When you think of an iconic department store makeup counter, chances are Clinique comes to mind, touting sleek white shelves lined with pastel bottles and green packaging. With nearly a 60-year legacy, the brand has become a beauty staple across multiple generations and boasts many viral products, from its Almost Lipstick in Black Honey to mascaras, cleansing oils and more.
Clinique was created in New York City in 1968 by dermatologist Dr. Norman Orentreich and Vogue's then beauty editor Carol Phillips, and with Estée Lauder heir Leonard Lauder on board, it became one of the first clinically guided skin care brands. Thanks to Orentreich's research and Phillips' editorial eye, the brand pioneered the three-step skin care method (cleanse, exfoliate and moisturize), which has become the foundational system for many skin care routines.
This method led to the development of one of Clinique's decades-long bestselling (and viral) products: The Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion. As a part of our series From Start to Finish, TODAY's Dylan Dryer got a chance to tour the Estée Lauder R&D and Manufacturing facility in Melville, New York. This is the first time Clinique has ever let a TV crew inside its facility, and Dryer got an exclusive look at how the iconic moisturizer is made, from formula to factory floor.
The heart of the moisturizing recipe is four key ingredients: urea, hyaluronic acid, glycerin and pro-lipids. Janet Pardo, Head of Product Development for Clinique, tells TODAY that the ingredients are first tested by scientists on a 3D skin model, then combined in a specific order. Once small batches are perfected, with meticulous attention paid to factors such as temperature and spin speed, it's on to manufacturing.
According to the brand, 3.5 million units of the moisturizer are produced every year, using 5,000-ton kettles specially designed to keep up with demand. Producing a batch of the moisturizer at scale takes 12 to 14 hours. Every bottle that's filled and assembled goes through 50 quality checkpoints before it's packed and sealed in Clinique's iconic green box, ready for shoppers.
TODAY viewers have a chance to stock up on the Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+ and more Clinique bestsellers with an exclusive code. Now through Jan. 4, you can score 20% off nearly sitewide (some exclusions apply) with code TODAY.
Below, you can check out even more Shop TODAY editor-loved favorites from Clinique and save 20% with code TODAY.
Editor’s note: The code is valid nearly sitewide with exclusions on travel sizes, gift sets, products with prices marked in red, backorders, preorders and products marked not eligible for discounts.
Clinique deals previously seen on TODAY
Another iconic product from the brand is the Almost Lipstick in Black Honey, which happens to be a previous Shop TODAY Beauty Awards winner. I [Garlin] have been wearing Black Honey for nearly two decades and love it for its buildable color and moisturizing formula.
If you’re looking for a thicker moisturizer, this option is infused with a plethora of skin-loving ingredients. The brand says it can soothe dehydrated skin within three seconds after applying.
Makeup experts have previously told Shop TODAY they recommend this foundation for mature skin, since it contains skin care ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, offers natural-looking coverage and finish and won’t settle into fine lines.
This expert-approved mascara is safe for sensitive eyes and is made with a fiber-infused formula to lift and lengthen each lash gently.
“Compared to traditional mascara, I found the formula the most buildable. And since I can apply multiple layers, I’ve noticed the product adds extra length to my lashes, too,” says editorial assistant Madison San Miguel.
Clinique's three-step system starts with this fragrance-free cleanser, which has three different formulas that you can choose from separately, or the brand offers a bundle of the Clinique 3-Step Skin Care System.
- Skin Type 1: Very dry to dry skin
- Skin Type 2: Dry combination skin
- Skin Type 3: Oily combination skin
- Skin Type 4: Oily skin
For step two, this clarifying lotion provides gentle exfoliation to help remove dead skin and excess oil. The brand recommends that those who lean more on the oiler side use this step twice a day.
If you ask San Miguel, this cleansing balm is the brand's best skin care product. "I find the cleansing balm highly moisturizing and non-stripping, so after I dry my face, my face never feels tight. You also don’t get any ‘burning’ around your eyes, even when removing tough eye makeup," she says.
San Miguel says the ingredients in this serum are gentle enough for her skin type. "If you have sensitive skin, the brand claims it’s gentle enough for you, which I can attest to with the minimal redness/reaction my skin had after application," she notes.
This slim compact is perfect for mattifying foundation and quick touch-ups while on the go. The pressed powder provides sheer coverage and won't clog your pores, says the brand.
More editor-loved Clinique products
Several Shop TODAY editors say this tinted balm has been a staple in their makeup bag for years, including me. The brand offers a variety of pink and natural hues; my go-to color is Whole Lotta Honey.
"I love it because it’s easy to apply and super moisturizing, thanks to shea butter," raves editorial assistant Erica Marrison. “I personally find that the product lasts forever in my makeup bag, too, so I rarely have to replace it.”
The famous Black Honey color also comes in the form of gloss, which is packed with hydrating ingredients. “I love the color — it’s deep but not overbearing (I personally think deeper reds look best on me) and feels super hydrating. Kind of like petroleum jelly, but in a good way,” says editorial operations manager Jill Ortiz.
The brand says this mascara is formulated to create longer and lusher lashes, while looking completely natural and flake-free. “The mascara is a fantastic formula — it lengthened my lashes with zero clumps,” raves production associate Audrey Ekman. “I found that it didn’t smudge or budge for a full 14 hours, and washed off easily at the end of the day."
When you think of Clinique, you might also immediately think of this iconic perfume, which has been worn and loved by Shop TODAY. "I have been using this perfume since I was a teenager!" says associate editor Allie Wise. "As someone with a sensitive sense of smell, many traditional perfumes give me a major headache. Clinique's Happy has a fruity scent that smells delicious and stays on for hours."
How we chose
The Shop TODAY editors and writers search the internet to find the best products out there. We interview expert sources, comb through customer reviews and even use our own personal experiences to make shopping easier for our readers.
As an editorial team, we independently create content and determine coverage based on research, reporting and what we think TODAY.com readers would like to read about. The goal of our content is to provide a service and inform readers who are on the hunt for the latest products to help make their life better. Items are sold by retailer, not TODAY. Pricing and availability are accurate as of publish time. Learn more about Shop TODAY.
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