Clinique has been a leader in safe and sensitive skin friendly formulations for decades. But how does their men’s skincare range compare to the rest of their robust line of offerings? Today, we’re going to be looking into the Clinique range designed specifically for men to tell you a little bit about the similarities and differences. So without further adieu, let’s get started!
What are the Best Skin Care Products of 2024?
Who is the Clinique For Men Range For?
The Clinique For Men range was designed specifically with men in mind, but most of this products can be used by all skin types. That being said, there are a few products, like their Mattifying Moisturizer, that are geared towards those with more oily or combination skin types, and may not be enough for those on the drier side.
The Range
Unlike many other big name brands, Clinique actually has a fairly large array of products available within their men’s range. This includes a 3-4 step daily system, which is reminisce of the 3 step system that put Clinique on the map, as well as treatment products, and a full range of shaving products as well. This allows you to really customize your routine and create a ritual that suits your specific skin concerns and skin type.
Looking at each category a bit more closely, their first tier of products is considered to be the building blocks of a successful and effective skincare routine. This includes things like cleansers, toners and moisturizers. There are currently two sets of Clinique’s 3 Step System that are designed specifically for men. This includes one set for those with normal to dry skin and one set for those with oily skin. Each set comes with a face wash, an exfoliating tonic and a moisturizer, with slight differences in formulations to be more compatible with certain skin types. For example, the Men’s Normal to Dry 3 Step System includes the original Men’s Face Wash, Exfoliating Tonic and Moisturizing lotion, while the Men’s Oil 3 Step System includes an Oil Control Face Wash, Oil Control Exfoliating Tonic and Oil Control Mattifying Moisturizer.
From here, there are number of additional options available to help you target more specific skincare concerns including shaving and sun protection. Some of the best sellers from the Clinique for Men range are treatment based products including their Face Scrub and Post-Shave Soother. The Face Scrub is an ideal option for all skin types that uses exfoliating particles to physically remove dead skin cells and help with ingrown hairs as well. The Post-Shave Soother also helps to prevent some of the negative effects that shaving can produce. This formula helps to soothe razor burn, and prevent post-shaving dryness.
Formula Focus
Looking at a few of the formulas behind the Clinique For Men range, one of the best places to start is with cleansers. Their original Men’s Face Wash was designed to thoroughly cleansing the skin without stripping or drying, making this an excellent option for those with normal to dry skin types.
The Face Wash starts off with a base of water, sodium laureth sulfate, sodium chloride, cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine and lauramidopropyl betaine. Starting off with sodium laureth sulfate, this ingredient has its own list of pros and cons. Technically, this is a gentler alternative to sodium lauryl sulfate, meaning that the likelihood for irritation is lessened. But, this surfactant is still considered to be one of the harsher foaming and cleansing agents out there, so those with sensitive, dry or mature skin types may find this product too stripping for everyday use. Sodium chloride, otherwise known as table salt, is actually fairly common in skin care products. This ingredient doesn’t offer much in the way of skin benefits, but can be an effective thickener to help produce a more appealing texture. Cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine and lauramidopropyl betaine are both surfactants, but unlike sodium laureth sulfate, these ingredients are considered to be a much milder foaming agents, which still cleanses the skin without overly drying out or stripping the skin.
The rest of this formula is actually fairly simplistic, which is similar to many of the clinique products. In order to prevent irritation and sensitivity, Clinique often creates more minimalistic formulas. Some of the additional ingredients that are included in this simple yet effective facial cleanser include aloe vera leaf juice and hyaluronic acid. These two ingredients boost the hydration in an otherwise heavy-duty cleanser, making it more suitable for normal to dry skin types.
How To Use The Clinique For Men Range?
Depending on the product, the usage will vary considerably. With that said however, these products have been designed to work together to create a full skincare and shaving routine. Because of this, you can feel free to mix and match products to create a daily routine that works best for you and your skin type.
Review Recap
Looking at products like the original Face Wash from Clinique For Men, we can get a sense of how these products have been received through online reviews. Currently, the Face Wash for normal to dry skin types currently has 37 reviews and an overall rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars. Most of the reviews were overwhelming positive, though it is worth mentioning that many reviewers were quick to point out that this product worked best for those with oily and acne prone skin. But we’d love to hear from you! Have you tried anything from the Clinique For Men range? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section down below!
