Clinique had a pore minimizing range before – I distinctly remember it because many years ago, I once used a Clinique pore minimizing serum. Clinique has now upgraded their range to Pore Refining Solutions. Pores you see, can’t really be minimized, but they can be made to appear refined 🙂
There are 3 products in the Pore Refining Solutions range – Stay-matte Hydrator, Correcting Serum and Instant Perfector. The ingredients have been upgraded, not only the name and it is now supposed to be even more effective than it was before. Here’s a quick run down on each of the products in the range and what they do.
Clinique Pore Refining Solutions – 3 new products
The new Pore Refining Solutions Correcting Serum contains salicylic acid and acetyl glucosamine which help exfoliate skin and keep pores clean. What we were told at the product launch a couple of months back, is that part of the reasons pores look visible is sometimes due to the build up of skin cells that don’t get exfoliated properly. So, if you feel your skin is looking a bit holey, I would suggest you take an exfoliator to it for a start. You will immediately see results.
Thereafter, the Correcting Serum will, with regular use, maintain that exfoliation process while balancing oil and strengthening the skin cells so they remain firm. Notice how babies or children don’t have any visible pores? Its all that lovely young skin, good cell turnover and loads of collagen at work. Ah… to be young and poreless again! 😛
I am a little wary about using this serum at this point in time, because I already use an exfoliant daily. Over exfoliating isn’t good for the skin either. So its a bit of a delicate balance. To try this, I’d have to stop using my other lotion and I’m not quite willing to do that yet. Maybe I will and then I’ll report in.
Another reason why pores look enlarged can also be attributed to oil – too much or lack of. Those with oily skin may find that their pores get clogged more easily and this will result in larger looking pores. This is the domain of the Stay-Matte Hydrator which is a daily moisturiser that is supposed to help skin stay matte for longer – up to 8 hours.
I couldn’t quite bring myself to try this out because I don’t have oily skin and I am quite happy with my skin looking a little glowy or with a touch of shine in the day. It stops me looking flat and matte. When I go on a very intensive skin hydrating regiment, my pores look less visible too (but that’s because I have slightly dry skin to start)
The final item in the Pore Refining Solutions trio is the Instant Perfector. I’m not quite sure what to make of it, as I feel that the Instant Perfector straddles the line between skincare and makeup. As the name implies, it works instantly to give the illusion of smooth, poreless, perfect skin.
As a primer, I think it does do a fairly good job. You just spread it on and it fills up all the pores, holes, imperfections, lines and gives a smooth appearance to your skin. This will naturally form a good base for flawless looking makeup to go on. It also helps skin stay matte all day and may, I believe, work better for someone with oilier skin than I have. The skincare side of things is supposed to help the pores look more refined over time while the makeup side of things gives you an almost instant sort of result.
Who will benefit most from this?
Based on the textures of the products and the focus on oil control, I am inclined to say that these products are more targeted to those who have oily skin. I don’t and I wasn’t very comfortable with the textures as I found them a little drying on my already slightly dry skin. It made my skin feel uncomfortable and I wasn’t too pleased by that. For those who are looking for oil control however, you may appreciate the mattifying properties better.
Personally, if I were to be in a position to try these, I’d do the serum and hydrator. The Instant Perfector seems to be a bit more of makeup territory and I’m not that into using primers. But that’s just me 🙂
Does this range catch your eye? Do you have a problem with visible pores?
Paris B
Clinique Pore Refining Solutions Correcting Serum Price: RM200/30ml Instant Perfector Price: RM88/15ml Stay-Matte Hydrator Price: RM165/50ml Availability: Clinique counters from 13 August 2012
Lily says
August 10, 2012 at 9:18 amI only have visible pores on areas around my nose. But i agree with you that over exploding is bad for skin. I’ll just wait for your review, Paris! 🙂
Paris B says
August 13, 2012 at 3:19 pmteehee… over exploding, Lily? 😉 But I think I know what you mean hehe… I’m not sure if I’ll be using this. I am a bigger believer in hydrating 😀
Hanny Daforcena says
August 10, 2012 at 9:21 amFinally, a skincare launch that I’m excited about! ^.^ I don’t have large pores, but mine are a little too numerous for my liking. Perhaps these will help me out?
Paris B says
August 13, 2012 at 3:19 pmHaha I remember that Clinique and you work well together so maybe this will help you 😀
germs says
August 10, 2012 at 9:27 ami might try just the primer, since i have both slightly dry skin and visible pores+oily t-zone, boohoo. the serum does sound a tad too pricey though, paula’s choice has something similar and cheaper in its bha liquids/gels which also exfoliate using salicylic acid (i think) 🙂
casey23 says
August 10, 2012 at 2:19 pmI used the primer 2-3 years ago. I know Paris mentioned that the formulation is renew, but primer is mostly silicone based, like Benefit’s Porefessional, and instead of making my face flawless, like most -cone based primers it made my skin more oilier after a few hours! I would definitely recommend to try this on first and spend a few hours with it and check for yourself before buying this. I like Clinique’s “most” solutions but as a gal with oily skin plus pores, this primer and all the other -cone based primers made nothing to me except more oilier t-zone and rashes :S
Paris B says
August 13, 2012 at 3:21 pmI do think that any product with AHA/BHA or Salicylic acid will do a similar job 🙂 I personally liked Vichy myself. There was one called Pore something essence. You guys still have Vichy in SG so do check that one out and see 😉
Sze Ling says
August 10, 2012 at 9:32 amWell, I could use a bit of pore refining on my nose. But all the oil-control products that I’ve tried in the past only makes my skin really dry and uncomfortable. So, I’m with you on this. A bit hesitant to try. 😛
Paris B says
August 13, 2012 at 3:22 pm*hands up* mine too! My dryish skin isn’t too happy when I go and apply more oil control stuff on it and then it’d rebel 😛
Stacey says
August 10, 2012 at 9:36 amOoh I didn’t know that enlarged pores are due to skin cells build up. I am already exfoliating twice – thrice a week, but still have one particular stubborn enlarged pore . I have just bought elizabeth arden’s range of products targeted at cell renewal. hopefully that helps.
Paris B says
August 13, 2012 at 3:23 pmThat’s what we’re told 🙂 The pores get enlarged because dirt gets trapped or trapped dirt doesn’t get out and dead skin cells build up and it stretches the pores so exfoliating will help too with skin renewal 🙂 One enlarged pore is already pretty darned good Stacey!
Jesz says
August 10, 2012 at 9:42 amI’m not keen although I have oily combination skin, oily T-Zone with normal/dry cheeks. I still find that properly hydrate my skin makes it looks better than target at controlling oil…from experience, oil controlling product tends to dry out my skin (some even cause flaky skin around nose & chin area) and make it discharge more oil on T-Zone =(. I tried Clinique previous pore range product, the only item that I like was the pore minimizing mask which I only need to use it once a week to clear clogged pores.
Paris B says
August 13, 2012 at 3:27 pmI never really had oily skin Jesz but I’m with you on your points. I find that using a good hydrating regiment helps all skin types and skin problems a lot more than going too specific to address one concern. Still, I was told that this range is now better in that its less drying too 🙂
Rakanishu says
August 10, 2012 at 10:08 amI’m always sceptical about oil control products. They never work for me. I have spent a lot of money trying out out all these oil control skincare products. However one product did work..the Shiseido Men Anti Shine Refresher. But then they decided to discontinue the product. So its back to using oil blotting sheets.
Paris B says
August 13, 2012 at 3:34 pmI suppose I should consider myself lucky to not have skin that’s too oily to really need oil control. By the time I worked out what sort of skincare I needed, my skin had balanced itself hehe…
Yuki says
August 10, 2012 at 11:36 amBeen waiting soooooo long for then to launch it!! Sighs. I used thir pore minimising serum previously and I think it helped in regulating my oiliness. Lol. I like the matte finishing. Can’t wait to try it!! My nose is super oily and the seeds!! Ughhhh… So ugly. Any suggestion on how to extract them without using my hands? ????????
Paris B says
August 13, 2012 at 3:48 pmErm I don’t really have a problem because I exfoliate very often so blackheads are pretty much kept at bay 🙂 I think the best (and most satisfying) way to get rid of the oil seeds is fingers – clean ones 😉
Yuki says
August 13, 2012 at 8:43 pmNo no!! U shud have said,”anything but picking with your fingers” hahahha… I have a bad habit of picking it out. Lol. Weird but it feels good to see the seed coming out ????????????
peach_ says
August 10, 2012 at 1:58 pmI have a sample of Instant Perfector, but haven’t tried it yet. I have combination skin and oil blotting papers are my bff, but like others have said, I don’t favor products meant for oil control. I could be wrong, but it’s like a temporary fix to just try to sap all the oil from skin…not so good in the long run. It’s much better to properly moisturize the skin and just deal with oil since you can’t really tell the body stop producing it anyway! 😛
Paris B says
August 13, 2012 at 3:51 pmI think what you say makes sense Peach! I feel the same way about products meant to whiten/brighten the skin too. I go for short term treatment too and like you said, the more you get rid of it, the more your skin may think you need oil 😛
ysk says
August 10, 2012 at 2:08 pmI’ve a few big pores on my nose,it’s my biggest headache @_________@
Paris B says
August 13, 2012 at 3:55 pmI find regular exfoliation helps or maybe one of these Clinique products may help too 🙂
Amber Norell says
August 10, 2012 at 2:28 pmClinique really does have an incredible skincare line 🙂
Paris B says
August 13, 2012 at 3:56 pmFor the most part I will agree.
Raquel M. says
August 10, 2012 at 6:53 pmOh , if only pores could shrink! I don’t have many enlarged pores, thankfully… Only on the cheek area but they get on my last nerve! I have severe breakouts from time to time (T zone) and, even though it takes a while to get them under control, wherever I have them my pores are looking sweet and lovely and non-existing almost, and then the cheeks… I just don’t know what I could’ve done to prevent it and that ticks me off!
But oh well… I was to buy the serum from this Clinique line for a long time but everytime I read the reviews, people say it kind of masks more than refines so I was never really conviced. Though I may one day purchase it to be sure, I’m currently using the Pore Refining Serum from Estée Lauder’s line Idealist and I quite like it 🙂 x
Paris B says
August 13, 2012 at 4:20 pmI hear that the Idealist is pretty good, Raquel. I used the original formula many years ago for years. But stopped eventually. I hear the new formula is even better and that has me wanting to try it again. I’m so fickle that way! 😛
Sunny says
August 10, 2012 at 7:27 pmI used to use the entire line! Kinda happy to see them coming out with a new version. I don’t really need this anymore now that I live in Belgium, but my stay back home made me realize I was infatuated with similar products for a good reason!
Paris B says
August 13, 2012 at 4:24 pmAhhh to have used the entire line, you must have liked it back then? 😀 I think its hard coming in to a hot humid weather after living in a cooler drier climate for a spell. Your oil glands will go into overdrive!
Sunny says
August 13, 2012 at 7:05 pmYeah they really did this time I was back in Taipei! It was worse than before!