Three steps, three products, three minutes

It is so overwhelming to see a plethora of skincare products stocked on store shelves or displayed on cosmetic counters. Choosing the best ones can be such a dilemma. Usually, going to the dermatologist is a great last resort but it leaves you feeling like you’re entering a 12-step skincare program.

With today’s modern lifestyle, who on earth has the time to cleanse, tone, buff, whiten, defy aging and moisturize the face religiously, as in twice a day? (Unless you are a beauty junkie; then I would understand.) Hey, we are all entitled to certain lapses in our beauty regimen. However, falling off from the most basic skincare won’t lead you to great skin.

The question is, can great skin be created? Most definitely! It all starts with just a three-step system, which is to cleanse, tone/exfoliate, and moisturize. And the brand that pioneered these steps was Clinique.

It all started in the ‘60s when Vogue editor Carol Philips featured an interview with Dr. David Orentreich, Clinique’s guiding dermatologist. Deeply impressed with the products, the Lauder family acquired the company. The three-step system is based on a core group of timeless, custom-fit pieces, which start with the Facial Soap, Clarifying Lotion and Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion that leave your skin refreshed and conditioned, so you can sleep with a clean conscience.

"The skin hasn’t changed. The foundation is still the same. It’s the people’s lifestyle and environment that have changed dramatically," says Yen Chong, Clinique’s global communications manager. "The three-step system is the genesis, style, bread and butter of Clinique." It corrects the skin condition by exfoliating and hydrating the skin to the most optimum level.

When you come across the word "exfoliation," treatments such as chemical peels and micro-dermabrasion come to mind. Sadly, these can cause a rapid thinning of stratum corneum, making way for skin irritation. Plus, potential bacteria can penetrate the skin and make it more photosensitive.

On the bright side, Dr. Anthony Rawlings, the world’s top exfoliation guru, believes that daily exfoliation is a form of exercise. It is the best bet for helping the skin help itself. With Clinique’s Clarifying Lotion, the skin is physically exfoliated by sweeping the cotton pad across the face, which helps remove dead cells and prepares the skin for the lotion’s chemical exfoliants – salicylic acid and glycerol. The result – dermatologist-developed radiance.

After exfoliating the skin, it is necessary to build a better barrier. The skin has a natural protective layer formed by the combination of sebum and sweat, which is called "acid mantle protection." Most people tend to strip away all the oil, leaving the skin dry. Dehydrated skin is a precursor to skin problems because it lacks water. Chong explains that Clinique’s Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion protects the skin because it mimics the skin’s moisture balance.

Clinique has always been at the forefront of technology. Since the brand is dermatologist-developed, they constantly create new products like the liquid facial soap, which effectively and gently cleanses skin to prepare it for exfoliation, making it smooth, soft and comfortable. "The liquid soap has three formulations but we retained the function of the original soap, which is to gently cleanse the skin," says Chong.

There are three hardworking formulas to match your skin type. If you are Skin Type I, the Liquid Facial Soap Extra-Mild is designed for very dry and delicate skin. This non-foaming lotion is made with chamomile (an anti-irritant), which melts into the skin, dissolving dirt and impurities. Liquid Facial Soap Mild is for those with Skin Type II or dry to combination skin. This clear gel formula is rich and frothy and doesn’t disrupt the skin’s pH balance. It contains aloe and sucrose to leave skin refreshed and conditioned. For Skin Types III and IV or oily skin, the Liquid Facial Soap Oily Skin formula will work best. It contains saw palmetto (extract from a special palm tree) that controls sebum production, giving a cooling and tingling sensation. Custom-fit skincare, indeed.

Clinique is definitely a modern brand that endures through time because of its effective products. The brand is also changing its packaging, bringing a fashionable touch and a fresh new feel in line with trends. Take for example the soap. Remember its green opaque packaging? Well, now it has a three-piece dish with a draining tray, which prevents a short life span by keeping it dry. The frosted material has a soft and luxurious texture. It is more durable and resistant to impact, which makes it great for traveling. Chong concludes, "We brought the latest and enhanced packaging to our products but we stayed true to the old design that customers associate with."

Because Clinique’s performance never goes out of function and fashion, the brand believes that we all deserve great skin. And it just takes three steps with three products in just three minutes.

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Clinique is available at Rustan’s Department Stores.