I happened to be at a mall on the weekend, when I noticed the promo images for the Clinique CC Cream had gone up at the Clinique counter. Probably a good time then, for me to let you know what I think about this 🙂 Yes, Clinique too has taken a gander at the CC Cream. Has anyone not done so? 😛
I have to tell you I was quite interested in it because you see, I can’t use the Clinique BB Cream. The shade is too dark for me and a sample left my skin looking dull. So, when I saw that the Clinique CC Cream comes not only in skintone shades but also in illuminating shades, and furthermore, comes under the Moisture Surge category, my interest was a bit more piqued.
What Clinique was keen to impress on me, as I am to impress on you, is that the CC Cream is a Colour Correcting Cream. What this means is that isn’t a foundation, nor does it try to be one. It instead, serves to correct and neutralize your skintone to reduce sallowness and to give you a brighter, more natural glow to your skin. Think of it rather more like a colour correcting makeup base than a foundation or foundation substitute and you will be less disappointed. Because, if you don’t, you might be.
Placed under the Moisture Surge category, the Clinique CC Cream serves to not only colour correct your skintone, but also to provide your skin with hydration, and there is also sunscreen protection for those who may be sunscreen averse.
The packaging is quite typical of Clinique in that its slim, compact and fuss free. The product is dispensed through a nozzle and I should warn you that you don’t need very much.
The first time I used it, I used a little too much over my face and I found it sticky and the shade in Fresh Peach was not very flattering on my skintone. I had a choice between Natural Fair or Fresh Peach and I had to go for Fresh Peach as Natural Fair was too dark for me.
This is where I should explain that there are 3 skintone shades, which is basically rather more like a BB Cream style product, offering a bit more coverage while correcting skintone to give skin a glow. These shades are Natural Fair, Natural and Natural Beige. These are also the shades sold in Asia which can be confusing because in the Western world, the shades start from Very Light and run to Deep. So no, we do not get the same shades found in Europe or N. America and our shades are quite different. Important point to bear in mind when you plan to shop online.
We also get 2 illuminating shades in Fresh Pink and Fresh Peach. These are the true colour correctors as far as I’m concerned. They are very very sheer with a significant peach or pink tone to it that does illuminate the skintone and correct sallowness, but offers zero coverage. No kidding.
Here are the swatches of Fresh Peach and Fresh Pink. I managed to get a little sample tube of Fresh Pink and that’s the one that suits my skin far far better than Fresh Peach.
Clinique CC Cream Swatches (1) Fresh Peach (2) Fresh Pink
You maybe able to see from the swatches that Fresh Peach is a light peachy toned cream with slight illuminating qualities. This is supposed to neutralize lacklustre and sallow skin and give a brighter appearance. On me, I find that this one can make my skin look a bit off. It appears to enhance the dullness and if you have pigmentation as I do, then I find this makes it look more obvious somehow. I wasn’t too happy with it and it didn’t quite give me a good impression of the product.
However, when I managed to try Fresh Pink, I revised my opinion. Fresh Pink squeezes out of the tube a pretty bright pink shade, but it does an excellent job of neutralizing yellow tones and really does make my skin look better and brighter.
The problem therefore, is with coverage. As both the illuminating CC Creams do not offer any coverage whatsoever, you have to have pretty excellent skin to wear these alone. I think these work best as a makeup base. So, if I do wear these its only as a base, or if I wear it on a weekend, I apply powder foundation over it, if I want coverage, or use concealer on parts where I want concealed.
As a makeup base, I’d say it performs quite admirably too. I don’t know if it hydrates my skin but my skin doesn’t feel parched, and if you are careful and don’t use too much, it doesn’t feel heavy or oily either.
I must stress that as I have not used the skintone versions, I do not know how those fare in terms of coverage and performance. The shades available here are too dark for me so the odds that I’d try them is very low. Based on online reviews and swatches, it appears I may be better suited to the Very Light version available overseas, but until I check it out myself, I can’t say for certain. For now, I’m afraid I’m passing on the Clinique CC Cream. My sample of Fresh Pink does the job but I won’t purchase it because I’m just not impressed enough.
In a nutshell
The Clinique CC Cream is a hydrating colour correcting face base product. In Asia, it comes in 3 skintone shades in Natural Fair, Natural and Natural Beige, which serves to offer some coverage while working to colour correct sallow skintone and give a brighter more glowy visage. There are also 2 illuminating shades of Fresh Peach and Fresh Pink which offer little to no coverage but which does work well in the colour correcting department so skin does look brighter and better, if you use the correct shade. For me, Fresh Pink works best but due to the non existent coverage, I can only really wear this as a makeup base for which it does the job. However, because of the name, I was expecting more in terms of convenience and practicality for which I don’t think this delivered. I can’t wear the skintone shades available here as they are too dark for me so I can’t offer any thoughts on those.
Pros: The illuminating shades do work as claimed to counteract sallow or yellow skintone and make skin look better and brighter, Pricey
Cons: The Asia based skintone shades are too dark for me and the Illuminating shades offer no coverage
Who will like this: Anyone who wants some colour correcting face base options to counteract sallow or yellow toned skin
I have to say that if you do a quick search online, the Clinique CC Cream gets a lot of raves so don’t be put off just because I didn’t like it and couldn’t get it to work for me. Like many things, you should try it for yourself and see if it suits you and your lifestyle 🙂
Do you get the CC Cream hype? Have you tried this one from Clinique?
I still don’t know what to think of CC Creams, to be perfectly honest. The Chanel one did nothing for me and I can’t get my head around any others I’ve tried so far. I think I understand BB Creams but then I am rather perverse and treat them as tinted moisturiser so it could be why I find them easier to understand. Now CC Creams… maybe I’m just slow or something 😛
Paris B
Clinique Moisture Surge CC Cream comes in 5 shades locally – Natural Fair, Natural, Natural Beige, Fresh Peach, Fresh Pink Price: RM120/40ml Availability: Clinique counters
After reading through this post, I don’t think CC cream is something new in the market because something similar has been in the market for some time but it is not labeled as CC cream. I’ve used one before previously, but they don’t market it as CC cream. It is a corrective make up base, and yes, it has the same function as CC cream. It doesn’t offer coverage.
The Fresh Peach shade will make me look sick and grey. The shade reminds me of Burberry Fresh Glow. No luminous glow for me; only looking sick and grey. Fresh Pink shade looks betters on my skin.
You’re absolutely right about that, Angelina! Some brands like Chanel make them like BB creams, and so does Rachel K. Clinique does them in 2 varieties, the ones like BB creams and the ones that are colour correcting makeup bases. Biotherm has CC cream now, that’s effectively just a rebranding of their colour correcting primers! I don’t know what to make of it to be honest.
The Burberry Fresh Glow is lighter but I think Fresh Pink will suit most of us better. It does make skin look much better if you just have a dusting of powder on, but the lack of coverage doesn’t do it for me.
Yup, I used Biotherm’s corrective make up base previously. I have yet to come across their CC cream. I reckon it is going to be launched soon here? CC cream is a fancy name for corrective make up base.
Is it ok to apply corrective make up base, and not applying foundation thereafter? Different people told me different thing – one said it’s ok to apply corrective make up base only, the other said corrective make up base goes together with foundation.
Haha well, you’ll be reading about the Biotherm CC Cream soon enough 😛 Yes, we’ll get it here and yes, its a corrective base. Its perfectly find to just apply base. After all, once its done its colour correction, we may not have to cover that up with more makeup. Maybe even a light dusting of powder will do or nothing at all! I don’t see why it can’t be worn alone – no rules when it comes to makeup 🙂
I wonder whether it’s going to be repackaging only or there’s a new formula. They have repackaged and reformulated some of their best sellers. My skin couldn’t accept some of it, most likely due to the new ingredients. However, they have other products that I am very in love with because it works. So yeah, they will continue to be on my to buy and to use list.
I actually dislike it when brands reformulate because often they aren’t for the better. Sometimes it is, but often it isn’t 😛 I’ll be sure to let you know if the Biotherm CC is a reformulation although I have a suspicion it is 😛
If I am not mistaken, Biotherm CC cream is a reformulation with new texture. I love their old acne range. They came up with a new range. More miss than hit for me with the new range. I want the old range back *cries*
Hmmm another one, hey? I’m with you-I don’t really get them either. The one that I tried out from a Canadian brand was SO silicone-full. It did neutralize redness a bit, but the cones are too much for my skin these days and INSTANT break-out happens. I think that CC creams are just a gimmick. 🙂
Oh good, Tracy! That makes 2 of us who don’t understand CC Creams! Lol I honestly don’t understand the need for gimmicky names like this. I wonder how much of the alphabet they want to run through before they’re done. I got a pitch for DD creams. I don’t kid. I gave up.
I didn’t know they came out with different shades in Europe, I just saw swatches and they do look good. I also think they should be seen as a base product, especially the very sheer ones because ppl might be really be disappointed. So far it seems the only CC cream here that is living it up to it’s claims, all the others are just really horrible, lol. I wonder if this one is suitable for oily skins because it sounds like it is very moisturising. Thanks for the honest review Paris! 🙂
I was doing some research which is how I realised there were different shades indifferent parts of the world, Teri! Its so odd. I have to admit that the ones I saw people raving about are the ones that have the Light, Medium, Dark names. Asia just got them so I think we’ll start seeing reviews coming out for the shades we get, but I was a bit bummed I couldn’t try the ‘foundation’ ones due to the shade. Ah well, next! 😉
Aww man, looking at the swatches, yeah looks like the coverage is going to be poor. Will need top-notch skin for this. Drats. Then again, I wasn’t having too high hopes so yay, pass! 😛
Haha yep. One for the perfect skinned only. I didn’t even want to show a face swatch because it looked like nothing. I’d read so many raves, it was interesting to see if it might work. Its a pity it didn’t
I’ve been trying to make it work too, but no coverage, and it gets oily on me in less than 2 hours!
I had the problem with it turning oily too the first few times till I realised that you literally need a paper thin layer only. But then, the lack of coverage doesn’t do it for me either!
Fresh pink, I think may appeal to alot of us. I dont think many cud go wrong with that shade. Two questions though, do you find this cc cream tacky before u apply any powder on top? How long does it take to really dry down?
For Asians (Chinese especially) Fresh Pink would make the most sense. I don’t find it tacky but I will warn you to only use a very thin layer or it can feel heavy and oily after that. It doesn’t take long to dry down at all. About as long as it takes to apply moisturizer I guess 😛
Hm…maybe CC Creams aren’t for me after all. Sounds nice but not for me–I definitely need something with more coverage…or I suppose in this case, coverage, period. 😛
Lol! Me too. As it is, I don’t even use a foundation primer, much less a colour correcting one! That said, the ones you get Becca, are more like BB creams I think. They do get a lot of raves so if you happen across a sample, do give it a shot.
oohh, a cc cream, what a surprise 😉 the pink one looks nice, I wonder, why they are making such dark shades … but I think I am happy with my foundations I already own 😉 xxx
Haha I got a pitch for DD Cream, Claire! My eyes nearly fell out of their sockets! I’m very happy with my foundations and also the few BB Creams that work for me. No real desire to try anything else in the alphabet soup hehe
I can tell you we will only have the Colour Correcting Skin Protector in standard colours nog illuminating colours at all. Which is a great disappointment to me, but still I will go out and try it, don’t know if I will purchase it I love the BB cream by Clinique and if this is about the same I won’t. I’ll keep you posted on my findings. Colours are: light medium, medium, medium deep and light.
Yes Wojis, do try the colours you get anyway because I hear they are really good. I’m not crazy about these illuminating colour correctors so perhaps you guys get the better deal 😉
I was so excited when I read the title but am left out in the cold after reading your review of this Fresh Peach shade. Would it be cheeky to compare this to what MAC’s Strobe Cream does? Illuminates the face without coverage?
If my recollection of MAC Strobe Cream serves me well, the answer will be yes. The slight difference will be that this is less of an illuminator like Strobe Cream and more like a primer with colour correcting qualities so it doesn’t give that shine/illumination as much as it corrects sallow skintone. But no coverage indeed.
Meh…. I’m so over the whole BB and CC (and due to come DD) trend. None have managed to impress me.
So, I’m back to using foundations. 😉
By the way, I can’t wait to purchase the Revlon primer that you’ve raved about in the past. Have been diligently trying to finish my current primer. Haha. Obviously for the wrong reasons. 😛
Count me in. I got the DD Cream pitch and just said, no thanks. I’ve had enough >.< I do still prefer foundations if I'm going for coverage. Otherwise, it just defeats the purpose for me 😛 Oh the Revlon primer is really good stuff! You could even get it on sale where you are I'm sure! 😉
These were meant to be launched in Australia this month but haven’t seen anything. I’m loving the Revlon and Kiehl’s BB creams, so really shouldn’t even think about another base!
Ooh I rather like the Revlon Photoready BB cream too! Its very light and sheer but it works well for me too. I think you should be seeing the Clinique CC Cream make its appearance soon 🙂
Au contraire, I am really liking this CC Cream. I think the CC brand is a little gimmicky and silly, but I like the way Clinique’s offering feels on my skin, and I like the level of coverage that it offers. As a former serious acne sufferer (with the occasional cystic acne breakout even today) and Ro-Accutane user, I find that using a light layer of this CC Cream in Natural Beige + a light dusting of powder gives me a nice, dewy natural look with zero heavy feel! 🙂
Disclaimer: But then again, I am also partial to sheer to light/light to medium coverage products. Have never been a fan of full coverage foundations, so this may be skewing my opinion oh so slightly! 😉
I think the texture is very nice but perhaps the particular one I received wasn’t right for me. A primer is pretty much just that – a primer. Wearing it alone doesn’t do anything. However, I recently picked up Natural Fair just to see if it’ll work for me because I’ve noticed that the raves for the Clinique CC Cream come from the tinted versions, not the primer versions. So we’ll see! 😉
I work at a makeup counter and let me tell you, you are not pink toned. Also looking at the swatches the fresh peach is a lot closer to your tone and if anything a little too light and not gold enough for you. Wether it’s base or cc or bb creams. They should blend with your skin not change its color, when you start embracing your true colors you will find that medium-golden and even maybe neutral beige shades make you look more healthy and beautiful. Good review though thanks 🙂
I have used this product from a friend . I feel like it, every time I go to a party did not take much time for make up. So good