Hands up everyone who is familiar with this yellow lotion from Clinique! Come on come on, don’t be shy 😀
I’m sure many of you would have, at one point or another tried the very popular Clinique 3 Step system and the Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion or Gel. I have but the Clinique basic skincare range doesn’t suit my skin. Breaks it out, in fact. My skin plays much better with Clinique’s targeted products e.g. Moisture Surge Gel Cream or the Youth Surge Cream and their serums.
So, when under hush-hush circumstances, in the confines of the historic Majestic Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, it was unveiled to the press recently that Clinique was reformulating their iconic Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion, you could almost hear the collective gasps of surprise in the room. Beauty editors are usually very poised and unflustered people but you could see the well groomed eyebrows shoot up into the air when the news was announced.
You will see the new Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion + (note the Plus please!) roll out in stores starting from about now and it will be out in full force in July 2013. I’ll just share a little about what’s new, gleaned from what we were told, and briefly how I found it.
The Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion or DDML as it is affectionately known as, was formulated back in 1968 and the formula has remained pretty much unchanged since then. Imagine, 45 years of the same formula! The purpose of this lotion is just one – basic moisturizing. That’s all it does and that’s all its supposed to do.
No anti-aging, no super hydration, no whitening – nothing. Just your basic moisturiser to keep your skin hydrated. You know at the pretty affordable price tag (for a department store brand), you really shouldn’t be expecting too much more 😉 Not many lotions do this anymore. Most products these days come with a host of multitasking properties so it is interesting that Clinique is sticking to this one purpose. The original version is targeted at those with Very dry to dry-combination skin and there is a gel texture for those with oily-combination skin. The latter is one that I believe is more popular here in the tropical climate.
So what’s new then? This.
The new formula now incorporates Hyaluronic acid, Glycerin and Urea to improve hydration and also to strengthen the skin barrier so less moisture escapes your skin. What this is therefore supposed to do, is to help your skin remain more hydrated throughout the day.
Texture wise, I honestly can’t remember how the previous version feels like. This new one feels light and although it was the heavier version, absorbed quite nicely into my skin without a sticky feel. I’ve been told to take it for a spin which I have. The original DDML breaks me out which is why I said the products in Clinique’s 3 step range just don’t do it for my skin. The cleanser is drying, the Clarifying lotion is too drying and the DDML breaks me out. I’m told that DDML+ may not but sadly it does. It was fine for about a week but I noticed little spots pop up thereafter. Its also rather heavy on skin. Well, this is supposed to be for dry to very dry skin so I wasn’t really surprised. So, DDML+ doesn’t work for me but then it didn’t in the first instance either so, no real surprises there 🙂
Yeah, Clinique’s HQ trainers were really pleased to be part of the launch too LOL Its their biggest of the year and I must say, taking on something as iconic as this yellow lotion is no mean feat. I can almost hear the screams of DDML fans at this point “Don’t mess with my Holy Grail moisturiser!!!” because we know that reformulations can only go one of two ways – much better… or worse.
Clinique is hoping that it will be the former for you 🙂
Are you already a DDML user? How do you feel about this reformulation?
I’d actually love to know if you are already a user and if so, how long you have been using this, because I know fans of DDML are very loyal! 🙂
Paris B
Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+ Price: RM68/50ml, RM145/125ml Availability: Clinique counters from 18 July 2013
Two weeks ago, I purchased the new formula of moisterizer. My face is completely broken out, itching, and feels in some spots on fire. Why did you change the formula? I am having to completely let go of my favorite moisturizer. Where can I buy the old one?
Been using Clinique moisturizer for over 20 years. Got my Mom and Dad loving this product. Now that they have change there formula my face has been breaking out like crazy. By mid day my face is oily. And to top it of it my neck is breaking out as well. Dont know what other brand I should try now. Bye bye Clinique it was nice while it lasted 🙁
Used the original DDML for 20+ years, tried the new + version and was extremely disappointed. It sits on top of your skin for hours and leaves a film on your face that doesn’t go away until you wash it off. Can’t believe they discontinued the original version that is a staple for so many.
If you want the original back please like this facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/bringbackdramaticallydifferentmoisturizinglotion
I have been using Dramatically Different for 35 years. I purchased 3 bottles in June, when I heard that they were changing the formula. I will ask them for a sample prior to purchasing, as I have read many negative reviews from long time users. Clinque doesn’t know when to stop. They are constantly doing that with their makeup. Find something you like and they just are not happy. I predict this one will backfire on them. I think they believe they are capable of convincing people that they know what is best. I was 100 per cent happy. I guess they don’t like that
I had to drop in on this conversation, even though it’s a few months old. I’ve been using the original formula (DDML) since 1988, twice a day, every day and it has been perfect for my skin through all the decades and changes from then until now. It absorbs beautifully and leaves my face soft and amazingly firm even in my 50s. I read a beauty review that said the DDML+ formula has “added in some petrolatum – a heavier grade of mineral oil. This would probably increase the moisturising effect somewhat.” I can promise you this is so far from the truth, it might as well be living on Mars. What that petrolatum DOES do is sit on top of your skin feeling like a sticky film, like some unholy combination of dirt, Vaseline, and bug spray, with the added and deeply unpleasant sensation of something crawling all over your face. Unless you’ve lived, and lived long and well, with this lotion (the original) and been grateful for its dependability every day and night – its clean, pure simplicity – you cannot possibly imagine how vile the “improved” version is. The Clinique online page for DDML+ has dropped from an 88% rating last August to a 65% rating now. That cannot possibly be good for the company’s bottom line. By a huge margin, the online reviews are overwhelmingly negative, with almost everyone describing it in the same way (sticky, won’t absorb, makes the face shiny, causes break-outs on people who haven’t had them for years, a crawly sensation, greasy, other makeup won’t adhere to it, etc.). This kind of negative word-of-mouth will inevitably lead to a sharp drop in sales, if it hasn’t done so already. I bought as many bottles of the original formula as I could and will be truly heartbroken when they run out. If Clinique has one functioning collective brain cell left, it needs to make the classic 1968 recipe available for those customers who are going to be forced to shop elsewhere otherwise.
I have been using DDML for over 10 years along with many other clinique products….I love them all, just recently though I purchased a new bottle of DDML and have noticed that is has an unpleasant odour which had never been apparent before….Can the product “go bad”? Or is it just a new formula?
Ugh, so glad I found this article. I used to use Clinique when i was a teen. I’m 25 now and just switched back about a month ago to Clinique. I’m WOW’d by the fact my skin has NEVER been so terrible :(:(:(!!!!! it’s breaking out everywhere. Never had acne or anything (thankfully, totally blessed) and literally since the first day in Feb I started using Clinique yellow lotion and cleanser my face is a mess. Plus dry and scaly as the lumps and bumps are healing. If it hasn’t broke out in a spot it’s flaking dry and sensitive. Today is day one where I say NO MORE!!
On a side note i do like there Anti-aging/youth serums and eye creams. Just not the 1-2-3 step stuff.
A 66 year old male here that fits the category of very dry to dry skin (horribly so in the winter with some flaking) who was a prior user of the original Moisture Surge decades ago. That one was somewhat greasy and I had breakouts from it. Current gels from Clinique were inadequate for hydration. Eucerin was horrible. Very greasy and didn’t last. Same goes with the Goldbond products and Burt’s Bees (the last one felt like applying a lotion that had mostly dried). Got a small packet of DDML+ from Nordstrom when I ordered SpiceBomb. The difference in skin feel was noticeable even with that small amount. I know everyone is different but the the DDML+ for me feels very different on application, went into the skin without any problems and it lasted without feeling greasy. This has replaced all the moisturizers I had including my after shave balm. If you have oily skin or parts are oily I would not suggest that you use this. The gel is probably better for that application. I was looking for something simple without complicated multiple step processes that I could use every day (not enough of the metrosexual in me to take the time). It surprises me that it actually works. I use the squeeze tubes instead of the pump (less wastage).
I have always used dimly but do not like this new formula. It makes my skin sore. Very disappointed.
I have used Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Cream for 45 years and sold lots of friends and family on it,whatever you have done to it is the worst thing I have ever dealt with-with Clinique. I am now going to start looking for another product. My blush now smears on top, it starts to rub off in flakes in a matter of minutes and my skin is dry. I could almost cry from the change in this product, the person who decided to change it needs to be fired. I will be asking for a refund on my large bottle.
I hate, hate, hate the formula change. I am returning my large bottle of Dramatically Different Moisturizing Cream after 45 years of using it. It is flaking off my skin and it is junk. Formula change, why!