to other Lauder divisions like Prescriptives, Origins, or Estée Lauder's own line.

The 3-Step Skin Care System

Clinique was originally based on the 3-Step Skin Care System (often abbreviated to simply 3-Step), which is a system of skin care based on cleansing via Clinique-formulated "facial soap", exfoliating by a toner branded as "Clarifying Lotion", and moisturizing with the "Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion". Since Clinique categorizes skin types, the elements in all three steps of the 3-Step System are tailored for these different types. For example, the "combination" skin type uses the "mild" soap and toner strength "2".

3-Step is still central to the Clinique brand. At each of their cosmetic counters, Clinique consultants interact with customers and use a specially designed "Clinique Computer" to find out the customer's skin type (dry, combination dry, combination oily, or oily) and provide the products that will best suit the customer's needs.

Clinique For Men

Clinique's "For Men" range has proven to be one of the worlds popular and successful Men's grooming ranges, with an extensive collection including shaving supplies including skin preps, facial mosturisers & washes, deodorant, lip balm and even their own unique Men's fragrance entitled, Happy. Their 3-Step program for Men includes Face Soap, Scruffing Lotion (Ranging in different Strengths) & M-Lotion.

The Men's Magazine, FHM voted Clinique for Men the best Men's grooming product range of 2005.

Happy

Clinique's own brand of fragrance entitled, "Happy" is advertised as being "a hint of citrus, a wealth of flowers, a mix of emotions and a chic, modern, multi-layered sparkling floral." The fragrance was also devopled into a body wash, body smoother & a body cream. Happy comes in both a Male version and Female version and commonly retails at $29.50 per 50ml. The Happy range has since developed into other fragrances, including "Happy To Be", "Happy Heart", and "Happy in Bloom". Clinique have also released three separate fragrances to the Happy range, entitled "Aromatics Elixir", "Simply", and "Wrappings".

Expansion

Clinique's line has expanded to include additional skin care products, makeup and cosmetics, fragrance, haircare, and additional men's grooming products. Clinique also has a facial care line called "CX" which contains products targeted at specific skin concerns such as Rosacea, irritated skin and stretch marks associated with pregnancy.

Clinique has also recently launched "Derma White", a new line, developed by Korean dermatologists, to address pigmentation in the skin. Derma White uses Black out yeast to break up the pigment into smaller fragments and exfoliants to help remove them from the skin quicker. There is also a Vitamin C serum claimed to improve the skin's clarity.

Trivia

Clinque's first moisturizer, Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion, while "dermatologist tested," contained lanolin, a known comedogenic (pore-clogging) ingredient. In fact it contained lanolin until the late-90s. Also, its oily skin toner IV contains acetone, a harsh solvent found in fingernail polish remover.
Clinque's advertising or packaging has not changed since its inception. Ads feature extreme close-ups of indivdual products on a white background with no text.

External links

http://www.clinique.com - Clinique's Official International Website
http://www.clinique.co.uk - Clinique's Official UK Website
http://www.esteelauder.com/international.html - Official Estée Lauder website
http://www.elcompanies.com/ - The Official Estée

Skin care | Cosmetics