Cee Cee says…I usually wash my face with the cheaper drug store brands but my friends swear by the more expensive Clinique Liquid Facial Soap. Is there something about this product that makes it worth the extra money?
The Right Brain replies:
Clinique Liquid Facial Soap (which sells for $18.00 sells for 6.7 ounces) is formulated with sodium laureth sulfate, a milder cousin of sodium lauryl sulfate, as the primary cleansing agent. It also contains seven or eight additional secondary cleansers and conditioning agents. Here’s the ingredient list if you want to make a full comparision.
Clinique Liquid Facial Soap ingredients
Water purified, sodium laureth sulfate, sodium chloride, cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine, lauramidopropyl betaine, sodium cocoyl sarcosinate, TEA-cocoyl glutamate, di-PPG-2 myreth-10 adipate, aloe barbadensis leaf juice, PEG-120 methyl glucose dioleate, sucrose, sodium hyaluronate, cetyl triethylmonium dimethicone PEG-8 succinate, tocopheryl ethyl succinate ethyldimonium ethosulfate, butylene glycol, matricaria, hexylene glycol, polyquaternium-7, laureth 2, caprylyl glycol, sodium sulfate, EDTA, disodium EDTA, sodium benzoate, phenoxyethanol.
Are there other products that are cheaper? Sure. Freeman, for example, has a simpler primary surfactant and it’s about half the cost.
Freeman Foaming Facial Cleanser Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Chamomila Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Witch Hazel Extract, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, Rice Extract, Punica Granatum Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Grape Seed Oil, Panthenol, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Cocamidopropyl PG Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Disodium EDTA, Butylene Glycol, Methylchloroisothiazoline, Methylisothiazolinone, Limonene, Linalcol, Fragrance
While the Freeman product contains multiple natural extracts, it’s cleansing system is not as sophisticated as Clinique’s. Plus, it contains fragrance which is a no-no for products designed for sensitive skin. Finally, Freeman’s packaging is not as upscale as Clinique’s shiny chrome pump and frosted bottle. So with Clinique you’re not only paying for a more sophisticated formula but also the aesthetics and style of the Clinique name.
The Beauty Brains bottom line
Clinique is a very well formulated and nicely packaged product even though it may be a bit expensive for some people. The good news is there are plenty of other alternatives. As always, we suggest you experiment with a few different products to determine what’s right for your skin. You don’t have to buy a more expensive product just because your friends tell you it’s better.
What do YOU look for in a facial cleanser? Mildness? How well it moisturizes your skin? Or just how well it gets rid of makeup? Leave a comment about your fave face wash for the rest of the Beauty Brains community.
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{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Is liquid better than solid? I heard that liquid is, but solid doesn’t come out of your airplane allotment.
I love CeraVe cleanser, rinsed with water (and cream)–recommended by my dermatologist–a little goes a long way in the summer, though.
it is a good soap, one of the best I have tried. The best ones would be: Philosophy Purity made simple and cheap UK brand Superdrug tea tree and aloe cleansing cream (which is pretty much 10times cheaper than Philosophy)
Im gonne try it!!
Thank you.
Hi all:
Fewer ingredients in any skin care product mean a reduced potential for reactions. I swear by Olay’s gentle foaming cleanser (in a 7.0 oz tube for about $6.99!) as a much simpler and just as effective option compared to the Clinique liquid facial soap. It is dye- and fragrance-free. I look for as few fragrances and colors as possible in my skin care (for me, scent is best left for body and perfume products, and color is unnecessary unless I am using a tinted moisturizer). It makes the search a lot more challenging, but mainstream personal care companies are really starting to give the luxury brands a run for their money. I still love browsing Sephora for my makeup, though!
I used the Clinique bar soap for years, as well as most of their other skin care products. I got so stuck in the routine I was afraid to change, and since I hate any kind of fragrance in my skin care or makeup products, that deterred me even more from trying other things. But my dermatoligist gave me samples of products from Person & Covey, and I switched entierly. Their Aquanil facial cleanser works on my (normal) skin all year without being harsh but still cleaning thoroughly; their unscented shampoo and conditioner are also great. Very short ingredients list on all. The conditioner is perfect- not too heavy, but enough. And a bit cheaper than Clinique, although certainly not Suave-cheap.
Clinique is one of the worst cosmetic brands out there. Their overhyped 3 step system is awful.
I have great clear skin and maintain it with liquid Purpose from the drug store. There is even a less expensive knock off brand of the Purpose by CVS. I like it better than the Clinique which I have tried. As far as the comments about stripping one’s hair or skin of oil I have this to say: Sebum is the oily waxy substance secreted by the hair follicles which adds “oil” to skin and hair. If it is not cleaned off regularly, it can even give off an odor. Shampoos and soaps clean this substance along with other impurities from the atmosphere off of your skin. If it does not “strip” these build ups of sebum off the hair and skin, it is not cleaning it very well. You do not want a build up of sebum on the hair, scalp or skin. The yucky dirty feeling on your face after a day of being out & about are the sebum secretions mixing with your makeup. It is true that in dirtier cities like New York, your face will feel dirtier at the end of the day then lets say in Aspen. But still much of the “dirt” you feel is coming from the inside out.
I have tried many of Paula’s Choice products. All but one has been excellent. The only item I did not love was a foundation from 5 years ago. It has since been reformulatted. I love her makeup remover which is the best I’ve ever tried. It does not leave an oily residue. Her products are great and well priced. I wish they were sold in the drugstore. My only gripe is tha most women use too many products. I don’t think a woman needs more than one coat of facial moisturizer, and I think one can use the same one for day & night. Perhaps, some women use a heavier version. I think most women don’t really need a daily facial moisturizer. Human sebum secretions are usually sufficient. I think most women use too many products, and there is no reason for a toner. If all the makeup doesn’t come off in the first wash, then just repeat it. Most toners are there to make the user feel good about doing something for her skin. That doesn’t mean it is good for the skin or even neccessary Most women do not need a primer or moisturizer under their foundation. Even in so called “oil-free” formulas, the ingredient used as a slip agent for the color is alway an oil like substance whether it is calle “silicon” or soemthing else. I think people who have trouble with their skin should try leaving some of their products off it. Women are still using moisturizer to reduce the appearance of wrinkles when all they do is make the skin look a bit shiney or “dewy.” Sometimes it is too shiney because the wearer thinks it makes them look younger. Keep your money and save it in an interest bearing account for a facelift.
I STOPPED USING OLAY AND NEUTROGENA ABOUT 2 YRS AGO.OLAY AND NEUTROGENA BOTH TEST ON ANIMALS.I HAVE BEEN USING CLINIQUE FOR 2 YRS.MY DRY SKIN IS GONE.CLINIQUE DOESEN’T TEST ON ANIMALS.